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May 21, 2018

Summer Learning Loss – 10 Ways to Stop the Summer Learning Slide

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Ways to Prevent Summer Learning loss at thatbaldchick.com

Did you know that kids can literally lose months of learning during the summer months?  The average summer learning loss is over 2 months of grade level! Most teachers spend a significant amount of time RE-teaching material due to summer learning loss.  Give your teachers a break, and your kid a leg up in the fall, by making sure the only slide your children experience is the one on the playground!  Following are 10 ways to stop the summer learning slide that even the busiest of parents can manage!

 

Ways to Prevent Summer Learning loss at thatbaldchick.comLove your local library!

Many local libraries offer summer reading programs, book readings, scheduled arts and crafts events.   We signed up for our local summer reading club and the kids are really enjoying checking out new books.  I signed up for the adult summer reading club, too, because I think it’s important to model what I expect of them!  Even just fifteen minutes a day of reading can make a huge impact.

Be sure to carry a bag big enough for your haul!

Library Card Tote BagLibrary Card Tote BagLibrary Girl Tote BagLibrary Girl Tote BagLibrary Book Case Tote BagLibrary Book Case Tote Bag

Field trips!

Make it a point to visit places that you don’t usually get to go during the school year, such as museums, the zoo, the aquarium, the local arboretum or botanical gardens, concerts and parks.  Involve the kids in the planning of your outings by giving them maps, exhibit brochures, or letting them plan a scavenger hunt of things they might see.

Play games!

Have some family fun and boost brain power by playing games together.  A lot of board games encourage use of language and math skills, as well as critical thinking skills.  Play charades, Monopoly, Clue, Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, or chess to keep their mind engaged.

Encourage spatial play and thinking!

Spend some time building a city with blocks, Lego Bricks, or Lincoln Logs.  Have them help draw the plans for the city before you start.  Help them create shapes with tangrams, put together a complex puzzle, or solve a Rubik’s cube.  Ask them spatial questions, like how to best fill the grocery bag.

Encourage them to write!

Whether keeping a journal about what they are doing, or answering silly questions, or creative story writing- a few sentences a day will go a long way toward giving their handwriting and language skills a workout.  Ask them to write a paragraph about a topic a day.

Summer learning camps and VBS!

Check out the summer learning camps and vacation Bible school offerings in your area.  We have a local “safety town” that our kids will be attending for two weeks.  We also attend a local vacation Bible school.

Use car time as learning time!

Make the most of car time by encouraging listening to audio books, playing games such as the Alphabet game or I Spy, practicing spelling words, or asking critical thinking questions. Have multiple kids with multiple different tastes that results in car fights over the audio book or music?  Give them LilGadgets headphones, they are perfect for long car rides or using with their tablets and learning apps so they don’t annoy each other.  LilGadgets are volume limiting (max volume 93db) and are passive noise reducing, so they don’t need to crank the volume! AND they come in multiple different colors, so everyone can have their own color.

Ways to prevent summer learning loss at thatbaldchick.com

Make math a part of every day!

I’m not suggesting that you make your kid sit down and do math worksheet every day.  Even simple tasks in the kitchen, like measuring ingredients for a recipe or having them help double the recipe, can keep their skills sharp.  Have them tally the total as you grocery shop, or figure out how much change you should receive when you pay.

Learning workbooks, videos, apps, and websites

There will be days when your kids just doesn’t want to go out to play.  Stock up on learning workbooks and DVDs or scout out some learning videos on YouTube.  Get a subscription to a learning website, like ABCMouse.com,  where they can play learning games to practice their skills.  Download some learning apps for them to play while you’re out and about.

Plan ahead!

Find out what they need to know for the next school year, and focus on those new skills.  Learning new skills often requires use of old ones.  Invest in a good summer bridge workbook or find a ton of summer bridge activities on Pinterest.

For more ways to keeping learning fun, check out my Ways to Use Dominoes for Learning, Ways to use Toy Cars for Learning, Ways to Use Toy Trains for Learning and The Best STEM Toys and Games posts.

Summer Learning Loss - 10 ways to stop the summer learning slide at thatbaldchick.com

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Filed Under: Homeschool, Lifestyle Tagged With: bridgeactivities, learning, learningloss, summer

About Virginia

Hi there! My name is Virginia, and I am the author/owner of That Bald Chick. I am a Christian, wife, mother of three, full time homemaker, homeschooler, and ministry volunteer in addition to being a blogger. In my free time *cough* I enjoy reading, writing, taking walks with my family, and listening to music.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    May 30, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Those are all fantastic tips. I am THAT mom that makes my kids do workbooks over the summer LOL!

