Sustaining Momentum: Your Support Keeps Da’myla Reading All Summer
By Eric Steckel | August 19, 2024
Thanks to You, Ms. Joan and Da’myla Continue Their Learning Journey Beyond the Classroom
Because of you, Da’myla and Ms. Joan formed a bond that has continued to grow through summer reading get-togethers.
You know that a child’s learning journey doesn’t end when the school year does. But many children in Oakland don’t have the resources to continue learning over the summer months.
Ms. Joan Cardellino is keenly aware that we don’t have the time to waste.
“The more fun you can have, the more receptive the kids can be to learning.”
Joan is a dedicated Succeeding by Reading tutor. She worked one-on-one with second-grader Da’myla* last year. The two formed a close bond in the process. Thanks to your support, Da’myla thrived in reading, and is continuing to make progress this summer!
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Da’myla’s connection with Ms. Joan extended beyond the classroom. During the end-of-year celebration, Ms. Joan reached out to Da’myla’s mother, Lashawnda, with a heartfelt thank-you card. She also offered to meet Da’myla over the summer to read. This gesture led to an ongoing summer reading partnership at the Oakland Public Library. Their visits include checking out books and enjoying the nearby park.
Your gifts provide Da’myla the joy and excitement of discovering a great book.
Ms. Joan is passionate about preventing the summer slide, the learning loss that can occur during the long break. “Da’myla made a lot of progress but is still significantly behind grade level. If she goes 10 weeks over the summer without reading, some of the progress Da’myla made would be lost,” Ms. Joan explained.
Their library visits have been a delightful mix of education and fun. Da’myla, now equipped with her very own library card and self-checkout skills, explores both fiction and nonfiction. From an Encyclopedia of Manga to children’s cookbooks, Da’myla’s interests are broad and varied. Ms. Joan even engages her in cooking discussions, linking reading to everyday activities like making grilled cheese and learning where cranberries come from.
A circle of care over the summer
“The more fun you can have, the more receptive the kids can be to learning.”
The FamilyBridge program plays a crucial role in this story. You support a collective effort from families, schools, and communities that sparks a child’s learning. Pia Dandan, Succeeding by Reading program manager, remarked, “It warms my heart to see how this ‘Circle of Care’ can continue outside of our tutoring clinic during the school year.”
Your caring heart helped form the bond between Ms. Joan and Da’myla. And it underscores the importance of continuous support. Da’myla’s delight in finding books about little girls of color—“girls that look like me!”—is a testament to the caring, personalized support she receives.
Your gifts make these connections possible. This summer, Da’myla continues to be nurtured in a circle of care—and enjoys special trips to the library and park with her special tutor.
Every dollar counts. Your $15 gift sends a child a tutor for a day. Please help more children like Da’myla learn to read!
Tutor a child! Yes, I can help a child learn reading and math!
I want to tutor a child in reading or math!
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* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.