SLIPPERY ROCK — Kathy Pranulis of Slippery Rock expected her son's reading level to improve with the summer reading program at Slippery Rock University. What she didn't expect was his change in attitude.

"He's interested now," she said, adding that was a part of reading that was tough to teach.

"I can't explain how much of a difference it makes when he goes back to school."

It's her second time through the program, since her older son finished a few years ago. That son, now in seventh grade, improved two or three grade levels since he began.

B.J. Pranulis, a third grader, wasn't sure what the big deal was. He was just happy to meet new people and get some new books to take home. Of the program's $30 cost, $20 goes toward gift certificates for the kids to buy books.

His tutor for the program, Josh Mull, said he was a struggling reader when he was in school, so he sympathized with his students in the program. Mull said he was involved in Upward Bound, a government program that was set up like the tutoring program at SRU.

Tutors are graduate students at the university in the reading education program, most of whom are practicing teachers. Mull teaches at Keystone Charter School.

"We as students can't put a value on this experience," he said.

The tutors make individualized reading plans for each child based on literacy assessments during the three-week program. This year's summer program went from July 10 to 27. A case study report is given to parents at the end of the program.

The reading program has been around for several years at SRU, but for the first time this year there was a waiting list of children who wanted to participate, according to Deborah Wells, a professor who is in charge of the program.

Children of different ages are accepted, from those entering first grade to those entering seventh. A waiting list was created, and another tutoring program is scheduled for spring.

This is also the first year she didn't advertise the program, Wells said. Most of the 20 students who attended did so because of teacher recommendations or parents who knew about the program.

Both the spring and summer programs share the same goal, according to Wells: to help kids enjoy reading and become lifelong readers.

"Three weeks is too short a time to work miracles, but children are in an atmosphere where they are successful in reading and see how much reading matters to others," Wells said. "The summer reading program is exciting, motivating and engaging."

In addition to one-on-one time with the tutor, children are involved in acting out plays, group projects and other activities related to the books. For the time they are in the program, they can check out books from the children's library in the McKay Education Building.

Melinda Wertz of New Castle said she can't believe how much her daughter enjoyed going to school in the summer.

"You wouldn't think she would but she does," Wertz said.

Wertz said the biggest difference she's noticed is her daughter's confidence level.

"She's never been a big reader and now, she'll say, 'Come and read with me,'" she said.

Kyle Maraffi and his brother Ryan most enjoyed the activities in the program, like the play, or Readers Theater, where they acted out a book.

They also enjoyed the Mystery Bag, where kids practiced using adjectives by describing an object they felt, but couldn't see.

Both rated the program as "very fun."

If ratings like this continue, it's likely the waiting list will too, Wells said.