What is the summer slide? And what can be done to stop it.

Let’s be honest. Both students and parents look forward to summer break. The frenetic rush of the school day schedule is grueling: wake up, pack lunches or ensure everyone has lunch money, homework complete and in backpacks (or digitally turned in), acceptable clothes on (at least the shirt if virtual learning is happening), and everyone in the car to make it to school on time. Rinse and repeat 180 times!

Everyone deserves time to take a deep breath and enjoy a little downtime. But too much downtime can pose problems: the summer slide.

What is it? The summer slide is a regression of academics over the summer months due to lack of reading and math practice. According to a study conducted by NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association), students in 3^rd-5^th grade lost about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break. For slightly older students in 7^th grade, the numbers are even more troubling: 36 percent in reading and 50 percent in math.

Statistics vary by student population. Children from low-income families tend to regress more than their middle class and upper middle class peers due to lack of opportunities and access to quality summer programs. Also younger children from any background in kindergarten through 2^nd grade tend to lose more because they are simply asked to learn more.

The good news: there are many things a student can do to not only avoid the summer slide but can actually continue to think, learn, and grow over the summer. Many are free or inexpensive.

What it takes to avoid the summer slide

In simplest terms kids need to read over the summer and work with numbers. And it doesn’t take much to keep skills sharp. According to research by Colorado State University, reading only four or five books over the summer is enough to prevent an academic reading regression.

Math is another story. Research from Harvard University reveals that giving kids math worksheets is not an effective method for avoiding a summer slide. It takes a more integrated approach. Read on to learn a few fun ways to sneak math into your kids’ summer routines.

Strategies to incorporate reading

• Let kids choose to what to read. Graphic novels like Diary of a Wimpy Kid are great choices over the summer.
  
• Read aloud to your kids. This improves listening comprehension – (every teacher will thank you!) and it builds critical background knowledge that your child can use to make connections to other texts they read.
  
• Sign your kid(s) up for a reading challenge. In Central Florida the Orange County Public Library has a summer reading program aimed at children of all ages. Click on the link for more information.
  
• The Scholastic book company has its own online reading program. Click on the link for details: https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/games/.
  
• Let your kids explore apps and websites. We Are Teachers has an excellent list of the best 25 reading apps with descriptions of each.
  
• Take a virtual field trip. With COVID-19 still a concern, the Internet allows the educational world to come to you. Good Housekeeping has an extensive list of possible destinations including Colonial Williamsburg and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Strategies to incorporate math

Do not forget math. Often times parents understandably focus on reading but overlook the importance of keeping math skills sharp over the summer. As the Harvard research referenced above states, simply handing your child a worksheet will not produce gains nor reduce loss. It takes a more thoughtful approach.

Children with learning differences need more creative ways to stimulate their interest and curiosity. ADDitude Magazine, which focuses on children with ADHD, has a great list of suggestions on how to creatively incorporate math into summer.

• Set up an old-fashioned lemonade stand. Mixing the lemonade requires measurement and working with fractions. And of course selling the product requires handling money and making change.
  
• Incorporate sports. The next time you go to a game or watch one on TV – which ever sport it is – ask your child to keep score or track a player’s stats. How many points has he or she scored? How many total yards has a player gained? What is a player’s batting average?
  
• Plant a garden. Gardening requires a bunch of calculations such as depth of planting the seeds and required spacing between them, frequency and amount of watering, and how and when to harvest the bounty.
  
• Errand estimation. The next time you go out to run errands in the car, ask your child to estimate how far the store is in miles and how long it will take to get there. After arriving at the destination, check on the estimates and compare to the actual distance and time it took. If you have a second location to go to, repeat and challenge your child to be closer with his or her estimate than the last one.
  
• Play math games. Games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, and Racko all require calculating with numbers, categorizing information, and using strategy to win.

Conclusion

The Summer Slide is real and affects different students in different ways. It is safe to say that any child that does not read or work with numbers over the summer will regress and lose some academic gains made during the school year. The good news is that are many fun ways for students to get in some reading and handling of numbers over the summer.

While parents and students look forward to a more relaxed schedule during the summer, incorporating some reading and math is essential for students to continue to grow. If you have any questions about how to avoid the Summer Slide, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.