It’s crazy that we are already into August and likely thinking about gearing the kids up for the school year. What’s even crazier are the memories of what the past school year was like for many of us who struggled through school closures for an entire year or more. Somehow we survived and here we are. Ready for our kids to get back into the classroom.
Even on a normal year, the summer slide is real and something teachers often warn us parents about. My teacher friend told me that students can lose around 20 percent of the knowledge they gained during the school year if they don’t keep math and reading skills engaged during the summer. For a year like we’ve had where many students are behind due to the challenges brought by remote learning, this slide is likely larger.
I promised myself in June I would be on top of it. And I was. For the first two weeks. Then, you know, summer got the best of me. They complained, I gave in. I forgot; they didn’t remind me. You know the drill.
But it’s not too late.
There is still time to get those brains working prior to the start of school.
Here are a few pretty simple things I am doing to remedy the summer slide.
Let them read whatever they want. My son is and always has been an avid reader. From an early age he just loved it and I have never had to remind him to read. Even in the summer he reads every single day. My daughter is a different story (pun intended). It’s not something she enjoys. But as an incoming third grader, it is critical that she continues with her reading skills. I used to try to make cutesy book lists and honestly that just doesn’t work for her. Each night (ok most nights), we let her pick out whatever the heck she wants and take turns with pages reading to her or listening to her read to us. It is still painful some evenings but that’s what bedtime wine is for (for mom, not the kids).
Math facts. I don’t know why but even things like daily math facts (quick memorization type problems like times tables and simple addition) are hard for me to make my kids do daily. It seems so easy. But it’s not. However, for the next few weeks, I am vowing to help my kids with math facts. Flash cards and out loud drills take a few minutes a day and are something teachers are constantly begging parents to be doing with our children.
Free worksheets. This is hands down my favorite site for free worksheets. Almost any subject and you can sort by grade.
Hire a neighborhood student to help. I called in help for math because my kids don’t listen to me like they do someone else. It is cheaper to hire a junior high or high schooler than most of those tutoring centers and I find value in having someone young because they have more recently learned the material. Even just 30 minute sessions can be super helpful without burning your kid out.
Writing endurance. Remote learning lacked the same amount of writing as a normal school year would. Who wants to write an answer when they can just voice record it? My kids now have to write about their days most day just to get that endurance up so they don’t get a hand cramp on their very first day back to school. Like with reading whatever they want, I pretty much let them write about whatever they want.
Do you have any tips to help with the summer slide? We’d love to hear!
Related:
Activities to Keep Your Child’s Brain Active During School Breaks
A Day in the Life of a Working Mom Trying to Support Remote Learners
Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
