As June approaches, students are looking forward to their summer holidays. While the summer break is an important time for relaxing and recharging, parents and educators can help their students by promoting strategies to prevent or reduce summer learning loss.
Summer learning loss, also known as the summer slide or summer setback, can be significant and has been of interest to researchers for over 100 years. According to research:
- on average, students lose one month’s worth of learning over the summer;
- declines are sharpest for math-related subjects;
- the higher the grade level, the higher the loss.
Parents play a crucial role in helping prevent summer learning loss and supporting continued academic growth while also enjoying their holidays. The following five strategies help mitigate the summer slide across all ages:
- Encourage reading: Reading is an excellent way to maintain and improve literacy skills. Encourage your child to read regularly by providing access to age-appropriate reading materials and visiting libraries and bookstores. For younger students, consider setting aside dedicated reading time each day or establishing a family reading challenge.
- Create a learning routine: Establish a consistent schedule that includes designated learning time. Set aside specific periods each day for activities such as reading, practicing math, or engaging in educational projects. For older students, a great way to prevent learning loss is to revisit and read through their class notes and completed assignments.
- Plan educational outings and field trips to museums, science centers, historical sites, or nature centers. These experiences provide excellent hands-on learning opportunities to spark your child’s curiosity and interests.
- Look for summer camps, classes, or workshops that focus on specific subjects or skills your child is interested in. These programs provide structured learning environments and opportunities to explore new areas of knowledge and experience.
- See a tutor: Even though your student may have successfully passed their high school or university exams, continuing to meet with a tutor on a regular basis will ensure that they stay engaged with the material they learned and be better prepared to pick up where they left off in September.
The key is to strike a balance between maintaining academic skills and also enjoying the holidays. By making learning enjoyable, relevant to their interests, and celebrating their achievements along the way, families play a crucial role in setting their students up for life-long success.