For the ninth year, SPLASH works to counter the summer slide in children's reading skills

Charlestown’s youngest learners made the most of every moment the summer with the help of the MGH Institute's Brain, Education, and Mind (BEAM) Lab, which once again joined forces with local elementary programs for the Summer Program in Literacy and Scholarship (SPLASH). Now in its ninth year, the program features MGH Institute graduate students teaming up with classroom teachers at Warren-Prescott Elementary School, and staff at Courageous Sailing, to ensure that reading skills don’t just stay afloat, but sail on while the children are out of school, defying the typical summer “slide.”

"The program is 100 times better because we have the IHP students," said Tina Champagne, a science specialist for third, fourth, and fifth grade at Warren-Prescott. "The MGH students giving that active support really goes miles. It's added so much to the program — we couldn't do it without the IHP."

For Champagne, the best part goes beyond academics, and into the mentorship offered by IHP students. "My favorite part is seeing our students sitting next to the IHP students, and really getting closer with them," she said.

A Model Built on Collaboration
Graduate students were paired in two-on-one groups with classroom teachers at Warren Prescott and worked side by side for all five weeks. Program supervisor Marcy Chant says days begin with a half-hour of team planning before students move into classrooms for a full slate of subjects — English language and arts, science, art, gym, and community-based outings. Two afternoons a week are set aside for group discussions based on topics like behavior management, school-based scheduling, and service delivery. 

Graduate students slowly progressed to leading their own lessons by the final week of the program. Their lesson designs included topics like social-emotional lessons with shared book reading, storytelling with skits, and classroom rotations focused on language expansion games, learning sign language, and responding to an engaging writing prompt. The growth that stemmed from these lessons was on full display at the project showcase, where their hands-on creativity and clear speech reflected a strong understanding of the topics they were discussing. 

Camp supervisor, clinical instructor, and student in the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD program KaRynn Sheranian described the daily collaboration as a true partnership. "They worked collaboratively throughout the five-week program, co-planning lessons, finding ways to embed language into daily instruction, adapting classroom materials, and problem-solving around individual students and behavior management," she said.

Courageous Sailing added the additional dimension of sailing for interested children. Site coordinator Danielle Aucoin raves about how the model allows students to develop academic skills without it feeling like they’re at summer school. "The kids are working in academics, but in a new setting, project-based learning," said Aucoin. "So, they don't feel like they're in school, but then they are still benefiting in reading and writing." 

Many of these students end up progressing far enough in their sailing skills to become camp leaders themselves and sail independently; a very special part of the program is that most of the camp leaders were once in the program themselves. The kids also had access to school lunches at the YMCA, free of charge like the rest of the SPLASH program. 

To celebrate their hard work, the SPLASH community wrapped up the summer with festive traditions: students chose a brand-new backpack and delighted in treats from a visiting ice cream truck, both generously organized by RSM whose staff spent time to caringly pack the backpacks with school supplies and welcomed the students to the ice cream truck. Courageous Sailing hosted a day of hands-on presentations centered on science and creativity, giving students the chance to showcase the impressive knowledge and skills they gained during their time in the program to an audience of local politicians, leaders, and educators.

Moments That Define the Program
Whether it is the children and their counselors, the counselors and their supervisors, or the kids themselves, connection is the main priority of the SPLASH program. Chant recalls a time when two IHP students organized a clothing drive of age-appropriate college sweatshirts for the program's kids. This gave the students the chance to discuss their futures, goals, and dreams while also receiving new clothes for their back-to-school wardrobe. A pattern became abundantly clear: students sought out their IHP mentors first for support, whether academic or social. Not only a success for student growth, but a genuine experience for IHP mentors.

For Sheranian, the reward has been watching how her students have bloomed into confident clinicians because of these students. "The graduate students have shown incredible work ethic, professionalism, and critical thinking skills, and it has been so rewarding to supervise and observe the type of successful student clinicians that represent the IHP so well," she said.

Why It Matters
BEAM Lab Director Dr. Joanna Christodoulou “beams” at how the program’s goals extend into long-term learning for IHP students, well beyond the summer months. MGH Institute students aim to build skills in whole-classroom instruction, inclusive service delivery, and evidence-based literacy practices on top of broader community care like closing pandemic-era learning gaps and addressing ongoing funding and staffing challenges in schools. The partnerships between the BEAM Lab, school programs, and IHP placements showcases the ways in which each group gains valuable resources by working together.

"This is an opportunity to learn classroom skills in a fun, collaborative, camp-style environment," Chant said. "It's different from a typical school placement, as students learn primarily in a push-in classroom model, in academic and less structured activities, as well as working very closely with Boston Public School staff."

For the Charlestown community, that translates into something simple but powerful: kids who stay engaged with reading over the summer, teachers and site staff who get an extra set of hands and expertise, and IHP students who leave with the kind of real-world experience no textbook can teach — capped off, fittingly, with backpacks, ice cream, and a well-earned celebration of everything the students accomplished.

Charlestown’s spirit shines through its students—whether elementary learners or future clinicians. Throughout the summer, the Navy Yard buzzes with energy as students, teachers, and staff dedicate their days to reading, learning, and community. Thanks to experiences that go beyond the classroom, IHP and SPLASH participants head into the fall carrying not just new knowledge, but memories and skills that last a lifetime. Backpacks zipped and ice cream enjoyed; everyone is ready to tackle the new school year, inspired by another unforgettable summer.