There are two types of summer slides: the kind at waterparks and the kind that turns the clock back on students’ knowledge. One happens to be a lot more fun than the other! In education, we talk a lot about summer slide and summer learning loss, but is it real? And what can parents do to prevent it? I want to dig into the research and some actionable advice you can give parents on this topic.
What is the Summer Slide?
The good news is that you aren’t going crazy if you’ve noticed your students or children are losing skills over the summer. Studies over the years have shown that students regress, on average, 20% in reading and 27% in math over the summer.
If we put that into school year terms, that would mean losing about two to three months worth of information learned during the school year. Elementary-aged students are more likely to suffer from summer learning loss because they are in critical years for learning and development.
So, what advice can you give parents about the summer slide? The old saying “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” really applies to the summer learning loss. Daily practice of skills is the key to keeping knowledge fresh. Here are some ideas for practicing math and maintaining math skills over the summer.
Use Math in Daily Activities
Some pushback I hear about daily summer learning activities is that kids need time to rest and relax. I totally agree, but daily learning doesn’t mean kids need to sit at a desk for hours and study! Instead, parents can incorporate math into everyday activities, like cooking or grocery shopping.
Even these simple activities allow students to brush up on their math facts, practice basic math skills, and more. For example, while they cook, parents can involve kids in measuring, converting measurements, adding up ingredients, weighing, calculating time, and setting temperatures.
Another example is grocery shopping. Kids can budget with their parents before leaving, compare prices at the store, weigh produce, and calculate discounts. Lastly, they can reward children for chores done over the summer. Then, allow them to spend that money at the store. The kids can budget, count money, calculate discounts, and more.
Play Math Games
We all know that summer is supposed to be fun, but learning should be, too! Encourage parents to have some fun with math, just like you try to do in the classroom. (Let them know that is also great for their mindset.)
There are many games where you can incorporate math. Many of these games can be found at home or can be played with menial supplies. For instance, students can play chess, checkers, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles. Kids can also get outdoors and play games like soccer or relay races. While kids play, have them keep score, track time, calculate averages, and more.
While doing relay races with a friend, they can calculate the average time. During a game of checkers, they can calculate the average amount of moves per game. Encourage families to get creative!
Additional Practice
While I recommend that parents make math a part of their daily lives, reviewing skills explicitly can be a great way to prevent summer slide. Encourage families to set aside a bit of time each day or week to work on more explicit practice.
To make things simple for parents, suggest some online math platforms like Prodigy, IXL, or 99 Math. If your school pays for any online subscriptions, make parents aware of those access codes and perhaps even assign specific work over the summer so that families know what skills are best to work on.
Another simple way to provide work is with summer math packets. I know the idea of a summer math packet sounds boring, but it is easy for families – they don’t have to worry about finding work for their kids to do or worry about having the right supplies at home. All they need is the packet and a pencil.
If you’re in search of summer math packets, try the 4th Grade Interactive Worksheet Bundle and 5th Grade Interactive Worksheet Bundle. Each bundle includes key skills for that grade level, practice pages, and instructional videos. These instructional videos are super helpful during the summer because students can watch them for a review or if they get stuck on a problem.
The 4th Grade Interactive Worksheet Bundle and 5th Grade Interactive Worksheet Bundle come in printable and digital versions so you can give families different options. The printable version uses QR codes for the videos, and the digital version contains a link.
Lastly, students can review concepts with flashcards. Have students make these flashcards before the school year ends, and then send them home to help with the summer slide. Or you can make a digital version on Quizlet and give families the link to access the flashcards at home.
Summer slide and summer learning loss can have a big impact on students. However, you can help prevent this by talking with parents and families. I recommend sending a note and email home with information about summer learning loss and give them quick, simple ideas they can use this summer. Heck, you can take the ideas right from this blog!
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