It’s that time of year when we get ready to say bye-bye to our students. As we approach summer vacation, here are a few ideas that can help combat the issue of summer learning loss. According to LDOnline, research suggests that schools can address summer loss by providing structured summer school and extended school year programs for students. Summer programs can be an effective intervention for purposes of academic remediation, enrichment, and/or acceleration of learning. The Harvard Graduate School of Education has identified four tips to address summer learning loss. We can share these tips with parents and some of us are parents who can utilize these tips with our own kiddos.
1. Highlight math and reading in everyday activities,
2. Encourage children to read independently and/or read with children,
3. Play educational games, and
4. Find small ways to practice reading and math at home.
During the summer, parents can incorporate learning into everyday activities like shopping or cooking. We can encourage students to read over the summer by challenging them to read a certain number of books. Kids can also visit their local library to check out books. We can encourage children to read high-interest novels, comic books, etc. For younger students, bedtime stories are important. Learning can be fun with board games like monopoly that encourage math and problem-solving skills. Parents can also enroll their children in summer camps and programs that promote learning. There are many ways to make learning fun and address the issue of summer learning loss. It’s important to encourage continued learning over the summer for all students, especially students with disabilities.