Summer learning loss has been well documented for decades. Students who struggle with learning tend to be the most vulnerable. In fact we know that three different things happen for children in the summer. Some children regress in their learning skills. They can actually lose more than two months of learning in reading and math each summer. From grades 1 to 6 this would result in more than a year of learning lost! Some children hold fairly steady with their learning over the summer and return to school with the skills they basically left with. Other children actually gain learning ground and return to school with a learning advantage. What is the difference? Much of these differences can be attributed to the amount and quality of educational experiences a student has over the summer.

At a very minimum, if we want to prevent summer learning loss there are a number of educational experiences that we can provide our children that cost very little money. Children should read, write, compute, play, and connect. Joining a library reading program can be a great way to make sure children read throughout the summer. Children can keep a journal over the summer. Even if they don’t write it in every day, they could have a set day of the week that they write in their journal each week. A simple way to practise math skills is to play math games or solve a word problem each day. For math game ideas, click on the “learning games” tag for this blog under Categories. More and more research has been coming out over the past few decades to support the benefits of play. Large amounts of time spent watching movies, television, playing video games, texting, and surfing the web, take away time for play. Set limits on your child’s “screen time” either daily or weekly. Children make connections in so many ways. Connections help deepen and solidify learning. One of the best ways to help your children make connections between subject matter, themselves and others, or their personal lives and society at large is to talk with them. Family dinners can be a great time for discussions. Additionally, reading books together, watching movies together, and visiting museums and art galleries can help foster enriching conversations that help your children make connections. Teach Yourself’s book Help Your Child Succeed at School gives lots of solid information and advice on having enriching interactions with our children.

Recently, I heard that children with educational summer experiences tend to academically outperform their peers in high school. The best way to ensure that your child does not lose any ground this summer and returns to school in September with a learning gain is to make sure that they have an education plan for the summer. Especially for children who struggle with their learning in school, this gain can help bolster their confidence which in turn improves their learning capabilities. Below are two forms that you can use to help children stick to an educational plan. The “Make a Daily Schedule” form helps you and your child plan out their activities. This can be done 1-4 times a week or you can increase the time allotments and use it for the entire week. The “Student Report on Daily Work Schedule” is to be completed at the end of their learning sessions. Younger children will need more guidance. This reflection helps solidify and deepen their learning and is a great way to report to you.

Make a Daily Schedule
Student Report on Daily Work Schedule