You’ve heard the term before: Summer Learning Loss. In a recent study published in the American Education Research Journal, Atteberry and McEachin (2021) reported that over half of students in grades one through six of students lost an average of 39% of their total school year reading gains during the summer months. While summer is a time of significant variation for students and families, further research is needed to determine the direct effects on educational disparities. Nevertheless, these consecutive setbacks accumulate to a substantial decline in academic achievement, emphasizing the importance of ensuring summer learning beyond the school walls.
What do we recommend?
Read Alouds
Reading aloud books that are above a child’s reading ability can support vocabulary and knowledge development. This role can be taken on by caregivers, family, other adults, etc. The reader should ideally model their thought process as they read and engage the child in the conversation to help them connect to your thoughts. Kids cannot hear what is happening in the skilled-readers’ head, so thinking out loud can be eye-opening to the child listener!
Smart Play
We know that summertime is to relax, but it is important to set aside time each day to engage in children in smart play, including thinking activities like puzzle building, board games, or playing cards. Children can also get crafty by coloring, painting, building, or engaging in word searches or crossword puzzles. These types of activities support a child’s cognitive development, and it’s easy to get started. Put a spin on some of the classic games:
- Segment words into sounds while playing hopscotch - /s/ /u/ /m/ /m/ /r/
- Use chalk to write words using phonics skills from last year
- Write words on Jenga blocks and take turns reading during play
- Complete a daily journal of fun activities to ensure pencil-to-paper practice
Library Programs
Libraries are community hubs, filled with reading programs and incentives to get a child reading! Direct caregivers to their local library here and see what the community offers this summer.
Early Reading and Decodable Texts
Flyleaf Publishing offers FREE online decodable books for children to read and discuss with a parent, stuffy, pet, or sibling! Parents of emergent readers can practice early literacy skills at Starfall.
Virtual Reading Program
From May 4 through September 7th, kids can visit Scholastic Home Base, a completely free digital tool with stories, book-based games, live author events, and a community of readers.
Audiobooks
Looking for a free alternative to Audible? A completely free service, Libby connects to your local library card to offer free digital books and audiobooks. When listening to audiobooks, use books that are more complex than what could be read independently to increase the child’s vocabulary and world knowledge.
Virtual Field Trips
Take a vacation anywhere using these great science and social studies resources:
- National Geographic for Kids- Great nature videos, activities, games, stories, and more
- Discovery Kids- Videos, games, and activities to explore dinosaurs, sharks, space, pets, history, and more
- iCivics- Educational online games and lesson plans to promote civics education and encourage students to become active citizens. iCivics was founded by retired Supreme Court of the United States Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
- NASA Kids- A place to play games and learn about NASA through interactive explorations
- My Wonderful World- A multimedia tour of our seven continents from the Smithsonian
There are several things families can do over the summer to help keep their school children from losing the skills they learned during the school year. Encouraging families to set aside time each day to engage in a learning experience or opportunity is super valuable.
Be sure to check out AIM’s Tuesday Teaching Tips blog posts for additional ideas and activities you can do to help build lifelong readers!
