As another school year comes to a close, parents may worry about children losing essential academic skills over the summer. Huntington Learning Center Outreach Director Al Karim Shivji said the concept of the ‘summer slide’ isn’t just a myth.
“There's a really old concept called the summer slide and it's real,” Shivji said. “It has an impact on students. A lot of students are going to regress during the summertime. Knowing that there's regression happening and knowing that there can be something done about it is important.”
This is especially important during major educational jumps, such as when a child moves from elementary school to middle school. For example, if a child struggles with math in fifth grade and doesn’t practice those skills over the summer, they can experience more difficulty when they begin learning more advanced math in sixth grade.
“What we often see is those deficiencies start to stack on top of each other,” Shivji said. “If we can prevent that summer slide, if we can get ahead of the game, fill in the gaps and push them a little bit further, then we can anticipate having a really strong year.”
When children lack essential skills, such as reading, they are often taken out of their classroom for additional instructional time, which can leave students feeling behind or left out. Summer is a great time to solidify these essential skills to set children up for success in the year ahead.
“Getting a kid who can't read or identify some letters to read within the summertime, so that nobody knows they couldn't read the year before...that’s a great opportunity,” Shivji said. “Helping [your child] be successful is a gift that just keeps on giving.”
Here are five things parents can do to help keep their children engaged over the summer:
1. Emphasize active reading: Reading is a great way to keep kids engaged over the summer, but it's essential to make it an active activity rather than a chore. Encourage children to summarize, analyze, infer and draw conclusions from what they read. This not only improves their reading comprehension but also strengthens critical thinking skills.
2. Make everyday tasks educational: Turn everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, into learning opportunities. Challenge children to solve math problems or make budgeting decisions while shopping, helping them apply academic concepts to real-world situations.
3. Set goals and incentives: Motivate children to continue learning by setting achievable goals and providing incentives for their accomplishments. Whether it's earning points for completing tutoring sessions or working towards a desired reward, setting goals can help children stay focused and motivated.
4. Make learning fun: Keep learning enjoyable by incorporating games, hands-on activities and interactive experiences into summer learning. Examples include exploring educational apps, visiting museums or attending STEM camps.
5. Be a role model: Engage in family activities that promote learning, such as reading together, exploring nature, or conducting simple science experiments. By showing enthusiasm for learning, parents can inspire their children to do the same.
Tutoring at Huntington Learning Center is another great way to prevent the summer slide. To enroll in tutoring today, visit https://huntingtonhelps.com/locations/cedar-park-north-austin-tx/.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
