Summer is in full swing and for most children that means time at the pool, sleeping in/ staying up late, hanging out with friends, taking vacations and going to summer camp. But summer can and should be a time for children to continue their learning. Summer learning loss is a very real thing, but there are several steps that parents can take to help prevent the “summer slide” and make sure their kids are ready to come back to school in August fully prepared to start a new year.
KEEP YOUR CHILD READING
Although my children have always complained about summer reading, it is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent summer learning loss. At Blessed Trinity Academy, we have a required summer reading list for our 4th through 8th grade students, but reading is encouraged at all grade levels. If you school does not require summer reading, the problem is easily solved by visiting your local library. Usually, they offer summer reading challenges and will often offer prizes for accomplishing different reading goals.
Why should a child continue to read over summer break? Here are some facts quoted from Scholastic:
● Did you know? By reading four or more books over the summer, kids can avoid the
“summer slide,” or gap in academic skills, when they return to school in the fall.
● Kids who read a million words a year score in the top 2 percent on standardized tests. A
million words may sound like a lot, but it’s only about 25 average-length novels.
● Kids learn 4,000-12,000 new words every year reading. That means three months
without books can make a huge difference in their vocabularies and test scores.
PRACTICE MATH TOGETHER
Most children don’t want to spend every day doing math, especially during the summer. However, it’s important for your child to practice retaining the knowledge gained during the school year. Math builds on itself, so it will only become more difficult if your child forgets where he or she left off. Consider sending your child to a STEM summer camp or gamify math at home using math-related apps and games. Any time spent with this subject can help your child prepare for the upcoming school year. On a personal note, I have purchased the workbooks in the Summer Solutions series which was daily activities that provide on-grade level work that children can use as review throughout the summer.
VISIT MUSEUMS, ZOOS and OTHER PLACES TO PROMOTE LEARNING
Children are less likely to experience learning loss if they keep learning over summer. Museums are a fun, inexpensive way for your child to interact with his or her favorite subjects. Pittsburgh has amazing opportunities for children to learn and have fun. From the Children’s Museum to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium to Living Treasures to the Aviary, there are ample opportunities for children to learn in ways where they do not even know they are learning. Once you’re there, encourage your child to participate in hands-on activities like fossil digs and interactive exhibits. Often these places offer fun and interactive camps that provide hands on learning experiences.
GET CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING
Do you have a child who loves the art like drawing, painting, singing or acting? Summer is also the perfect time to keep those creative juices flowing. In early childhood, children are encouraged to explore and be creative in school. Throughout the summer, encourage your child to create something, whether it’s through writing, painting, photography, or film making. If your child is into creating art, writing, singing, playing instruments or acting, see if there’s a summer camp or class he or she can attend. Any opportunity to create and be part of something bigger gives your child a chance to learn and grow.
We encourage our students to develop a love of learning, even over summer break. Blessed Trinity Academy continues to help children grow to their fullest potential and become leaders within their communities. We offer unique and dynamic learning environments that engage students and encourage them to become confident and responsible adults. To learn more about BTA and what sets us apart for the rest, contact us today.
Meredith Kandravy, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Blessed Trinity Academy
Catholic School Classrooms at Work 