Third Grade Reading Dragons

Through partnership with Auburn City Schools, the Auburn Public Library provides a classroom outreach program titled "Third Grade Reading Dragons" (TGRD). Each month during the school year, a programming specialist provides classroom visits to every third-grade classroom in ACS. During the visit, the programming specialist provides information about the Auburn Public Library, shares 2-4 books on the appropriate reading level (through book-talks and read-aloud), and encourages the joy of reading and learning through inquiry-based conversations with students. By partnering with the school system, the Auburn Public Library is able to reach every third grader in the system, not just the students who are able to come to the library.

• According to the Children's Reading Foundation, 74% of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade will never catch up.
• TGRD first launched in the 2017 school year
• Each school year, the Library provides a book to every third grader
• Each school year, the Library sponsors a field trip to the Library where students experience a storytelling visit with a children’s author
• At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, APL surveyed students using the Project Outcome Education and Lifelong Learning Survey.
  • 89% agreed or strongly agreed that they learned something helpful
  • 88% felt more confident about what they learned
  • 86% intend to apply what they learned
  • 87% were more aware of resources and services provided by the library