As summer programs wrapped up, students across the country were reaping the benefits of using The Juice to stay engaged, informed, and learning throughout the break. Teachers know the challenges of combating the “summer slump” — a period when many students experience reading loss due to lack of engagement. The Juice tackled this head-on by delivering daily news stories tailored to various reading levels, ensuring that kids remained connected to real-world content and continued building crucial skills like critical thinking.
The Juice provided a steady stream of informative reading that captivated students, kept their brains active, and strengthened their reading comprehension skills. Educators found that The Juice’s content, covering a wide variety of news for kids, not only kept students informed but also motivated them to continue learning even during the summer months.
Preventing Reading Loss with Informational Text
The “summer slump” is a well-known problem where students lose valuable literacy skills due to a lack of regular learning activities. To prevent this, The Juice offered a daily dose of reading informational texts and tips for preventing the summer slump, which helped students stay sharp and avoid setbacks when they returned to school in the fall.
Amy Pages, Director of Programs of College & Career Readiness at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, shared the inspiring story of a 9th-grade student from Guatemala.
“The Juice program has empowered many members of the Boys & Girls Club, giving them the confidence to take charge of their own learning. For one 9th grade student who recently migrated from Guatemala to Florida, this support was life-changing. Facing significant language barriers, he struggled to fully engage in his education and social experiences at school.
Yet, with unwavering determination, he completed his Juice activities every morning, even participating from home when he couldn’t attend the program in person. The Juice program played a crucial role in helping him recognize English words and make meaningful connections, enabling him to contribute to class discussions on current events.
On the first day of school, this determined student asked for an English tutor, ready to fully commit to learning the language. He credited his summer work with The Juice articles as the motivation and encouragement he needed to take this leap.
The Juice program not only helped him learn English but also provided him with the confidence to embrace a new language and further his educational journey.”
-Amy Pages
Director of Programs of College & Career Readiness
Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
By providing informative texts every day for summer programs, The Juice helped students like this 9th grader prevent reading loss and gain the confidence to participate fully in their education.
Keeping Students Engaged with Real-World Content
During summer, it’s easy for students to disconnect from the world of learning. The Juice’s ability to provide fun articles and news to kids helped students stay aware of global events while keeping them engaged with their education.
Mr. Evans, a teacher at Conniston Middle School, used The Juice to create dynamic discussions around social studies articles and real-world events. His students analyzed maps, timelines, and political viewpoints, sparking conversations that allowed them to connect these stories with their own lives.
This hands-on approach helped students develop critical thinking in the classroom by encouraging them to consider multiple perspectives and think deeply about the issues presented in the news.
The Juice didn’t just provide students with informative reading — it encouraged them to stay connected to the world and actively participate in their own learning.
Keeping the Brain Active with Critical Thinking
Summer break offers a time to relax, but it’s crucial for students to keep their brains active. The Juice provided opportunities for critical thinking by delivering informative text that challenged students to analyze real-world events and draw meaningful connections between them.
“Reading the daily news and analyzing different perspectives made me realize how powerful storytelling is in shaping our understanding of the world.”
For some students, like Marjorie S. Fisher at Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach, The Juice even sparked a new passion. Reading the daily news for students made her realize how powerful storytelling is. The program inspired her to pursue a future in journalism, showing how news for kids can not only educate but also motivate students to follow their dreams.
Helping ELL Students Master English Over the Summer
The Juice is about more than just furthering English comprehension skills. With reading levels as low as 5th grade, it can also help English language acquisition get off the ground in the first place. ELL students can read articles that utilize simpler vocabulary without losing any of the context of the story.
“The Juice was especially effective for our English language learners (ELL),” Mr. Evans noted, emphasizing the platform’s ability to reach students of all backgrounds.
Ms. Foti, Program Coordinator at Lake Worth Community High School, praised The Juice for helping English language learners (ELL) build confidence. The Juice has become a natural part of their routine.
“As a teacher in the program, I’ve seen firsthand how The Juice is an incredible resource for our English language learners, helping them build confidence and find motivation in their journey to learn a new language. What’s great is that our students don’t view The Juice as just another assignment to complete; instead, it has become a cherished part of their Club routine. They genuinely enjoy it! By utilizing the technology that our students already love, The Juice effectively supports the development of their foundational reading skills in a way that feels natural and engaging.”
Ms. Foti (Program Coordinator- Lake Worth)
Instead of viewing it as another assignment, students found joy in reading the daily news. The Juice allowed them to practice foundational English skills while engaging in critical thinking about the stories they read.
The Ideal Summer Learning Tool
The Juice proved to be the ideal platform for summer programs, offering a unique combination of informative reading and engaging reading comprehension lessons to make teaching current events simple. By delivering current events kids news daily, The Juice kept students informed, prevented reading loss, and helped them build critical thinking skills.
Whether it’s providing a reading activity for ELL students, offering balanced social studies articles, or keeping students engaged with informational reading, The Juice remains a powerful tool for educators seeking to support learning during the summer and beyond. Through partnerships like the one with the Boys & Girls Club, The Juice has proven its ability to help students not only stay connected to the world but also develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
