As the school year ends and summer begins, students often look forward to a well-deserved break. However, the long summer away from the classroom can lead to a phenomenon known as “summer learning loss,” where students suffer a loss of skills and knowledge from the previous school year.
Between 70% and 78% of students across elementary grades experience a decline in math skills, and students between 5th and 6th grades show the largest drop, with 84% of students demonstrating a summer slide in math.
This can make the transition back to school in the fall more challenging. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to keep young minds engaged and learning throughout the summer months. Here’s a guide to help students and parents prevent summer learning loss.
Set a Routine
Maintaining a routine helps provide structure, which is essential for keeping learning on track. Consider summer activities, such as 20-30 minutes of daily reading, daily physical activity for 30-60 minutes, and playing board games. Reading is one of the best ways to keep a child’s brain active and prevent learning loss. And regular physical activity boosts brain health, reduces anxiety and stress, and gives kids opportunities for adventure.
Go to the Library
The library is a great place to take kids during the summer to help prevent summer learning loss. Libraries encourage reading for pleasure and they have amazing resources for learning, even for math. From books about shapes and basic math skills for younger kids to project-based STEM books for older kids, science and math skills can be supported all summer long.
Incorporate Learning into Everyday Activities
Throughout the summer, the basic activities of home life present opportunities for learning:
- Cooking can help children improve math schools as they learn about measurements and fractions.
- Gardening can help children gain knowledge about botany, biology, and ecology.
- Taking care of pets teaches responsibility.
Embark on Travel Adventures
From international travel to staycations, traveling with children gives them an opportunity to discover history and enhance cultural awareness. Sometimes being a tourist in your own town can be a great way to shift your child’s perspective about where they live. Even visiting grandparents and talking to them about how different life was when they were children can help expand young minds.
Take Advantage of Educational Apps and Websites
Even if you remain mindful of screen time during the summer, there are many educational apps that can help keep students’ minds learning and growing. Khan Academy, Duolingo, and other edtech solutions can help limit summer learning loss.
Lumen Touch’s all-in-one enterprise management solution goes beyond the capabilities of typical student information systems. Our all-in-one solution is unparalleled in the education arena. Experience a seamless technological solution that will save you time and money while also allowing your students and teachers to focus on improving their wellbeing. Request more information by emailing us at sales@lumentouch.com.
Combating Summer Learning Loss: Effective Strategies for K-12 Students
As the school year ends and summer begins, students often look forward to a well-deserved break. However, the long summer away from the classroom can lead to a phenomenon known as “summer learning loss,” where students suffer a loss of skills and knowledge from the previous school year.
Between 70% and 78% of students across elementary grades experience a decline in math skills, and students between 5th and 6th grades show the largest drop, with 84% of students demonstrating a summer slide in math.
This can make the transition back to school in the fall more challenging. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to keep young minds engaged and learning throughout the summer months. Here’s a guide to help students and parents prevent summer learning loss.
Set a Routine
Maintaining a routine helps provide structure, which is essential for keeping learning on track. Consider summer activities, such as 20-30 minutes of daily reading, daily physical activity for 30-60 minutes, and playing board games. Reading is one of the best ways to keep a child’s brain active and prevent learning loss. And regular physical activity boosts brain health, reduces anxiety and stress, and gives kids opportunities for adventure.
Go to the Library
The library is a great place to take kids during the summer to help prevent summer learning loss. Libraries encourage reading for pleasure and they have amazing resources for learning, even for math. From books about shapes and basic math skills for younger kids to project-based STEM books for older kids, science and math skills can be supported all summer long.
Incorporate Learning into Everyday Activities
Throughout the summer, the basic activities of home life present opportunities for learning:
- Cooking can help children improve math schools as they learn about measurements and fractions.
- Gardening can help children gain knowledge about botany, biology, and ecology.
- Taking care of pets teaches responsibility.
Embark on Travel Adventures
From international travel to staycations, traveling with children gives them an opportunity to discover history and enhance cultural awareness. Sometimes being a tourist in your own town can be a great way to shift your child’s perspective about where they live. Even visiting grandparents and talking to them about how different life was when they were children can help expand young minds.
Take Advantage of Educational Apps and Websites
Even if you remain mindful of screen time during the summer, there are many educational apps that can help keep students’ minds learning and growing. Khan Academy, Duolingo, and other edtech solutions can help limit summer learning loss.
Lumen Touch’s all-in-one enterprise management solution goes beyond the capabilities of typical student information systems. Our all-in-one solution is unparalleled in the education arena. Experience a seamless technological solution that will save you time and money while also allowing your students and teachers to focus on improving their wellbeing. Request more information by emailing us at sales@lumentouch.com.