Last summer, we really didn't do a lot of learning, and it really showed in a struggle to relearn at the beginning of the school year. Studies have shown that students, on average, lose 1-2 months of learning over the summer. This loss is more significant for low income students. Overall, students regress an entire reading level on average over summer vacation and lose almost a month's worth of math skills.
My biggest gripe is that our school district doesn't have a summer reading list, so I'm reliant on lists from other parts of the country. I struggle with that because both the Princess and I attended two top rated school districts growing up, and summer reading was a key component. While I encourage my son to read what he chooses, as he gets older he will have to read certain books. Why not start now?
Kids can still have summer vacation AND continue to learn. At the end of the school year, we buy a "summer learning" book that helps us to grow. My personal preference is the Summer Bridge series, which we have used since kindergarten. We try to spend at least 30 minutes a day on our learning, plus time reading a book.
Another great source to establish a framework for summer learning is your state's curriculum and rubric website. It's helped me create weekly themes for the summer that are cross disciplines.
Some of the themes I am looking at for this summer:
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory-read the book, watch both movies-comparing/contrasting them to each other & the book, nutrition and exercise, making chocolicious chocolate chip cookies.
Night of the Twisters-read the book, study tornadoes, develop a safety plan & emergency kit, watch a tornado movie, make a tornado in a jar, make tornado art (by twisting a paintbrush & splattering it on paper)
Cricket in Times Square-read the book, learn about NYC, make a cityscape collage, interview family members about their experiences in New York
Fudge a mania-read the book, make fudge, conflict resolution
That's just the start!
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