5 Ways to Combat Summer Slide
“Summer slide” is the tendency for students, especially in low-income families, to lose some of their academic and social-emotional achievements gained during the previous year of school. Research shows that children in low income households fall behind in reading an average of 2 months during summer vacation. Summer slide is cumulative, so these learning losses build up every year. How students spend their summers greatly impacts whether they graduate high school and go on to college. With the end of the school year approaching, here are 5 ways you can work to combat summer slide for your students.
- Set a Summer Reading Goal:
Reading 4 to 6 books over the summer has the opportunity to prevent the decline in reading achievements. Check out our Summer Reading List for suggestions.
- Keep a Summer Journal
Students can write about their days this summer in their journals! If they can’t think of anything to write about, try out these writing prompts.
- Science Projects!
Keep your student’s brains active with some fun science experiments that they can do over the summer. Simple science experiments such as bottle rockets, DIY slime, and homemade lava lamps are a way to keep your students entertained and thinking during the vacation.
- Encourage parents to get involved in the School Summer Reading Challenge
The scholastic summer reading challenge is open to students for 18 weeks. As students read, they can unlock digital rewards as they complete weekly reading challenges.
- Encourage Summer Learning Programs
One way to combat summer slide is to challenge students to engage in summer learning programs. These programs are fun and engaging.
It’s important for students to continue to be intellectually engaged throughout the summer months. learning loss doesn’t have to happen with the right supports in place.
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