Summer vacation is a magical time for children all across America. No schoolwork, no early mornings and no responsibility. Amid all the fun in the sun, however, summer break can also pose risks to your child’s education.
According to The Brookings Institution for research, there are three major drawbacks of summer vacation with regard to a student’s education: “on average, students’ achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month’s worth of school-year learning, declines were sharper for math than for reading, and the extent of loss was larger at higher grade levels.” Bearing this in mind, what is a parent to do in order to counteract the uglier aspects of this “summer slide” phenomenon?
Summer Reading Programs
One of the most effective methods for maximizing learning opportunities during the summer is to have your child participate in a summer reading program. Nearly all public libraries in the nation program summer reading into their calendars, and some even offer incentives and prizes for successful completion of the program. Similarly, bookstores like Barnes and Noble organize summer reading programs in tandem with their children’s books departments. Activities like story time sessions and interactive reading games help to bolster excitement around reading for younger children.
Summer School
There is a slight stigma regarding summer school that those who attend are lagging in their studies. On the contrary, summer school can be an opportunity to get ahead as well. Before the spring term ends, reach out to your child’s school counselors to get additional information regarding curriculum, cost and enrollment.
Math Prep
In addition to reading, math abilities are at a risk of taking a nosedive during your child’s summer months of recreation. Fortunately, there are many possibilities for practicing math in between trips to the pool, and not all of them need to be costly. Mathnasium offers summertime math programs online for all grade levels. Most local colleges and universities offer math camps and courses for a few weeks out of the summer as well. If you do a bit of digging, you are sure to find a practical math practice regimen that suits your student’s needs.
No matter how you decide to tackle the “summer side,” we hope you and your child make the most of the break by boosting their academics. Good luck!