    • Virginia says

      May 30, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Robin- just ordered some myself. LOL

  2. Debra says

    May 30, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Great tips that I’m saving. My son has been going for tutoring all year and just finished. I want to make sure that he doesn’t slide back and that he’s all set in September for 2nd grade!

  3. Kay Adeola says

    May 30, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Great tips thank you.Our kids normally do extra work from workbooks with their daddy over the summer with me they get to do the baking,the crafty stuff and working with the animals.Their daddy is the real brains for all that lol.

  4. rachel young says

    May 30, 2014 at 11:02 am

    These are great tips! I remember as a kid always feeling like my brain just farted out everything while I was in school over the Summer. My Mom would also try to do things to help us but they weren’t as fun as these!

  5. Clancy Cash Harrison MS, RD, LDN says

    May 30, 2014 at 11:18 am

    I worry about this so much. I really appreciate you tips. I find cooking with my children also provides so much education- measuring, counting, reading, sensory exploration, etc.

  6. Maureen says

    May 30, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Summer field trips are my favorite! I started doing field trip Fridays last summer and plan to continue then this year.

  7. Laurie - Steals and Deals for Kids says

    May 30, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    I am a first grade teacher and summer learning loss is something all parent should be thinking about! These are great tips!!

  8. Jessica says

    May 30, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    This is such a challenge for us every year. It’s like my kids are determined to forget half of what they learned during the school year! Great tips!

  9. Jenn says

    May 30, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Great tips! I also encourage a lot of reading, because reading is always good.

  10. Angela says

    May 30, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    Fabulous tips! We’ll be doing a lot of reading this summer.

  11. Mandy says

    May 30, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Great tips. My kids are not in school yet, but I started my son (who is almost 3 now) with workbooks about a year ago, to get him in the habit of learning!

  12. Kiwi says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    All of these tips are helpful. My nephew just got out of school and my sister is worried that he will be bored, but parents have to remember to not rely on school to educate their kids. The summer should be made for adventures and exploring! Great info!

  13. Jessica The B Keeps Us Honest says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    This is a great list. We plan to visit the library on a weekly basis.

  14. Lisa J. Jones says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    Great Tips Thank You For Sharing!

  15. Jaime says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    I used to want to go to the library over the summer. I envision my son requesting the same when he’s older. 🙂

  16. Cat says

    May 30, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    This is super important for me and for my kids this summer. Thanks for all the fabulous tips.

  17. Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) says

    May 30, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    Such great tips. During the summer we like to play a lot of games, and I also plan on doing a month of tutoring before my oldest goes back to school. Maybe just once or twice a week for a month. My daughter is in the 1st grade, soon to be a 2nd grader and when we are out driving she likes to read signs, so that helps. It’s great to make learning fun during the summer. I’ve got to tweet out your post, it’s so good.

  18. Digna D. says

    May 30, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Excellent tips. Thank you for sharing. The children could all use something to do other than just sit around the house.

  19. Pam says

    May 30, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    When my kids were younger, they always participated in the summer reading programs at their libraries to keep their minds active!

  20. Hanan says

    May 30, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    All great tips! I wish camps weren’t so expensive, but my oldest is doing VBS again. I like the idea of “field trips” as opposed to just places to go. Already starting to plan out stuff to do this summer!

  21. Elizabeth Norton says

    May 30, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    These are great ideas. We are a homeschooling family so we keep learning on all the time but these are great suggestions

  22. Andrea Kruse says

    May 30, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Great ideas! I keep my kids busy and stimulated during the Summer. From gardening to cooking and canning with me, there is always a way to sneak in a lesson.

  23. Debbie Denny says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    Very good ideas. So important to keep the learning going.

  24. Brett says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Great ideas. We do a lot of journaling in summer too

  25. Deanna Ritz says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    These are terrific ideas to help kids keep up with what they learned the previous year in school. I will have to remember these tips once my kids are in school. 🙂

  26. Mel {MamaBuzz} says

    May 30, 2014 at 9:38 pm

    These are some great ideas, Virginia! We love hitting the library and finding books and movies. I’m hoping to keep my boys busy with crafts, projects, etc., find a fun reading program, and take the occasional field trip this summer. I actually just filled a dresser in our living room with craft supplies. This reminds me to check into other activities too.

  27. Michelle says

    May 30, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Great list of ideas. We are going to super prep for Kindergarten! He needs to work on writing, and if we can get that down, he will pretty much be ready to go.

  28. Mama to 5 BLessings says

    May 30, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    great post, our homeschool curriculum will be ending soon and our summer is filled with play dates, the pool, VBS and reading programs.

  29. Heather Lawrence says

    May 30, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    These are awesome steps. Here in Canada we still have just over a month left in classes so I haven’t really even thought about how we’re going to get your summer yet. We do participate in a reading program at the library and I have purchased workbooks to help supplement the summer days.

