Each year, students look forward to summer break. They love the days filled with warm weather, fun activities…and no school! But just because the classrooms are closed for the summer, doesn’t mean children’s learning should shut down as well. Studies show that learning losses occur when young children do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized assessments at the end of summer break than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004).
There are a variety of things parents can do to support learning at home during the summer months. Family trips to the museum and other educational sites are always a great choice, but there are a variety of other activities parents can enjoy with their children, as shared in this article from Education World.
Make every day a day of discovery and learning. Before you know it, class will be back in session…and by engaging in summer learning activities, your child will be better prepared to start the new school year!
After-school enrichment is important as well! IndED Academies will be offering after-school courses this fall. Visit www.inded.us for more information.
