The faculty for Mansfield City Schools’ summer third-grade reading boot camp includes, Micaela Lattimer, seated left, and Keri Loughry. Standing, from left, are Marianne Manley, Wendy Doup, Heather Dillon and camp coordinator Chris Stevens. Not pictured are teachers Margaret Cohen, Jennifer Jarvis, Michelle McCracken and Raquel Otero.
For the second consecutive year Mansfield City Schools will offer summer help to children who haven't passed the reading test mandated by the state’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
Approximately 40 students are expected when a free three-week reading boot camp opens Wednesday at Malabar Intermediate School. The children will enter fourth grade in August but have yet to pass the required reading test.
Boot camp participants will take the two-and-a-half-hour test on July 9, as mandated by the Ohio Department of Education.
“Some of these students were very close to the 394 passing score required this year. Maybe they just had a bad testing day during the school year,” said boot camp coordinator Chris Stevens, a third-grade teacher at Prospect Elementary. “Others need extra work to get ready for the test.”
Children who could benefit from the boot camp were identified earlier and letters were sent to their parents. Follow-up calls were being made today to those who had not registered.
The mornings-only camp will run Monday through Friday, except for July 3. Bus transportation will be available on normal district bus routes and snacks will be provided.
“Our teachers will provide instruction one-on-one and in small groups,” Stevens said. “The degree of instruction will vary from student to student.
“This year we also are piloting an online reading program which students can utilize at home. Obviously, we will use books and other materials in the classrooms but many of these kids have access to computers or tablets when they aren’t with us.”
Eligible students who cannot attend the boot camp because of vacations or time spent with relatives elsewhere will be offered in-home tutoring after July 9. They will take the state reading test in August.
Just over 50 percent of students passed the test after boot camp last year. Stevens expects at least that rate of success again this summer.
Students who do not pass will move on to fourth grade at Malabar but remain in a third-grade reading class until they achieve a passing score.
Parents who have last-minute questions about the camp may contact Linda Neal at the Raemelton administration buildling, 419-525-6400, ext. 56440.