Summer is a time all students look forward to – freedom from the school routine, time to sleep late, relax, vacation, and have fun. When planning your summer, make sure to include some learning to prevent summer slide.

I’m sure you have heard about summer slide. If your children do nothing to sharpen their academic skills for over two months, by late August they will more than likely be academically behind where they are now. Luckily, it is easy to keep up and even enhance skills in a fun way.

Meet with teachers: Before summer break, talk to your child’s teachers about how they are progressing and which academic skills need sharpening this summer.

Read for pleasure: This is the best way to keep academic skills sharp. In school, good reading skills apply to every single subject, even math. Reading should be a whole family effort.

• Make regular trips to the library or bookstore.
• Do not pressure your children to read “literature” or anything in particular. Encourage them to read whatever they want, including graphic novels, articles online, and short stories.
• Explore non-fiction books and articles that match your child’s interests and passions.
• Read how-to books about topics of interest, and then do them (e.g. building a rocket or doing a chemistry experiment).
• Have a family reading schedule, when everyone sits down together to read their own thing.
• Listen to recorded books together. This is perfect for summer road trips.
• Encourage your child to pick out a book by a favorite author and read it every day – outside, in the car, or wherever they are.

Visit historic sites

Learn about four Founding Fathers whose historic sites are less than two hours from the DC metro area.

Visit Mt. Vernon to learn about George Washington.

Visit Gunston Hall to learn about George Mason (scroll down to see more about this visit).

Visit Monticello to learn about Thomas Jefferson.

Visit James Mason’s Montpelier to learn about James Madison.

Review math

• Practice mental math and math facts in the car, or wherever. Try challenging mental math problems, like 979-654.
• Make up funny and challenging word problems – they aren’t done enough at school, and you can make them creative. Or find worksheets online. Zone in on areas that need improvement.
• Use math in real life (e.g. Recipes, measurement)

Practice Writing

• Send letters or emails to grandparents.
• Write a short story, play, or song.
• Use humor and drawings.
• Collaborate with friends.
• Keep a journal.

Make a plan

Schedule math review during down times and reading time every week.

Get help

A tutor can help your child close academic gaps, get ahead for the next school year, and build confidence in each subject area.

Imagine your child on a slide going up. Make your children’s academic skill reinforcement a priority!  To sign up for summer tutoring on a flexible schedule, click here.