Closing the summer learning gap for vulnerable learners: an exploratory study of a summer literacy programme for kindergarten children at‐risk for reading difficulties

Abstract

School summer vacation may create a significant gap in the learning cycle. Such a gap may be particularly detrimental for vulnerable children such as those with lower academic achievement due to learning and language disabilities, lower socio‐economic environments or learning in a language other than their native language. The current exploratory study investigated the efficacy of a summer family literacy programme on the reading achievement of 14 four‐year‐old children completing their pre‐kindergarten year. All participating children were identified by their classroom teacher and a subsequent reading assessment to be at‐risk for reading difficulties. Children and one of their primary caregivers participated in a five‐week summer literacy programme. The programme consisted of literacy‐based activities for both children and caregivers. The results of the study indicated that children demonstrated significant gains in all aspects of literacy, thus reversing the summer learning loss expectancy.

Keywords:

• emergent literacy
• vulnerable learners
• summer learning loss