Third Grade Reading Dragons

Through a partnership with Auburn City Schools (ACS), the Auburn Public Library provides a classroom outreach program titled "Third Grade Reading Dragons" (TGRD). Each month during the school year, library staff provide classroom visits to every third-grade classroom in ACS. During the visit, staff provide information about the Auburn Public Library, share 2-4 books on the appropriate reading level (through book-talks and read-aloud) and encourage 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 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% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they learned something helpful.
  • 88% of students felt more confident about what they learned.
  • 86% of students intend to apply what they learned.
  • 87% of students were more aware of resources and services provided by the library.