Irmo teachers drive reading home to pupils

The trunk of Kellee Edwards’ car is a bookmobile this summer for 30 students who attend H.E. Corley Elementary School in Irmo.

Edwards and fellow teacher Jenny Qualls stop by students’ homes twice weekly to deliver material as part of an effort to keep reading skills strong during the youngsters’ 10-week break from class.

“We’re trying to keep things rolling so we don’t spend as much time in catch-up when they come back,” Edwards said.

Edwards and Qualls – both reading specialists – decided to test the idea after efforts like reading suggestions and keeping the school library open didn’t prevent what educators call the summer slide.

They enlisted families to take part in the drop-ins before classes ended in early June.

The pair pack up to 500 books in baskets that are available to check out for a week, talking with families about what has been learned during routes totaling 43 miles.

Books offered to first- through fifth-graders and their siblings – purchased through fundraisers – are sorted based on age, ability and interests.

Parents applaud the two teachers for going the extra mile in encouraging literacy, saying it enhances performance in other classes.

“I want them to improve and be more,” Larry Cheeseboro said of his three granddaughters. “Without reading, it’s going to be tough and hard to do that.”

The informal approach makes reading fun instead of a chore, parents say. “With them coming to our home, it furthers that,” Catrinia Jones said.

Henry and Angela Harris changed the way they talk in front of their daughter Alani, 8, because of her improved comprehension gained from reading more this summer.

“My wife and I used to spell out words in certain conversations when we didn’t want her to know things, such as a gift coming for her,” he said. “We can’t do that anymore.”

Edwards and Qualls rate the effort a success even though the results won’t be clear until classes resume in late August.

It will continue next summer. “We plan to keep doing it, “ Qualls said.

School Principal Judy Franchini embraced the idea as an way to promote academic progress when school’s out.

“All I did,” she said, “was say yes.”