How To Repair Summer Learning Loss: Practical Tips You Can Use NOW!

Can You Repair Summer Learning Loss?

Are you getting your kids ready to go back to school? 

We often think about the essentials like:

Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Lunch Boxes, Snacks, Clothes... so much to get ready.  

 

What about the Kids....Don't forget the children!

What is Summer Learning Loss?

At the end of the school year your child graduated from school and was promoted to the next grade if they achieved learning objectives that defined them as "on grade level". 

Due to the length of summer, your child may have actually lost the "on grade level" label.  It is entirely possible that they will start the year half a grade level lower than when they left school last June.

Teachers spend a lot of time early in the new school year reviewing the material from the previous grade in order to re-aquaint the child so they are actually ready to begin the new grade level requirements. 

With just 15 minutes a day, you can give your child the edge that teachers spend weeks trying to accomplish.  You can help your child repair the summer slide!

I refer to this as the Summer Slide, and I don't mean the one at the water park.  

What You Can Do To Repair the Slide...Fix the Learning Loss

The summer slide is a serious thing for all students, but especially those who struggle in school.

Whether a child is Learning Disabled or not, they WILL likely experience the infamous summer slide.

Loss of skills over the summer is like the "move back 3 spaces" spot on a board game.  It doesn't just slow your child down, it actually moves them backwards, and requires them to work harder just to break even!

It's the 3rd Week of August, What Can I Do Now?

I know what you're thinking...  

"Why are we talking about this at the end of the summer?"

 Well, there is a good reason.  If you think your child has suffered from the summer slide, you can still give them an edge by priming them for what is to come this year.  

15 Minutes A Day Is All It Takes

Take the next few weeks and dedicate 15 minutes every day (or even just 5 times a week!) to getting them ready for school.

Spend 10 minutes reading to them, and just 5 minutes on a skill they will need for next year.  

Every grade has a different set of what you might call "required skills," but there are a few basics:  

Tips For Preparing Kindergarteners:

• Practice ABCs of course!!  

• There are also numerous sight words that kindergarteners can learn.

Tips For Preparing 1st Graders:

• Continue the sight words, and put them together in fun sentences.  

• Practice those sentences numerous times for fluency.  

• Have them point to the words as they read aloud so you know they are connecting spoken and written language.

Tips For Preparing 2nd Graders:

• Now that they have a larger word bank in their little heads, have them read aloud to you!

• You should practice math facts, since those they are beginning to be a BIG deal!

Tips For Preparing 3rd Graders:

• Keep practicing reading aloud, and ask those "read between the lines" questions.

• Encourage your child to read for enjoyment and understanding.  

• If something doesn't makes sense, go back and look into it.

•  And.... Math Facts!  They'll likely be starting multiplication this year! 

Tips For Preparing Older students 

They will NOT want to sit down and have you read to them, or even consider letting you drill them on math facts, but you still have some options:  

• Set aside 30-45 minutes of time for them to read to themselves.

• Make sure they have access to books that they enjoy.  

• There are also many math fact quiz sites online.  

Just 15 Minutes Per Day Can Repair the Summer Slide

Just a few minutes a day, even though it seems like it is last minute, may make that "move back 3 spaces" more like just 1 or 2.

Anything you can do to help them get ready for school will support all the progress they are going to make this year!

Is Your Child At Grade Level?

If you are concerned that your child is not at grade level, you still have some options before the school year begins.  Academic Assessments can test your child utilizing research based methods of testing. 

These Tests Will Show You:

• Where your child is performing

• Strengths your child has! (Yay!)

• Weaknesses that NEED to be addressed

Interested in Learning More....just click the button below.

 

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