Reading Explorers Program: Helping to Improve Children’s Foundational Reading and Comprehension Skills

 

Angela Waguespack, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Clinical & School Psychology in the College of Psychology and the NSU Program Director of the Reading Explorers Program, which is a partnership with the Florida International University Center for Children and Families.

 

Briefly tell us about the Reading Explorers Program. 

Since 2013, FIU’s Center for Children and Families, in partnership with NSU, has been impacting grade level reading for children in our community through the Reading Explorers Program (REP). Funded by the Children’s Trust, and as of 2022, the Children’s Services Council, we have aligned with community-wide “Read to Learn” initiatives, by partnering with out-of-school time providers to prevent summer learning loss, preparing our youngest readers for school-year literacy instruction, and promoting language development and love of reading at home.

The Summer Reading Explorers Program (SREP) helps rising kindergarten, first, and second graders improve foundational reading skills during the summer months. Children who may benefit from additional reading instruction receive small group tutoring services provided by certified teachers. The structured and interactive program is matched to each child’s reading level and follows an evidence-based reading curriculum. Services are provided at over 120 select Children’s Trust or Children’s Service Council-funded summer camps and affiliated early childhood education centers throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties annually.  At each summer camp site, parent/child engagement events, including book giveaways, are conducted to build the love of reading at home and to inform parents about back-to-school tips.  At the end of the summer program, resource connections for children who need continued reading support at the end of summer are provided to parents so they can seek additional help from their child’s school.

During the school year, REP partners with Children’s Trust and Children’s Services Council-funded after school providers to support literacy programming through coaching and technical assistance.  REP team members meet with afterschool staff who support literacy to conduct needs assessments which guide coaching and support planning to strengthen literacy services in the program.  Staff are provided with evidence-based resources to infuse into their after-school activities or to use in their differentiated instruction for at-risk readers.

Noteworthy REP Statistics and Information:

• Over 15,000 children have participated in the six-week literacy program to date, and we annually serve 3000+ children each summer
• Since 2013, 4000+ families have attended parent engagement workshops to build literacy activities in the home and to prepare children for school
• Over 70 community agencies and 125 community sites have worked with REP as partners to support student literacy during the summer
• External funding for NSU has totaled close to a million dollars
• Practicum, internship, and employment opportunities provided for over 100 NSU psychology graduate students
• 100+ afterschool program staff have received literacy coaching/consultation annually in capacity-building efforts for providers to deliver quality literacy services in their programs
• Winner of the 2019 (Miami-Dade) and 2023 (Broward) Pacesetter Awards from the National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for innovative practices in impacting literacy

 

Why is it important to improve foundational reading and reading comprehension skills in children? 

The National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) focuses on two critical intervention points: grade-level reading by the end of third grade and on-track development by the end of kindergarten. Through research and practice, both intervention points have been confirmed as critical for early school successes, which can predict future academic successes, achievements, career employment and wages. In support of those critical points, more than 46% of Florida’s students entering 4th grade are not reading proficiently – hindering their success in the classroom and beyond. Additionally, the Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign shows that students, especially low-income ones, experience significant academic setbacks over the summer, which hinders their reading progress and widens the achievement gap. To combat this, the REP was developed to provide innovative summer programming that blends academics with evidence-based activities and relationships.

 

Are you collaborating with any other faculty, institutions, organizations, etc. on the Reading Explorers Program?

Nurit Sheinberg, EdD, from the NSU College of Psychology serves as the Assistant Director of the Broward Reading Explorers Program during the summer to support NSU school psychology student training, supervision, and evaluation.

 

What opportunities and/or benefits does this program bring to the NSU community?

School psychology doctoral students complete required practicum experiences for two summers in the program during their degree programs.  This allows them to engage with and learn from community educators across Miami-Dade and Broward counties and to build knowledge and skills in working with diverse communities and families.  The program also provides student employment experiences year-round for several students.

 

What have been the impacts of the Reading Explorers Program on young readers?

On average, participating students not only do not experience summer learning loss, but they make up to two months of growth in early reading fluency skills.  This provides them with the best possible foundation in starting the school year with readiness for learning, enthusiasm for reading, and confidence in their reading skills.

 

How does your involvement in this program connect with your other work at NSU? 

As co-program director of REP, I have trained, worked alongside, and supervised hundreds of community staff and volunteers, in conjunction with graduate students, to provide summer reading tutoring, book giveaways, parent workshops and resource connections, and afterschool coaching to support grade level reading in the most vulnerable children and families in our community. Through my leadership and dedication, NSU school psychology students have engaged in thousands of hours of assessment and intervention services benefiting diverse children, families, and community out-of-school providers in the community. Many of NSU’s school psychology graduates have been inspired to continue working to build strong children through their professional, leadership, and service activities in which they advocate for the right for all students to receive evidence-based instruction to support reading achievement.

 

What is next for Dr. Waguespack and the Reading Explorers Program?

We were recently funded through the Children’s Trust in Miami-Dade for an additional five years of programming, with an expansion to include dyslexia-focused intervention services.  We are excited to welcome Dr. Juliette Hubbard and The Lucy Project, who will be providing teacher training in the science of reading and intervention for our most challenged students, to our NSU Miami-Dade team.

 

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