The summer slide is real. Research shows that it can cause students to forget 22 percent or more of what they learned over the school year, making a teacher spend a month of review at the beginning of the next year just to get students caught back up. This might seem like the territory of the parents, but there are some things teachers can do to help prevent summer slide.
8 Teacher Tips to Prevent Summer Slide
While family engagement plays a key role in preventing summer slide, educators can set students up for success by preemptively offering a range of tools and resources. Check out these 8 ways to send students off for the summer with confidence.
1. Look for online resources.
Learning doesn’t have to stop just because the school building is locked. Online learning can not only help keep students sharp, but can actually help them improve in certain areas by the time they get back to school. There are plenty of free resources, or you can set up some lessons on the online tools you already have access to.
2. Provide students with a reading list before they leave.
Set up a reward program upon their return so they follow through on their reading assignments. Be sure to include a variety of genres to give students a chance to read what interests them.
3. Send reading materials home.
Some students might not have access to the local library or Amazon. If all else fails, offer to send books home with students. As long as you have a system for book return when school starts, or are okay with replacing lost copies.
4. Encourage parents to have their students teach them.
Teaching someone else is one of the highest levels of thinking. Having the students teach their parents all of the new skills they learned can serve as a useful review.
5. For older students, create a potential job list.
Include ideas of interesting businesses and organizations around town where other students have had success in summer employment. If you don’t know any, ask around. Keep in mind that some students may ask to use you as a reference!
6. For younger students, consider encouraging volunteering.
Plenty of organizations around town need help. It’s a good way to practice valuable skills and perhaps investigate a possible career. Offer a list of local non-profit organizations or businesses that benefit the community.
7. Construct a virtual field trip.
Many students won’t have the opportunity to travel over the break. Take the time to construct a trip for them using online tools like Google Earth and YouTube. They can “travel” without the cost and learn more about the world at the same time.
8. Make yourself available.
Make sure to let your students know that they can reach you via email during the summer break. You can even reach out and quiz them with some questions to keep their brains working.
Read More Summer Slide Tips
There aren’t guaranteed ways to prevent students from experiencing summer slide, but equipping them with tools is a step towards encouraging continued engagement over the summer. Family engagement over the summer is important for early childhood learners, as well as older students. Find more blogs on summer slide below:
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