The Parent's Challenge
A Johns Hopkins study on national summer learning loss revealed eye-opening results. When school ends, families often think, “Whoo-hoo! No schedules!” There's a sense of elation as we take a break from academics. But many parents don't realize that summer can significantly impact a student’s progress.
The Impact of Summer Slide
Statistics show that students generally test higher at the beginning of summer than at the end. During the break, they lose valuable reading skills and, even more alarmingly, their math skills decline more rapidly. This was especially true during the COVID-induced distance learning period. As a result, many teachers find themselves reteaching last year's material at the start of the new school year. Learning loss is real, and providing your student with some academic structure over the summer can make a significant difference in preparing them for the next grade.
As parents, we know how exhausting it can be to get our kids back on track when the school year starts. Motivating them and getting them back in the game can be a struggle. For ninth graders, starting off-track is particularly detrimental—think of it as their Super Bowl. Entering this crucial transitional period, they need to be ready to hit the ground running.
So, let’s keep the learning momentum going this summer! Your efforts now will set your student up for success next year and beyond.
We can all see how crucial it is to tackle what statistics reveal about learning loss. The summer slide is a genuine issue. Sure, summer break has its perks – fewer activities, less stress, less pressure, and more time outdoors, which is fantastic. But on the flip side, students often get bored when taken out of the structured learning environment. Hence, summer learning is vital.
Pros and Cons of Summer Slide
The silver lining is that summer learning offers benefits outside the traditional classroom. Without the pressure of grades or competition, students can thrive in quieter moments. Idle time allows them to explore subjects they've studied during the school year.
For Parents: Keeping your child engaged in academic activities during summer is key. It's a great time to explore new interests and master skills without the stress of tests. Summer break is perfect for exploratory learning, letting students absorb and apply what they've learned in various ways.
Making Summer Learning Fun: Be creative and practical. If you're planning a trip, have your child map routes to find the most efficient one, discuss the terrain, and calculate gas costs. This blends different skills and enhances their critical thinking. Watching documentaries, learning history, and discussing topics can make for engaging family conversations. Keep it interactive and fun to maintain their sharpness.
During travel, reading comes naturally as children read road signs and look for points of interest. Math practice can be integrated into daily activities. Learning through exploration is vital.
Students move so fast during the school year that they often can't fully grasp concepts until summer, where they can link classroom knowledge with personal experiences. Seek opportunities outside the classroom to dive deeper into class topics. Although some learning loss happens over summer, you can counteract it with a balanced mix of educational activities based on their interests and needs.
The Main Takeaway
Ensure your child flourishes without too much idle time. Think of it like working out. If you stop exercising for three months, getting back into shape takes time. The same applies to “working out” academically. Balance is key over the summer. Too much focus on academics can be counterproductive, while ignoring academics completely in favor of fun isn’t ideal either.
By striking the right balance, you can help your child enjoy their summer while continuing to learn and grow.
How to Develop a Balanced Summer to Prevent Summer Slide
Parents can easily create an educational experience to prevent summer slide by planning ahead and pinpointing activities for their student. A Comprehensive Academic Evaluation (CAE) can help identify which skills your child mastered during the previous school year. As a parent, setting goals for your student to build on these skills will help them achieve great things over the summer. Make it fun, but establish a consistent routine. You don’t have to wake your child up at dawn to study; the schedule can be flexible, but they need to wake up with a purpose and a plan to accomplish their goals.
You can figure out which skills need more focus by having your child undergo a CAE, reviewing their report card, and spotting key indicators. For instance, do you notice math grades improving more at the end of the school year compared to the beginning?
The first half of the school year often involves refreshing old skills, while the second half introduces new ones. Talk to your child’s teachers to see which skills they recommend focusing on over the summer. Also, ask your child what they think they need to work on. What areas would they like to improve? Identifying these skills, talents, and interests is crucial for setting meaningful goals.
It's common for students to have lower test scores at the end of summer vacation than at the beginning, with math skills often declining more than reading skills. Therefore, advanced math is a great focus area. Ensure your student is learning math at the next grade level. You always want them to stay ahead.
There are various ways to help students with their math skills. For example, you could help them open a bank account they need to manage, bringing real-world applications into play. Students often learn theory in school but don’t always understand all aspects of it. For sports enthusiasts, comparing different player stats is an excellent way to build math skills. Whatever you choose, make sure to connect it back to their learning. Ensure they understand that they are developing a skill and applying it in a meaningful way. When playing a video game, break down how these skills are used in everything they do.
The key to a successful summer for students is linking every activity to education with a clear purpose. One effective strategy is to focus on reading skills. Encourage students to read and understand one book each week, integrating this with their required summer reading list. Too often, families leave reading and book reports until the end of summer, cramming everything in at the last minute. This approach sets a stressful precedent for the upcoming school year. Instead, plan and pace assignments throughout the summer. Set goals and expectations, and build the skills needed to achieve them. This method fosters a productive routine rather than a last-minute scramble. Writing never hurts, either. You want kids to write in the summertime.
Another crucial aspect of combating the summer slide is expanding vocabulary. Over the break, students should learn and define new words, understand their meanings, and use them in sentences appropriately. This practice not only builds vocabulary but also boosts confidence and transforms attitudes. When kids use stronger vocabulary in conversations, they feel more comfortable and self-assured.
Consider enrolling your child in an academic summer boot camp. These camps, when aligned with your child's interests and goals, can be highly beneficial. Whether it's a robotics camp aimed at sparking interest in STEAM or a creative writing camp to enhance writing skills, the key is ensuring your child connects with the material. Understanding the objectives and overall experience of the camp is crucial.
Developing a consistent yet flexible summer routine is important. This could include daily reading, reviewing vocabulary flashcards, taking walks in the park, or regular exercise. Let kids choose books they enjoy to keep them engaged, even as they work through their required reading list. A good reading habit over the summer can carry over to the school year.
Being an active role model in your child’s reading journey is essential. Praise and encourage them, create reading opportunities, discuss predictions, answer questions, and review their work together. This helps prevent summer learning loss and sets the stage for a successful school year.
Writing helps students stay organized, hones communication skills, provides expression, and aids in understanding literary terms. Through writing, they can create lists, schedules, argue, persuade, and influence change. It's a powerful form of expression that allows them to explore thoughts and feelings through poems and scripts. Understanding figurative language, especially in older grades, is crucial. Although some students struggle with literary pieces, consistent practice can help them grasp the nuances of figurative language.
As older students approach college and career preparation, researching these topics is a good roadmap for planning their future. Creating a resume is a valuable skill that will serve them well beyond summer break. Learning geography expands their horizons, and following favorite bands or sports teams gives them a chance to map out tours or games. Tracking the lives of heroes or family history can open doors, and exploring discoveries or inventions can be eye-opening. These are all fantastic ways to spend summer.
Summer learning provides opportunities in various settings—home, community, family, travel, learning programs, and boot camps. Students who use their time off wisely return to school more curious and engaged in current events, expanding their horizons through exploration. As a parent, being proactive, curious, and creative is crucial. Set goals and think outside the box. The possibilities are endless, but they require effort. Many parents mistakenly believe things will happen on their own, but that's not the case. It's important to put in the work; otherwise, you'll be scrambling at the last minute. Ensure summer learning benefits your child to avoid the dreaded summer slide. Prepare students in advance to maximize their potential.
