Summer is almost upon us, and the kids are itching for the freedom it brings. Even I, some 15 years out from the end of my graduate schooling, still get infected with the summer buzz. But for students, summer break often comes with a significant cost.
The “summer slide” refers to the phenomenon of student learning loss over the summer months. Academics have been tracking this since the 90s, and what they have found is alarming. On average, students lose around 20 percent of their reading skills and around 30 percent of their math skills over the summer. Studies find that these losses compound over time and disproportionately impact lower-income students. What’s more, when combined with the learning loss already experienced during COVID shutdowns and virtual learning, many students are performing well below grade level.
But the summer slide is not inevitable. Research demonstrates that there are concrete steps families can take to ensure kids maintain their end-of-year proficiency in reading and math.
For elementary-aged students, reading 30 minutes daily helped combat reading skills loss. Children should read books at their just-right level that are interesting and engaging to them, and they should continue to read higher-level books with their adults or older siblings. To encourage the retention of math skills, younger students should regularly play board and card games that require counting and should be included in “daily math” around the house. Have your child count the number of garlic gloves you need for dinner or how many rubber ducks will be left in the bath if you take two away. Once you start incorporating daily math, you’ll see hundreds of opportunities to use it.
For middle and high school students, reading 6 books a summer is enough to prevent learning loss. Again, these books should be at the right level and should be of the child’s choosing. You can engage older kids in more complex daily math, like totaling items while at the grocery or having them help calculate tips. Plus, older kids should be clocking 1-2 hours of math practice per week on sites like Khan Academy, IXL, or Delta Math.
While the prescription to combat the summer slide is simple enough, we know it can be hard to manage consistently.
Empowerment EDU provides in-home reading and math to families on the Hill to ensure that kids maintain their skills and start the new school year off strong. For more info about Maggie Tatum, EF Coach and Educator, visit Empower EDU.
