Introduction
It’s summertime and the fun has just begun. The kids are out of
school and ready for a break. Does this mean they should take a break from studying too?
This is the question parents must face every year. When the regular school schedule comes
to a close, it is up to parents to pick up where the teachers left off, or allow the kids
to have a break until school starts again.
Idle Minds Forget
The time off between school years gives children time for relaxation and fun, but it also
causes a lull in learning that allows them to forget a significant portion of what they
have learned. A lack of educational reinforcement during this period makes it necessary
to spend time catching up by reviewing previous instruction when school reconvenes (1).
This method of learning is inefficient and deprives children of advantages that would
have been available through continuous learning during the summer.
Parents as Teachers
Parents are left the sole responsibility for instructing their children until school
begins again. Little direction is given to parents on how or even if they should proceed
with instructing their children during the summer. Parents who understand the importance
of summer instruction, however, feel responsible for helping their children to retain
what they have learned in the previous year (2).
With the understanding that children need education during the summer,
the question becomes one of how to provide the instruction and make it fun. This is their
summer after all. It is a time they look forward to as being a break from the schoolwork
that has kept them busy in the previous school year.
How Much is Enough?
To help children obtain the intended benefit of summer instruction, it should not be
turned into a burdensome task that consumes all of their free time. The goal is to get
them to use their knowledge enough to retain it through the summer. This can be
accomplished with various schedules and methods. It is up to parents to decide how much
learning is enough for their children.
Quality is as important as quantity when it comes to summer learning.
Many summer learning activities such as daily workbook pages can be accomplished in an
hour or less. The relevancy of the material to a child’s grade level is equally as
important as the amount of time a child spends studying.
Subjects to Focus On
Studies have shown that certain academic subjects are easier for children to forget than
others. Math skills suffer the worst because the home environment generally does not
provide many opportunities to make calculations as in the classroom. An average of over
two and a half months worth of math skills are lost over the summer months (3). A decline
in reading skills has also been demonstrated, although the loss is not as severe as in
math. (4). These facts indicate that summer studies should place particular emphasis on
math and reading in addition to other subjects.
Getting it Done
No summer learning plan is worth anything without supervision. Don’t assume that
your children will consider their work to be important unless you do. It is not necessary
to stand over your children while they do their work, but you should check periodically
to see that they are getting it done. It can also be helpful to correct their work when
possible to help them identify mistakes they are making. This helps them to avoid future
mistakes and shows that you care about what they are doing.
Fun Summer Learning Ideas and Activities
There are many ideas and activities that can be used to provide summer learning for kids.
Providing variety in what children learn can give them additional perspectives and make
the experience more fun. Use different educational tools and media to keep learning
interesting. Arrange some of your summer activities to include learning opportunities at
places of historical and literary value. Use creativity in teaching your children and you
may find that education seems less like work and more like fun.
The following are some suggestions for summer learning ideas and
activities:
Educational workbooks
Workbooks are available for children with daily activities that correspond to their grade
level. These books can either provide a broad spectrum of academic subjects or specific
subjects in which your child may need improvement. Many of these workbooks have daily
assignments that can be completed in an hour or less. These books are an excellent
starting point for summer learning. They are available at local bookstores or online book
dealers. |
Call the school for
guidance.
Get a head start by talking to your calling the office at the school or talking to one of
the teachers for your child’s next grade (1). You can get valuable information
about the curriculum for the coming year and textbooks that may be used. This information
can give you an understanding of what to prepare for and how to tie previous learning
into the coming year. |
Visit a library (5)
Take several trips to the library during the summer. Any topic that interests your child
will help build and maintain reading skills. Encourage your child to read in leisure
time. If you are able to find topics that will be studied in the coming year, reading
will be even more productive. |
Explore Safe Web Sites
(6)
There are many good educational web sites on the internet. Help your child to explore
safe web sites with good educational content. Many sites have games, stories, and other
fun activities that make learning seem like play. |
Museums, zoos, and historical
sites.
Add an educational twist to summer trips by visiting museums, zoos, and historical sites.
This offers kids a chance to learn about history and a little bit about the world they
live in. |
Play number and word
games.
Number and word games can help children to form relationships to reading and math.
Younger children can get practice with building words and spelling. When possible, turn
off the video games and get the kids to play some of these. |
Educational Camps or Tutors
(3)
Children who need a little extra help can take advantage of specific academic camps or
tutoring. This kind of help provides added attention and helps children to develop in
areas where they may be struggling. These resources can also be used when a child has a
particular interest and would like to explore specific subjects in greater
detail. |
Conclusion
Summertime learning is a good idea for any student. It is an opportunity to reinforce
recently learned material and to prepare for the school year to come. It is important for
parents to recognize the need for learning in the summer and to be involved as much as
possible. A summer learning program should consist of a variety of educational and fun
activities. With a little creativity, parents can make summer learning as much fun as it
is educational.
Sources:
1. Cooper, Harris. “Keep Kids Academically Sharp During
the Summer”
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/05/cooperoped._print.ht
[Accessed 4 June 2007]
2. Micoch, Tami, “Summer Learning Gap”
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1d0a6b9e-88f3-4d8e-9bbf-cf2985726d81
[Accessed 4 June 2007] Updated 25 May 2007
3. Peters, Ruth A. Ph.D., “Prevent Summer Learning Loss in
Your Kids”
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13388817/
[Accessed 4 June 2007]
4. www.familyeducation.com, “Stop the Summer Brain
Drain!”
http://school.familyeducation.com/summer/cognitive -processes/38453.html
[Accessed 4 June 2007]
5. California Green Solutions. “Summer Time Learning is
Fun”
http://backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=356
[Access 5 June 2007]
6. www.slu.edu “Education Expert Offers Tips to Keep
Kids’ Minds Active During Summer Vacation”
http://www.slu.edu/readsotry/more/6910
[Accessed 4 June 2007]
|
