What is the Summer Slide in Education and how to Prevent it?

June 25, 2023

123

Do you know what the summer slide is? It’s unfortunate that it’s unrelated to a water park—or any park, for that matter. Instead, it relates to the summertime learning loss that kids go through.

You’ve experienced summer slide if you’ve ever realized in July that you can’t recall any of the information you memorized for a final exam. Summer learning loss occurs when you need to review material you learnt at the end of the previous school year before beginning a new one.

What is the summer slide then? Your knowledge and advancement from the academic year are lost over the summer. And yes, it’s extremely real and has an impact on the majority of children from elementary school through high school.

According to data on summer learning loss, students lose a significant amount of knowledge throughout the summer—between two and three months—which is a lot! High school students generally lose the most knowledge, with mathematics loss appearing to be the largest. Since COVID, you may have found that you feel more behind than ever; therefore, summer slide can seriously harm your academic performance.

What is the Summer Slide? Why is it a Problem?

It first indicates that you have forgotten what you previously learned. Long-term learning was the goal of all those facts you had to memorize, math problems you had to solve, and grammar errors you had to correct. But if you subtract the two to three months lost from that learning, that’s a significant amount of material you worked so hard to understand, just to forget it over the summer.

Second, a large portion of everything you learn is designed to expand your knowledge so that you can learn the next item. You build on the abilities and information you acquired in earlier classes in each of your classes. The best example is mathematics. Every year you’ve taken a math course, you’ve improved your problem-solving skills. You then advance to the following level of math using those abilities. For instance, geometry requires algebra to be understood.

The first month of classes may be dedicated to review by your math teacher, but are you willing to take that chance? Many teachers jump right into new material, so picture how you’ll feel after a month if you’re confused on Day 1? Beginning the school year with difficulties can cause you to fall behind for several months. You’ll spend the rest of the year attempting to catch up and raise your GPA if you start out with a low GPA.

The good news is that simply stopping the summer slump, all of this can be avoided. Without ever picking up a textbook or going to summer school, it is possible to avoid summer learning loss. Instead, you can use summertime activities as chances to keep your mind sharp. You can choose your own hobbies during the summer that you enjoy doing while still learning. Let’s examine how you might make learning a part of your summertime activities.

Also Read: Colleges with the Best Disability Studies Programs in the US

Parents’ Guide on Preventing Summer Slide

There are many things parents can do to assist their children enjoy their summer holiday while also keeping their minds engaged. You can assist your children in developing an active brain, which is one that uses previously learned information to make connections with novel ideas.

1. Monitor Screen Time

Ask yourself, as well as your child, how he spends his screen time. Is he learning how to make the perfect fried egg on Tik Tok or watching YouTube clips of cats falling over? He might be doing both, but if watching cat videos is all he’s doing, tell him to check out some other, more interesting material. You should monitor your child’s screen time and regulate if it is excessive.

2. Get them moving

Try to place more of an emphasis on enrichment activities rather than allowing youngsters to spend all day in front of a screen. It’s crucial that children learn non-textbook stuff in an interesting and enjoyable way. Nobody knows your child like you do. What is her preferred pastime, and how can you assist make it educational? For instance, why not enlist her assistance in the garden if she likes being outside? Take advantage of the chance to discuss what you are growing, what you’ve discovered about soil and water and how it affects plants, and how the weather affects your vegetable harvest.

3. Make learning a regular part of life.

Likewise, incorporate learning into regular activities like cooking, walking, and pet-caring. While you cut, get your children to measure out the ingredients and follow a recipe. Take the dog on a walk and make an effort to calculate your distance traveled without the use of a tracker. Give the winner a prize of their choosing for ice cream that evening. Encourage your children to consider issues before turning to technology for assistance.

4. Take the kids to a new location

When you travel, make a point of pointing out any cultural or geographic differences that your children might miss. Talk about the region’s past, present, and future development. Mention famous locals in your description. Incorporate educational experiences everywhere you can, including as trips to monuments, aquariums, and museums.

5. Inform them about finances

Teach your children about money management both at home and on the road. The majority of people are unaware of the distinction between debit and credit cards, let alone when and how to use them. Many people are unaware of the value of saving money as well as how to deposit or withdraw funds. Give your children a lifelong talent by using this time to teach them!

6. Be Yourself a Lifelong Learner!

Finally, exhibit interest in learning yourself because you are your children’s biggest role model. When it comes to determining how crucial it is to remain open to learning opportunities, they follow your lead. They are much more likely to share your sense of wonder and curiosity if you maintain it.

