By Jennifer Nicholson

Rowan Public Library

Have you heard of the summer slide? If you have not, you are not alone. Only 48 percent of parents with children ages 6-17 years old have heard the phrase.

Summer slide is a term that many teachers and educators use to describe the loss of skills during the summer months when students are not in school. The term summer slide applies not only to reading skills, but also math, science and overall learning skills children have learned in the previous school year.

When students return to school in the fall, teachers can spend an average of six weeks re-teaching materials and skills that students have lost during the summer months, losing valuable class time.

As June 21 officially kicked off summer, parents and students can still help maintain those important skills that students need to know and help prevent the summer slide. Students and parents can still sign up and join Rowan Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Have you heard? This year the RPL’s program is online through READsquared, an online readers’ advisory and reading program tool to track reading and activities. It is compatible with all mobile devices.   Parents can sign up at http://rowanpubliclibrary.readsquared.com/. Students within the Rowan-Salisbury School System may already be pre-registered; contact your local RPL branch children’s services for more details and log-on information.

Students in first through fifth grades can also participate in the RPL’s Math Program. On READsquared and at each branch location, students can find math sheets based on their grade level, complete math sheets and submit one sheet each week to any branch location for a chance to enter into a weekly prize drawing for free slime. All math sheets will be entered into a grand prize drawing at the end of summer on Aug. 10.

Reading during the summer does not have to be boring or keep students stuck inside reading. Books are portable and are great to take to a park, the beach or even to your own backyard. RPL provides families with suggested reading activities and ways to make reading fun during the summer, different from just reading in a stuffy old chair.

In fact, have you heard? Students in first through fifth grade can join Faithful Friends this summer and read to cats on Wednesday afternoons from noon-3 p.m. in half-hour increments, now through July 25. Reading to animals is a great way for children to build confidence and fluency in reading, as well as build empathy and awareness of animal care.

Students who read at Faithful Friends will receive a ticket that they can redeem at any RPL location for a free prize. Families who are interested in reading to cats can schedule a time by emailing sanctuarydirector@faithfulfriendsnc.org. Students must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Limit three children per adult, and no open-toed shoes are allowed. Faithful Friends is an animal sanctuary at 220 Grace Church Road, Salisbury.

For more information on Faithful Friends, or on RPL’s Summer Reading Program, contact any RPL branch locations, or visit RPL’s website at rowanpubliclibrary.org.

Holiday closing: Wednesday, all branches will be closed for July Fourth. Regular hours resume Thursday.

Summer Reading: Registration is open for all age groups, children, teen and adults. Consult your nearest branch for details. Headquarters, 704-216-8228; East, 704-216-7838; South 704-216-7727.

School age summer reading program: Ro & Mo stories featuring Mr.  Robert and Mary Ann in live action stories. While the program is designed for rising first- through fifth-graders, all ages are welcome; an adult must accompany children under 9. Tuesday, 2 p.m., South; Thursday, 10 a.m., Cleveland and 2 p.m., headquarters.

Teen summer reading: Create your own ice creams and sorbets using kitchen chemistry. Monday, 3:30 p.m., East; Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., headquarters; Thursday, 3:30 p.m., South.

Technology Club: South, Tuesday, 7 p.m. Each month, learn, discuss and experiment with technology. All ages and experience levels welcome. Light refreshments. Need more information? Call Paul at 704-216-7737.

Summer reading film: “Frozen,” sing-along edition, Monday, 5:30 p.m., East; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., headquarters; July 7, 10 a.m., South. When Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice, her sister Anna tries to save the day. Participate in their adventures. (PG, 2013, 149 min.). All ages welcome; however, an adult must accompany children under 9.

Displays: Headquarters, Piedmont Players and Carolina Historic Metal Detecting Group, agriculture in gallery exhibit; East, hand-crafted jewelry by Myrtis Trexler; South, lunchbox memorabilia by Sharon Ross.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.