Research shows that over the course of the summer, the average student forgets nearly 60% of the math, reading and writing skills learned during the school year. For weaker students, in particular, a two-month vacation from learning can be an enormous setback.
Does learning need to take a vacation just because school is out? Summer offers a golden opportunity not only for outdoor freedom and pleasure but to expand experiences and reinforce the many skills that were acquired over the school year.
A wise parent will make sure that learning comes high on the checklist of things to accomplish over the summer break. Of course, if your child is away at camp for most of the summer, his or her learning opportunities may be restricted. But for those who are home for even half a summer, the rewards to be gained from a summer learning program cannot be overestimated.
Most children can use reinforcement in one or more of the basic skills. Whether it is reading, writing or math skills that have not gelled, or social dynamics that have bred unhappiness and frustration, the problems will inevitably resurface in September—sometimes with a vengeance.
By utilizing summer’s potential to the fullest, parents can literally reverse a child’s academic and social standing. And by seeking out available learning programs, they can do all this in ways that are stimulating, fun and immensely productive.
Here are some suggestions that will help you keep summer learning alive.
Reading Activities
• When summer vacation starts, many children want to put away their books. They want to be outside, riding bikes, jumping rope, playing ball, or cooling off in the pool. Setting aside time each day for reading may be a challenging task, but it is one you and your child will be richly rewarded for. Ask your child’s teacher for a list of appropriate books for summer reading. Be careful to supervise the selection of books at the library to weed out those with undesirable content.
• Read with your children by taking roles in stories and acting out dramatic poems. Whenever possible, tape record these sessions. Then listen to and enjoy these performances together.
• Take time to discuss the stories your child is reading. Ask questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. For example: Why do you think this character acted the way she did? What would you have done in the same situation? Do you like the way the story ended? Why?
• Make a chart to keep track of how many books your child has read. Decide together on a goal and possible rewards for reaching it.
Writing and Math Activities
• Sharpen math skills on trips—even short trips around town. For example, at the gas station, ask your child how much gas you needed and the cost per gallon. On the highway, ask your children to read the signs and check the different speed limits. Then ask them to watch the speedometer readings and notice how fast or slow the car is going. Have your children estimate distances between cities and check the estimates on a road map.
• Use the newspaper’s weather section to check temperatures across the nation and the world. This is good geography practice, too.
• Have your children select four or five pictures from magazines and newspapers, and put them together to tell a story. Ask your children to number the pictures, then ask them to tell the story with the pictures in numerical order. For variety, have your children rearrange the pictures and tell a new story using this different arrangement.
• Exchange notes instead of words at different times during the day—when getting up in the morning, at dinner, or at bedtime—or whenever the noise level becomes too high.
• Turn a large calendar into a personalized family communication center. Have your children fill in the blanks with morning messages, weather reports, birthdays, special activities, or notes to the family.
• Buy inexpensive puzzle books with crosswords and word search puzzles. Then, sit down together and solve a puzzle!
• Plan a vacation together. Find out all you can about the place you would like to visit this summer. Read maps and guidebooks. List the places you want to see along the way. Plan a budget for the trip as well.
• Make a scrapbook of photos and mementos of your summer trip. Purchase or put together a journal that kids can use to record their vacation experiences. Have your child write out captions below each item.
• Encourage children to write postcards and letters to friends while on vacation.
• Plant a garden. If you don’t have much room, plant a couple of flowers in pots. Give your child some responsibility for these growing plants, like watering and weeding.
• Visit museums, art galleries, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, waterfronts, cultural centers and historical sites to create learning experiences for the whole family.
• Visit forests, ravines, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and natural wonders, such as caves and mountains, to pave the way for informative discussions about these wonders.
Whether you opt for unstructured, informal learning for your child, or a skill-building program, don’t let the summer fly by without reaping the benefits of a learning program.
Make sure your child is given enough intellectual growth and stimulation to re-enter school in the fall in a fresh mode of confidence, eager and ready for whatever challenges are in store.
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Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld founded and directs the widely acclaimed educational program SOS, servicing all grade levels in secular as well as Hebrew studies. She offers teacher training, consulting services and evaluations. She has extensive expertise in the field of social skills training and focuses on working with the whole child. She offers a summer program called Lifejackets.
