May 10, 2013
Dear Parents:
As another school year draws to a close,
the “summer slide” usually begins. It’s the time of year when students, who do
not read regularly during summer break, lose some of their reading skills. To
stop the “summer slide” and encourage students to build literacy skills during
their time away from the classroom, the Mississippi Department of Education
(MDE) will implement its “Find a Book Mississippi” summer reading campaign.
As part of this campaign, the MDE, with
assistance from MetaMetrics, will provide resources and tools to help students
prepare to read this summer. With these tools, librarians, educators and
parents can generate a list of books for children that they will find
interesting and challenging. Use the “Find a Book” search tool to look online
for thousands of book titles using students’ grade level, or if applicable,
their Lexile measure. A Lexile measure, which determines reader ability and
difficulty of the text, is not necessary when using the “Find a Book” tool. The
search tool is free and can be found at www.Lexile.com/fab/MS .
We all want to see student achievement
grow in Mississippi, and good reading skills are central to student growth. As more
rigorous Common Core State Standards approach full implementation and 3rd
grade literacy laws take effect, it is important that we work together to
provide every opportunity for children to learn and grow academically.
I hope
you will join me this summer in this statewide initiative to promote “Read a
Book Mississippi” For more information, visit our website at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/communications/findabook/. Thank you for your continued support of
your local school and your help in making this campaign a success.
Sincerely, Lynn J. House, Ph.D. Interim State Superintendent of Education | 