Students from across the district were invited to attend Camp Read-a-Lot, a summer program designed for students with dyslexia to extend learning in preparation for the upcoming school year. During this two week program, students rotated through multiple teachers who focused on a different strategy including, phonological awareness, regular and irregular word decks, or spelling and grammar. Students were broken down into small groups to allow for more one-on-one teaching.
The camp was designed with fun in mind! Based around a camping theme, the teachers truly wanted students to enjoy the strategies they were using to help them learn and retain the foundational knowledge being taught. Games, prizes, and fun activities were the highlights of the camp which encouraged students to learn and explore even more.
“We had to come up with a way to help combat the deficits brought on by the pandemic,” west side lead and Alvin ISD Dyslexia Therapist Amanda Cottle shared. “Students who needed compensatory services were invited to attend and we found they were able to truly benefit from the camp.” Due to the need, the camp was held over a two week period with two locations to support students from all over the district. The east side lead were senior teachers Barbee Williams and Liavette Peralta.
Third grader, Audrey, from Pomona Elementary shared, “My favorite part of the week was working towards earning the spirit stick because you got a fun prize and the recognition of being the best!”
The prizes were purchased through an Alvin ISD Education Foundation funded grant the Camp Read-a-Lot design team wrote the previous year. “We wanted to make sure our students would be encouraged so we knew prizes were the best way to go. We are thankful for the Education Foundation’s support,” Cottle shared.
“I had a lot of fun and learned new words that will allow me to read better,” third grader Kason from Meridiana Elementary shared. “I really liked bowling games and writing with chalk outside!”
