The Auburn University Reading Center offers an individualized Summer Reading Program during June and July for children who are not yet reading accurately and fluently. Summer 2012 will be the 16th year for the program.

The Summer Reading Program is designed for kindergarten and primary grade children struggling with decoding, fluency, or comprehension. It is not an enrichment program for fluent readers. Junior and senior education majors work with children in grades K-2. Sometimes graduate students work with older struggling readers in grades 3-6. Kindergarteners get a head start in formal reading instruction at the hands of a positive, patient, caring tutor. First and second graders typically gain a full reading level during the summer. We expect all participants to improve their decoding ability, reading fluency, comprehension, and enjoyment of reading through participation in the Summer Reading Program. Dr. Bruce Murray, associate professor of reading education, supervises instruction.

The Summer Reading Program features individually designed lessons with explicit instruction in decoding, fluency, and comprehension as well as plenty of meaningful reading and writing. Tutors monitor progress closely during each session and give special tests during the first and last sessions to measure reading gains. After the program, tutors compose a report for parents with conclusions and recommendations for each student.

One parent wrote, "We were very pleased with the Summer Reading Program. Michael really prospered from the experience. A special thank you to Allison [Michael's tutor]. She was so kind to Michael. She also wrote Michael and us a lovely note. We certainly would recommend this program to a friend, as well as enroll our children again."

The Summer Reading Program features twelve 45-minute tutorial sessions. The Monday-Wednesday program will accommodate kindergartners, first grades, and some second graders. It runs from June 6 until July 18. The Tuesday-Thursday program, if available, will work with struggling readers in grades 3-6. It runs from June 5 to July 17. Most sessions will be scheduled between 8:00 and 8:45 AM. Tutors will contact parents at the beginning of June to confirm specific lesson times.

The cost of the complete program is $80.00, with fee to be paid on acceptance to the program. Interested parents or caretakers may follow the link below for an application form, or call (334) 844-6934, or write to Dr. Bruce Murray, Summer Reading Program, 5040 Haley Center, Auburn University AL 36849.