So, avoid the summer learning slump and enjoy a wonderful summer of joint study!

Also Read: 10 Best Community Colleges in Washington

How to Prevent Summer Slide for Students

Use the advice below to help you remember what you’ve learned and be ready for the upcoming school year. Any one of these will be beneficial, but the more you take action, the higher your likelihood of success as you begin a brand-new year.

1. Begin by reading

Reading is the most important ability that impacts all of your other learning. If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have time to read!” it was usually because the school year was in the middle. But you can always find time to read during the summer when there are no classes or assignments.

Read something that appears fascinating to you, whether it’s a book, a magazine, or a news site. If you have summer reading for an AP class, read it carefully and without interruptions. Make time to visit your neighborhood library and give something new a try. You can discover that you really enjoy a particular writer or genre.

2. Start writing.

Writing is a must for practically every class you take and for many basic life skills, just like reading is. You can write about anything right now, whether you want to rant about your sibling or brother, try your hand at poetry, try your hand at short fiction, create a song’s lyrics, or journal about your summer. Don’t worry too much about it; just write.

3. Check out museums

Visit museums showcasing history, science, space exploration, art, literature, and engineering. Read or take an audio tour to learn more about what you are seeing. By researching topics you don’t know much about, you can broaden your perspectives. And do your research if you’re interested! Study more!

4. Travel to New Locations

Take advantage of the opportunity to learn about a totally different nation, state, or city if your family has the means to travel. Take notes on what you witnessed in addition to taking photos or videos that you can share on social media. How did the food taste? Did you observe a different mindset or culture? What were people wearing? Were there any odd traditions? How would you advise a buddy to proceed?

If you are unable to travel, consider looking for novel or interesting locations close to home. Is there a historical location you haven’t visited? or a special eatery you’ve wanted to try? Deeper local exploration can be just as fulfilling as longer international excursions.

While we’re talking about traveling, remember that lengthy drives or flights are the ideal times to read, write, play mind games, or even…

5. Take a practice SAT or ACT exam

Study the outcomes of an ACT or SAT practice exam! The hectic academic year isn’t when most kids want to do this, so the summer is the ideal time to block off some time for a practice test. If you prefer the morning, do it then. If you’re a night owl, let everyone know not to bother you and go to town. The best thing about summer is that you may choose the time of day that suits you the most.

6. Learn a New Skill

The summer is a perfect time to pick up a new hobby or put one you already have to use. Tempo, rhythm, and meter are concepts that you can learn by playing an instrument or enrolling in dancing classes. You can learn composition, contrast, color, and scale by studying photography. You can improve your coding, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities by engaging in computer programming.

Strive to learn from any summer jobs you may have. It will teach you what are referred to as soft skills, whether it be interpersonal skills, punctuality, or even basic addition and subtraction. These are the kinds of talents that you will need for the rest of your life, such as time management and organization.

7. Go to college for a while

Attending a summer study program run by a nearby institution or organization is an additional choice. Many provide courses in particular fields of interest or give you the chance to explore the liberal arts to find your passion. Additionally, you get the chance to spend time on a college campus, explore a school you might be interested in, and perhaps even get to know some current students and faculty.

8. Look at online resources

Online resources can be an excellent method to review topics you had trouble with or to get ahead for a coming lesson. Even learning a new language is a fantastic method to stimulate the brain!

Simply put, make the most of your summertime activities as educational chances while taking a break from your studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the term “summer slide” mean?

"Summer slide" refers to a propensity among students—particularly those from low-income families—to lose some of the academic progress they gained the previous school year.

How can summer slide be avoided in first grade?

According to studies, having access to books, maintaining a routine, and engaging in enrichment activities all help minimize the summer slip. In an effort to assist students retain what they have learned, several teachers give their students summer reading or homework assignments.

What justifies summer reading for students?

For pupils to retain the knowledge and abilities they acquired the previous school year, summer reading is essential. Lack of reading skills puts students at danger of lagging behind their peers. Making ensuring children read often is one way parents and educators can prevent this.

Why is writing in the summer important?

Beyond the fundamentals, writing during the summer offers emotional and creative advantages that are frequently lacking during the academic year. Summer writing encourages young people to take responsibility for their writing, deepen their emotional ties to friends and family, and discover their own creative potential.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Tags
articles