Spring ISD Students Get to Travel the World’s Rivers this Summer through Journey Into Reading

HOUSTON – May 23, 2019 – Spring ISD elementary and middle school students have the chance to travel the world’s rivers this summer without ever leaving home, thanks to the district’s Journey into Reading program.

The goal is to strengthen literacy skills all summer long while broadening students’ horizons as they learn about different rivers  through reading, math, music, movement, art, science and social studies.

“This is the second year of our Journey into Reading, which goes way beyond a traditional summer reading list by giving students fun activities that enhance and deepen literacy skills,” said Khechara Bradford, assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments. “Our goal is to keep our students engaged all summer long so they come back to school in August well prepared and ready to learn.”

This year’s Journey program focuses on seven rivers of the world, a change from last year when students learned about summits across the globe. Like last year, students will find all the information they need to take part in the program at www.springisd.org/passport, where they should start by printing a passport or picking one up at school.

The passport provides a guide to all seven featured rivers, including a menu of activities to choose from.  Students who read at least one book and complete at least one activity for each of the seven rivers (and return their passport back to school in August)  will be entered into a prize drawing for a Kindle. A total of 15 Kindles will be awarded, five each for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

The site is also available in Spanish at www.springisd.org/pasaporte.

To help students complete their passports, the district is holding special events over the summer at various campuses and locations. Summer school libraries will be opening their doors so that students can have access to the books. [See below for specific campuses and times.]

“We hope students will feel excited about reading this summer, not because they have to, but because it’s fun and offers a great window into the world, a real adventure” Bradford said. “Reading is way to experience new places and meet new people without ever having to leave home. There’s no better way to spend the summer.”