School Partners

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KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  The Kirtland Air Force Base School Partners volunteer program finished the school year going strong. In seven weeks, School Partners provided 133 hours of academic tutoring at Sandia Base Elementary School - 266 tutoring sessions to help students improve their math and reading skills. The School Partners plan to work during the summer to ensure the program is ready to go soon after school starts in August.

Summer breaks can have a negative impact on a child's school performance, but parents who make learning rewarding and fun can help keep their children's skills sharp throughout the summer.

Children who read during the summer generally maintain their reading skills, and those who see their parents read, or who read with their parents, generally score higher on standardized tests.

Summer reading programs are available that give prizes for reading. "Reading Is So Delicious!" at the base library is for children from preschool through age 18, and runs through June 30. Children will need to read (or be read to) for seven hours to complete the time tracking card. Small prizes will be given for every completed card turned in. Each week, one card from each age group will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Visit the library to sign up.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Library's "Dream Big, READ!" runs through July 20 for readers of all ages, with a variety of prizes, including weekly prizes for children up to age 11. Prizes are awarded for completed reading cards (10 hours) are returned to the library for those age 12 and up. There will also be a systemwide grand prize drawing. Visit any of the libraries to enroll.

Dion's Pizza is also in the reading program lineup, with its "Club Read" program for children in preschool through sixth grade. After reading six books, fill out the scorecard and return it to the restaurant for prizes. Complete another scorecard by reading another six books and take it to the Albuquerque Isotopes Parks for more prizes and entry for the grand prize drawing. Visit any Dion's location for more information and scorecards.

Math skill improvement is also available. The math curriculum at SBES and many other schools in town is "Everyday Math." An important part of it is the use of games to practice skills. Information on games used in Everyday Mathematics is available at http://instruction.aaps.k12.mi.us/EM_parent_hdbk/games.html.

If your children like to spend lots of time on the computer, check out websites they had access to during the school year. SBES students had access to "Planet Turtle," "BrainPoP" and "Starfall."