Summer is a time to relax, visit family and friends, and soak up the sun – and it’s also a great time for continued learning opportunities. Without academic support during the summer months, students often experience something called the “summer slide,” a phenomenon that affects a student’s ability to retain information from one school year to the next. Regressions in academic proficiency can cause significant issues when students return to school after summer break, but there are effective ways to combat learning loss. Students who participate in summer enrichment opportunities often excel in the following school year, while those experiencing the summer slide may be left playing catch-up.
Impact of Summer Slide
Summer break is a much-deserved time for students. After 9 difficult months of learning and testing, taking time to relax is important for students’ mental health and wellbeing. However, according to the Brookings Institution, students who experience the summer slide lose about 25-30% of the information they learned the year prior. Finding ways to combat this phenomenon is pivotal to the success of our next generation.
Role of Continuing Education
The brain is a muscle that constantly needs to be enriched with information in order to productively function and retain knowledge in the long term. Structured academic engagement opportunities for students over the summer are an easy way to keep developing minds engaged and prepare students for the following academic year. Summer programs, reading initiatives, and leadership-building activities can all provide the necessary stimulation to keep students’ minds sharp and ready for the new school year.
Ways to Prevent the Summer Slide
Reading: Reading is an extremely accessible way to prevent the summer slide. By spending just 20 minutes a day reading, students continue to learn new concepts and develop a stronger vocabulary throughout their summers. Encouraging a habit of daily reading can make a significant difference in maintaining academic skills from year to year.
Summer Programs: Participating in summer enrichment programs like camps, summer classes, and hands-on programs are an easy way for students to continue learning throughout the summer. Whether it’s conducting science experiments, traveling to Washington D.C. monuments, or learning how to build a fire, activities that expand a student’s skillset can help prevent the summer slide.
Leadership Building: Leadership skills build confidence in students both in and out of the classroom. Some summer programs, like the National Student Leadership Conference, emphasize leadership skills in their curriculum. Working to develop these skills during a school break is a great way for students to stay engaged during the summer months, prevent learning loss, and sharpen skills that can apply to all areas of life.
As we look for ways to uplift the next generation, creating pathways that help keep students engaged, even while school is out, is essential to their continued success. Preventing the summer slide is not just about maintaining academic performance; it’s about fostering a lifelong love for learning that can empower students to reach their full potential. By prioritizing continued education and enrichment activities, we can ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive year-round.