Post Messenger Recorder -

When Shelley Lentz learned she had received the Impact Grant she had applied for from the Alliant Energy Foundation, she knew she could make a huge impact on the lives of young readers locally in Belleville. As the Elementary Literacy Coach, Shelley Lentz immediately set out to use the $5,456 award (complimented by an additional $800 from school board member Mike Treder's "Awesome" fund) to further enrich young readers' literacy opportunities.

Lentz set to work and developed a summer reading program for about 60, K-2nd grade students. As part of the program, each of the participating students are set to receive fifteen "just right" books throughout the summer, helping to build their own "at home" libraries. Additionally, Mrs. Lentz will be meeting with each student throughout the months of July and August to read their books with them.

Lentz notes, "Reading in the summer is crucial for students to maintain or increase their reading skills." By seeking out this grant, Lentz put her passion for increasing summer reading opportunities into action and young readers in Belleville are now reaping the benefits of her determination to make such a chance for literacy growth possible. As students receive their own "little libraries" as part of this grant money, the gift of literacy is embraced by families who can further help foster a love for reading by sharing these stories together with their young readers.

The School District of Belleville is lucky to have committed teachers like Lentz as part of its dedication to offer wonderful learning opportunities for its students. Similarly, Lentz had the perfect support in her own district to launch the summer reading program as students' excitement to receive their first five titles during the last week of school escalated at Belleville Elementary. Lentz acknowledges, "The excitement over the books was palpable as students perused their choices and found familiar characters. It was often difficult for them to choose only five!"

The summer reading program in Belleville will offer a great bridge to combat what some refer to as "the summer slide" – a time when students leave the classroom for summer break and may not have the ability at home to maintain literacy skills gained during the academic year. Reading new titles throughout the summer with a familiar teacher, on their own, and with family members, will hopefully instill a love for reading that will continue to excite these young readers and further develop their literacy skills so they can pick up where they left off entering the classroom again this next fall!