What is the Summer Slide?
By: Lanette Judy
No, we are not talking about water slides, slip ’n slides, or a trip to the local playground. The summer slide refers to the phenomenon where students lose some of the academic skills and knowledge they gained during the school year over the summer break. For homeschool parents, understanding the summer slide is important for maintaining their children's learning momentum. Here are some key points:
Retention Loss: Research indicates that students can lose 1-3 months of academic progress, particularly in subjects like math and reading, during the summer months. The key word is can, it doesn’t mean they will but being intentional about exercising their brains in the summer will prevent this type of back slide.
Impact on Homeschoolers: While homeschoolers may have more flexibility in their learning, they can still experience the summer slide if they take an extended break from structured learning.
Engagement Strategies: To combat the summer slide, consider incorporating fun and engaging educational activities during the summer. This can include reading, educational games, field trips, or hands-on projects. We all need a break from “school” but don’t turn off all the learning when “formal” school time is set aside.
Flexible Learning: Use the summer to explore subjects of interest in a relaxed manner. This can help maintain a love for learning while preventing skill loss.
Community Resources: Look for local summer programs, library reading challenges, or community events that offer educational opportunities and social interaction.
Family Learning: Involve the whole family in learning activities, such as cooking (math and science) or nature walks (science and observation skills), to make learning a shared experience.
By being proactive and incorporating learning into summer activities, homeschool parents can help their children retain knowledge and skills while still enjoying their summer break. Beat the summer slide by entering our Summer Reading Contest below!