School’s Out: Should students who struggle academically continue their learning?

Summer provides a good time for students to play and relax, however, it also provides an opportunity for additional support with all students who struggle in school. Keeping up can be stressful during the school year. Summer tutoring and organized learning time can give students relaxed time to brush up on skills. Reading during the summer months is essential. Perhaps you want to read with your child to model fluency and how you tackle difficult words. Books that are at the child’s independent reading level—lots of books—can do wonders for improving your child’s fluency as he/she sets aside special reading time during the summer.

Students with learning disabilities or with ADD or ADHD can benefit from keeping the rhythms of learning going during the summer months. Year-Round-School is more beneficial to all learners than the agrarian calendar we are used to with 3 months off. Our children lose their natural learning cycles and hence forget important skills during the summer. These 3 months were originally set aside for farmers’ children to help out during a time when most families lived in rural America. In this age of information, children can benefit from exploring interests on-line or in books and magazines while school is out. They can write in journals or create stories about what they are learning to share with family or friends. It is common for teachers to notice how struggling students returning in the fall have lost skills they learned the previous year. Keeping learning cycles going in the summer can enhance learning and prevent this loss of skills. Summer provides a wonderful time for tutoring and practicing skills learned during the school year and gives struggling students a jump on the upcoming year of academics.

Often, struggling students and students with disabilities do not like school. I am convinced that this is because they do not feel successful, and that doesn’t feel good to anyone. Providing a reinforcement of learning during the summer can give them more confidence when they return to school in the fall. Summer programs are often set up for all kids and to support struggling students and those with disabilities. If you work during the day, enroll your child in one of these free programs that will provide your child with great activities—hopefully ones with a good mix of fun, skills practice, as well as problem solving opportunities that can stretch their capacity to live and work in the 21st Century. Children’s theater and arts programming allow students to explore their creative side. Take the opportunity to talk to your kids in the evening about what they learned today and celebrate their learning. You, the parent, are the most important influence in your child’s life. If their learning is important to you, it will be to them as well.

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