The Summer Slide: What Is It and How Do I Combat It?

While the summer slide may sound like a fun backyard activity, it is actually a phenomenon that can combat a substantial amount of the progress your child has made throughout the school year. “The summer slide” is a term coined by researchers in a study that showed how children lose a significant amount of the knowledge they acquire in reading and math throughout the school year over summer break. As concern surrounding the summer slide grew and more studies were conducted, it was revealed that students may lose as much as 20% of their reading gains from the school year and up to 27% of their gains in math during the summer break. 

Although the risk of the summer slide is real, so is the need for kids to get outside, spend time with family, and enjoy their summer break. So how do you balance summer slide prevention and summer fun? Here are some ways to make sure your child is getting the best of both worlds this summer:

  1. Enroll your children in academic tutoring or support sessions over the summer: Rather than have your child regress over the summer, why not take the opportunity to have them get ahead before the upcoming school year? Enrolling your child in weekly academic- focused programs or sessions is a great way to ensure not only that they are not losing material they have learned, but that the material is being reinforced and built upon. Dedicating a few hours per week to academic tutoring sessions that are geared towards mathematics, reading, and writing is a sure-fire way to combat the summer slide. It can be easy to fit this time into your busy summer schedules; whether it be an hour first thing in the morning before sports camp, or an hour in the early afternoon on the way home from art camp, it is surely a time investment worth taking!

  2. Create a family summer reading challenge: Reading is one of the areas that takes the biggest hit from the summer slide, but it is also an area that can be easiest to vamp up over the summer. Rather than assigning your child a new book they have to read in their room every week, make it a summer- long challenge for the whole family! Have the whole family (mom and dad included!) read as many books as they can over summer break. A fun way to track progress throughout the summer is to create a leader- board chart that each family can update as they complete a book. Allow your child to pick grade- level and ability- level appropriate books that speak to their interests and motivates them to learn. Remember that books can be read before bed, in the car, at the beach, camping, or anywhere else the summer may take you!

  3. Take the classroom outside: Summer is a time meant to be outside and to take in the sunshine, so take the lesson outdoors! Find fun and creative ways to incorporate math and reading lessons outdoors. Some ideas may include sidewalk chalk math or keeping a nature journal.

While the summer slide may sound like a slippery slope to fall down, it can easily be avoided with the right summer programming in place! 

 

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Written by Alexa Johnson