One hundred Troy Elementary School K-3 students are attending camp this week.

But not the kind of “camp” one might imagine – a summer reading camp.

“The two-week Summer Reading Camp was open to all students and was offered on a first-come basis,” said Geoffrey Spann, TES principal. “The students who are attending mirror the regular classroom. We have students who are reading above grade level, students who are reading at grade level and those who are below grade level. That’s how we had envisioned the camp. And, the interest was such that it worked out that way.”

The TES Summer Reading Camp is sponsored by Scott Foresman and taught by 36 members of the Alabama Reading Initiative staff.

“The children who are participating get the benefit of added reading instruction by an outstanding staff of teachers,” Spann said.

“There are two teachers in every classroom and the teachers swap classes so the instruction is varied.”

Teachers from the Troy City and Pike County School Systems have taken advantage of the opportunity to observe the ARI staff as they teach.

“The classrooms are open for teacher observation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and some teachers are taking advantage of this opportunity,” Spann said. “This is a good way for our teachers to get new ideas for their classrooms, and it’s also an opportunity for the ARI staff to build expertise in order to better give support to classroom teachers.

“Our students benefit from the ARI Summer Reading Camp, our teachers benefit and the ARI staff benefits so the camp is a win-win-win situation.”

The Summer Reading Camp is held at no cost to the Troy City School System or to the students.

“This is the only camp in the state, and we are proud to be able to offer it to our students,” Spann said.

“It has been a good learning experience for the students and the benefits will be evident in the classroom in the fall. And, the teachers who observed will have new and innovative ideas for their students. The students who attended will benefit directly and many other students will benefit indirectly. This is an opportunity that we are fortunate to be able to offer at Troy Elementary School.”