How To Avoid Summer Learning Loss

This blog post will help parents and students understand how to keep mentally active during the summer months.

We’ve all heard of the dreaded summer learning loss. This is the end result of long summers spent away from the classroom and a structured environment. The summer months actively hinders a student’s learning process and leave teachers bewildered on their return. A recent study revealed that teachers admitted to ‘re-teaching’ their students old material when the school term commences each year.

It is well documented that on average, students score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they do at the beginning of summer (on the same test). Some of the areas most affected are Math and Reading.

The cause does not simply fall on ‘lazy summer days’ but quite simply that students are not being engaged in the same way they are when they are in the classroom. With this in mind, ExamTime decided to put together some helpful suggestions around what your kids can do to keep their brains active over the summer months. Summer learning loss is a real issue but can also be easily overcome. Here are some simple and fun suggestions that don’t have to cost you a fortune this summer:

• Stay Informed:

This is a personal one I’m going to share with you. When I was a boy my folks (during the summer) told me I had to read one newspaper article every day. Naturally I thought I could pretend and all would be ok. Sadly. Mom saw through me and continued that, “we would like a quick synopsis afterwards”. My attempts to argue that the sport section would suffice were stonewalled so each day I’d read an article, any one I wanted, from a broadsheet newspaper. Why not try the same? It takes no time at all, engages memory and keeps them up to date on current affairs.

• University Life:

Whet a student’s appetite for University by enrolling them in any one of the summer session programmes that are offered by Universities across America. Summer sessions provide the perfect setting for keeping students engaged during the summer while also giving them, and you, an insight into college life. We have a section on summer sessions that you can read over too. If summer sessions are too costly or too long, why not set time aside to visit a number of universities in your state? Pick a selection of universities or colleges that have courses your child may be interested in and go for a tour of them.

• Create fun resources with GoConqr:

As we have said time and time again, when the school bell sounds, who said the learning has to stop there? With GoConqr

, Notes, study tools and Quizzes are just a click away. While other students are letting summer get the better of their brains, keep your child’s active with a daily dose of fun Flashcards or Quizzes that the whole family can enjoy anywhere. It doesn’t even have to be school related, but the simple process of creating a Quiz or Flashcard deck engages the brain and keeps it healthy.

Take a look at this Mind Map that I created and why not try creating one of your own?

• Work Experience:

The summer months are perfect for getting some part time work experience. This will develop responsibility in students and depending on the area, means they could end up working on a till or with money. This can help to maintain Math and problem solving for a student not to mention giving them some extra spending money to enjoy the rest of their summer. Resume building also becomes an important aspect as they will need to work on this before attempting to get a job.

• Volunteer:

If your child is too young to get a job or isn’t yet ready to deal with money and employment, volunteering is always an option. This will also give them the opportunity to develop a good level of responsibility. Students can volunteer in many areas from churches to animal shelters or retirement homes to summer camps. It doesn’t have to be every day. There is the option to do one or two days of the week and the organisation will be more than happy to have the extra support. Let’s not forget the sense of accomplishment.

Do you have any other suggestions how to beat the summer learning loss? If so why not share them with us in the comments below.