Summer Reading Program Success

As New Mexico continues building on significant literacy gains, educators across the state are working to ensure students keep learning long after the school year ends.

At Bernalillo Elementary School, students are spending part of their summer strengthening reading and math skills, building confidence, and preparing for a successful start to the next school year.

Through New Mexico’s Summer Reading Program, funded by the New Mexico Public Education Department, students are receiving targeted literacy instruction in small-group settings designed to help them continue making progress during the summer months.

At Bernalillo Elementary, that impact is already evident.

“This is my third year serving as a coordinator for the program, and I’ve seen firsthand how beneficial it has been for our district,” said Jennifer Trujillo.

Last year, Bernalillo Elementary served 77 students through the program. According to Trujillo, 74 of those students demonstrated growth on reading assessments between the beginning and end of the program.

“That’s something I am incredibly proud of,” Trujillo said.

The success reflects a larger statewide commitment to literacy. In recent years, New Mexico has made significant investments in evidence-based literacy instruction, professional learning, literacy coaching, and targeted interventions to help students become stronger readers.

Programs like the Summer Reading Program, which added math into its curriculum this year, are helping schools build on that momentum by ensuring students continue learning even after the final bell of the school year rings.

One of the program’s greatest strengths is its small-group model. Students are grouped with just a handful of peers, allowing teachers to provide individualized instruction tailored to each student’s needs.

For Lexi, who is teaching and working with incoming kindergarteners, that personalized attention is invaluable.

“The biggest benefit is having much more one-on-one time with students,” she said. “It’s not as chaotic, and it’s easier to keep everyone focused and engaged at the same time.”

Each day, her students practice letter recognition, letter sounds, writing, spelling, and early literacy skills through hands-on activities.

That same individualized approach continued throughout the program, even as students move into higher grade levels.

Raelynn, who teaches incoming first graders in the program, said the small group size allows educators to address learning gaps in real time.

“Working with just four students every day allows for much more individualized instruction,” she said. “You’re able to work one-on-one with students and immediately identify what they’re struggling with.”

For students transitioning into first grade, that support can be critical.

“Programs like this help students continue building their skills over the summer instead of losing ground,” Raelynn said. “We can work one-on-one to strengthen skills and fill in learning gaps, which helps set them up for success when they start first grade.”

Additionally, the benefits extend well beyond foundational literacy skills.

Patty, who works with incoming fourth-grade students, said the program allows teachers to focus on specific areas where students need more support, rather than trying to cover every standard and subject for a large group of students.

“What’s especially valuable about this program is that we can really focus on individual students,” Patty said.

In just two weeks, she has already seen students gain not only confidence in their abilities as readers, but also in their excitement towards reading.

“My rising fourth graders are reading ‘The One and Only Ivan’, and they’re asking me every day, ‘Can we read more? Can we read more?’” she said.

For Patty, moments like that demonstrate the true impact of summer literacy instruction.

The small-group setting also creates opportunities for students to learn from one another. Patty described watching stronger readers model effective reading strategies for classmates who may be struggling.

“As adults, we learn from watching other people, and kids are no different,” she said. “In a smaller-group environment, students feel more comfortable taking risks, observing their peers, and adopting positive learning behaviors.”

Riana, who during the school year is a high school history teacher and is spending her summer working with incoming sixth graders, said the experience has reinforced the importance of building strong literacy foundations early.

“It’s been a great reminder that all students benefit when concepts are broken down into manageable steps,” she said.

She believes summer learning opportunities help students maintain critical skills while also fostering a lifelong appreciation for learning.

“You can absolutely see a difference between students who continue reading and learning over the summer and those who don’t,” Riana said.

But for her, the impact reaches beyond academic growth.

“One of the most important goals is helping students develop a love of learning, reading, and personal growth,” she said. “Programs like this help students understand that school is about more than completing assignments. It’s about discovering who they are, exploring different perspectives and cultures, and building skills that will serve them throughout their lives.”

That combination of skill development, individualized support, and confidence building is exactly what Trujillo hopes students take with them when the program ends.

Before the summer session started, she personally called every participating family to explain what students could expect.

“This isn’t daycare,” Trujillo explained. “This is a valuable learning opportunity.”

Students are working in small groups, receiving individualized instruction, and continuing to strengthen their literacy skills throughout the summer.

But perhaps most importantly, they’re learning how to recognize their own growth.

Trujillo makes a point of showing students their assessment data and celebrating their progress.

“I tell them, ‘Show off what you’ve learned. Show off what you know,’” she said.

When students can see their improvement, she said, it motivates them to keep learning and builds confidence that carries into the next school year.

As New Mexico continues building on recent literacy gains, educators at Bernalillo Elementary School believe programs like this play an important role in ensuring students return to school ready to succeed.

And if the students asking for “just one more chapter” are any indication, the program is doing more than strengthening literacy skills.

It’s helping create confident readers who are excited to learn.