Springboard Summer
How does the program work?
Home visits
Before programming, teachers visit the homes of their 15 students to build parent buy-in and lay the foundation for a strong partnership.
Reading instruction
Each scholar is placed in a small class with up to 15 students on a similar reading level. During instruction, they focus on reading, phonics, and writing. Each child receives personalized instruction every day.
Family workshops
Teachers lead workshops for families every Wednesday morning. Here parents learn how to pick the right book and ask questions before, during, and after reading. Families get ample time to practice reading with their child with the guidance and support of the classroom teacher.
Rewards for success
Families that attend at all 5 workshops qualify for educational incentives. Available incentives may include additional books, a backpack with school supplies, and a tablet. As parents gain the teaching skillset, we want them to have the same tools available in a classroom.
Staff development
Teachers participate in Professional Development, a rigorous 5-week teacher coaching cycle, and weekly Professional Learning Communities to improve their practice in data-driven instruction and family engagement. Site Leaders, hired from within the school, participate in a leadership development program.
Read about Springboard Summer in the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
How will it benefit my school(s)?
Reading growth
We develop your children as readers by replacing chronic summer learning losses with significant and lasting reading gains.
Parent engagement
We develop your parents as teachers by training and equipping family members to be effective reading coaches, enabling schools to capture educational value from the place kids spend 75% of their waking hours: home.
Teacher coaching
We develop your teachers as instructors by leading professional development and a 5-week coaching cycle on data-driven instruction and family engagement.
Leadership development
We develop your leadership pipeline by guiding Site Leaders through a management training program.
Find out how you can start using Springboard Summer in your classroom
How will it benefit my family?
Reading growth
Instead of falling behind during the summer, children improve their reading and start the next year ahead of the game.
Joy
Families are also grateful for the bonding experience Springboard affords them as they embark on the reading journey with their child.
Tools & resources
Families receive a customized collection of 7 books, along with access to an online library with thousands of books in multiple languages. Weekly workshops empower and equip parents to be effective home literacy coaches. Families also have an opportunity to earn additional tools including books, school supplies, and tablets.
Community
Family workshops consistently average 90%+ attendance, creating a vibrant community of parents and teachers that support each other in realizing a goal they share: children’s educational success.
“Seeing parents teaching their children to read, it’s the most powerful thing I’ve seen in education.”
School Principal
Philadelphia, PA
“In the beginning, Marcus was all ‘Why do I still have to go for school in the summer?’ Now, that we come in together on Wed. for workshop, that makes him more excited. It’s a bonding time for us. “The other day, we were in an IHOP with his dad, and we’re waiting for the food, and Marcus is like, “‘Let’s play a game; what words on the menu start with a B; what things can you see that start with B?’ “Since we started coming to workshop, I’ve converted my family room into a learning room; I’ve got things all over the walls so I can teach Marcus the same way we do here. I teach my nephew, too.”
Catherine and first-grade son, Marcus
Philadelphia, PA
“My son’s outlook on reading has changed since he has started Springboard. I was concerned about his reading because he needed to focus more on understanding what he reads and also reading in general. Now he wants to read every night before he goes to bed.”
Anabel, Mother
Oakland, CA
“When I go back to school I’m going to be the best reader in my class since I did Springboard this summer.”
Student
“My child is going into 2nd grade. It’s always been a struggle to encourage her to read before bed. Now, the reading log helps. She says, “Mom, we haven’t read yet, let’s go read!”. She set a goal for herself, saying, ‘Mom, make sure you time me! Last night I read for 20 minutes. Tonight, I want to read for 30.’ She is more self-motivated now.”
Parent