School’s Out for Summer?
Think Again!

By Kendra Ericson, MPW

Believe it or not, it’s been thirty-five years since Alice Cooper’s school-bashing lyrics hit record stores, inspiring a sense of rebellion and freedom from responsibility with lyrics like, " School's out for summer…Out till fall / We might not go back at all." Today, Cooper’s lyrics are truer than ever, which, as research shows, is cause for concern.

As summer approaches, many students have their minds set on carefree days spent at theme parks with friends or on family vacations, a summer where school is a distant memory. But before giving the kids the summer of fun they’ve always dreamed of, consider the cost: summer learning loss. According to Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Summer Learning, “Research demonstrates that all students experience significant learning losses in procedural and factual knowledge during the summer months” (www.jhu.edu). As a result, students enter the next school year less prepared, and the time spent away from the classroom contributes to an ever-widening achievement gap between low and high-achieving students.

So, with trips planned and theme-park promises made, what can you do? From educational programs to at-home encouragement, here are some ways to make summer learning fun and help your child prepare for the coming school year.

• Camp wisely. Select a resident or day summer camp with a built-in reading program and/or math component. In addition to sports and other traditional camp activities, many camps offer programs that highlight science, math, computers, and many other subjects. See the “ Camp Connection” section for help choosing the best camp for your child.
• Be a bookworm. Studies indicate that reading with kids of all ages helps them become more confident readers and better writers. In addition, try reading to your children. Reading aloud to children of all ages can help develop their language and listening skills as well as expand their vocabularies and make them more motivated to read on their own. Librarians at your local library can suggest age-appropriate books, and many school districts offer recommended summer reading lists by grade level on their websites.
• Talk to a teacher. Teachers are a valuable resource, and your child’s teacher should be able to make great recommendations regarding workbooks or other materials that will help keep your child learning long into summer. In addition, even if you don’t know who your child’s teacher will be in the fall, it can be useful to talk to a teacher from the grade your child will be entering to get advice on activities that will help him or her prepare for the coming grade.
• Go shopping. Educational “teacher” stores and mainstream retailers carry grade-specific software and workbooks. Try selecting material for the grade your child will be entering in the fall to help him or her become familiar with the material. Consult your local yellow pages for educational stores in your area.
• Sign up for summer school. If your child will be entering middle or high school in the fall, contact your school district to find out if your child can take a fun summer class at the new school. This can be a nice way for students to familiarize themselves with a campus before the stress of a full schedule of classes at a new school is upon them.
• Send the kids to college. Many colleges and universities offer summer programs for K-12 students to bolster writing, science, math, or other skills.
• Hit the road. Even if you have a long vacation planned, family trips are a great opportunity for kids to practice math and learn about geography as well as a host of other disciplines while enjoying the time away. Consider having your child research and prepare a report on your vacation destination, involve him or her in the budgeting process, or ask your child to figure out and help you keep track of the gas mileage if you’re on a road trip. Including children in the process helps them learn valuable life lessons as well as practice skills they’ve attained in the classroom.

With summer almost upon us, with the last bell of the year imminent, take some time to make a roadmap to your child’s summer learning. By scheduling time for schooling during summer, you’ll help make learning a year-round habit and provide your child with ways to retain material he or she spent a year studying. “No more pencils / no more books?” Not this year, Cooper – this year, learning is year-round.

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