SHAPING UP FOR SUMMER AHEAD

SHAPING UP FOR SUMMER AHEAD

Research has long informed parents as to the potential for learning loss among students who don’t engage with educational activities during their summer break from school. Students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they would at the end of the school year, and most can lose an equivalent of up to two months of instruction in the course of a summer without learning.

Yet summer can also be the best time to get back in shape when it comes to correcting academic skill gaps or even getting ahead of the class by the time summer ends. Skill gaps measure the difference between a student’s actual level of academic performance and the required level of performance for a given grade. While poor grades are certainly indicators of when a child is struggling academically, the most common areas in which students will develop skill gaps are reading, writing and math.

Set a Summer Reading Schedule
Creating a summer habit for reading is the first step to help your child retain what has been learned in the classroom.

“The most successful students read regularly for fun,” notes Michelle Scott, Director of Tutoring Club. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Shakespeare, sci-fi, or comic books, what matters most is students should read regularly to increase their level of reading ability with each new book they pick up.”

Just as the body needs exercise to stay fit, the brain needs stimuli to stay in shape. Reading invigorates the brain and stokes imagination.

Start a Summer Journal
Keeping a journal of family and personal activities throughout summer months is one of the best ways to engage your child to improve writing skills that otherwise wane with summer days.

A summer journal provides excellent writing practice as well as an outlet for expressing thoughts or feelings. Encourage your children to write about things that happen at home or on vacation and about things they want to remember or do.

When your child chooses to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them together.

Step Up Summer Math Skills
Practicing math skills with your child at home is paramount for combating summer learning loss.

Math requires more proactive effort on the part of parents to engage students in summer learning; exercises like teaching your child to balance a checkbook or how to calculate coupons for shopping trips are a good way to start.

You can also find engaging math exercises online, such as MetaMetrics which offers a free six week summer math challenge to help you engage your student through everyday activities.

Or ask Tutoring Club of McLean about enrolling in Summer Camp programs that guarantee your child will strengthen areas of academic struggles and advance the reading, writing or math skills required to finish the summer ahead.

Summer Camps at Tutoring Club are a great way to keep your child’s mind in shape while school is out.

Michelle Scott
Owner/Director
Tutoring Club of McLean
703.237.TUTOR (8886)
Email:McLeanVA@tutoringclub.com