  30. Liz Mays says

    May 30, 2014 at 10:43 pm

    You’re my kind of chickie. I did lots of educational activities and games with my kids to keep their minds sharp over the summer. It was fun!

  31. Marisa says

    May 30, 2014 at 11:53 pm

    As a former teacher, I can definitely relate to this. It is super frustrating to have to backtrack at the beginning of each school year. We just started summer break here, but we will definitely be implementing some of these tips next week!

  32. Lisa says

    May 31, 2014 at 12:12 am

    These are FAN-TAS-TIC tips and I really want to work hard this summer to prevent this because of our move, I’m sooo nervous!

  33. Maria Oller says

    May 31, 2014 at 4:51 am

    Wonderful tips it’s so hard to keep all the summer, I have to give my kids some homework, or they will completely forget all the things they learned that year

  34. Pauline Cabrera says

    May 31, 2014 at 6:36 am

    I would definitely agree with you on this one! I can personally observe how kids can easily deteriorate in their learning during the summer months. I believe the commonly held assumption that summer gives them a break from school just offer them an excuse that they can stop learning. I love all your tips and I’ll surely keep them in mind. 🙂

  35. Beth says

    May 31, 2014 at 7:21 am

    We love the use math in everyday activities tip. We use that one all of the time! Baking is a fun one to use it! 🙂

  36. Janel (A Mom's Take) says

    May 31, 2014 at 8:55 am

    Your tips make perfect sense. I like #2 a lot. Field trips are so educational. I let my oldest free write without correcting her. I like seeing and reading what she comes up with and how she spells out certain words.

  37. Krystal says

    May 31, 2014 at 9:56 am

    We are going to try the learning apps this summer. Hopefully he will like ti!

  38. Jeanine says

    May 31, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Great tips! My kids still do some workbooks and go on the math website during summer 🙂

  39. Candace Hagerty says

    May 31, 2014 at 10:39 am

    Great tips, and yes my kids always forget alot from the year prior.

  40. Tonia says

    May 31, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Great tips. The library is a great place to keep education going. We’ll be there all summer.

  41. Amanda says

    May 31, 2014 at 11:59 am

    Great tips!! I have been looking forward to summer vacation all year! But I will be sure to use some of these tips! 🙂

  42. Amanda says

    May 31, 2014 at 12:30 pm

    Those are some great tips! I tend not to do much with the kids in the summer and leave them alone but I do need to get them involved so that when school starts they won’t be behind.

  43. Beth says

    May 31, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Great tips. I hope once I get caught up to be able to use your wonderful tips.

  44. Veronica says

    May 31, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    These are all wonderful tips. I will put a few into action this summer. I also think that kids should get the chance to relax during the summer and not worry about school work and learning too much. The school year can be hard enough for them. I see my poor daughter who is in 11th grade stress about school to maintain her straight A’s. I allow her to relax and not feel the need to “learn” during the summer. Fun learning is great though and I totally encourage that

  45. Pam says

    May 31, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    This is really an important post for parents to read. My children are grown but their district had a policy of giving homework over the summer and I supported it. I know many parents did not. My kids did have plenty of time for fun things. The amount of homework was very reasonable. Just enough to keep them interested and thinking.

  46. Jenni E. {Sweet Pennies from Heaven} says

    May 31, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    These are FANTASTIC ideas!!!! This past year was my son’s first year in school and we’re already out for summer break. We’ve done lots of nothing this past week, haha! But we will be using lots of your ideas!

  47. Ann Bacciaglia says

    May 31, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    Great tips. The local library is a great resource that more people should take advance of.

  48. Christie says

    May 31, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    These are great ideas! I definitely will be using lots of these this summer

  49. StacieinAtlanta says

    May 31, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Keeping the kids from losing skills is a challenge during summertime. My kids are going to a day camp at their school for some of the summer. It is run by teachers and they focus on fun games and activities that will keep the learning going while school is out of session.

  50. Lisa says

    May 31, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Great tips coming from a parent that had a child take the learning slide. Now we do “Summer Exploration” in the school didstrict for 5 weeks out of the Summer and it really helps and is a lot of fun!

  51. Carly Bellard says

    May 31, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    Thank you!!!! I am very worried about M losing what she has learned this year! I need to get on it and stop the sliding!

  52. Kathy says

    May 31, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    We send home summer packets to help combat learning loss. I think that is why our summer is only 8 weeks long.

  53. Melissa says

    May 31, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Great ideas! We are definitely going to be doing a lot of this!

  54. Cassie says

    June 1, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    I always hated summer as a kid because it meant that when we went back to school we were going to have to spend 4 months refreshing on everything we had learned the years before. I feel if parents keep their kids minds active then that won’t happen as much.

  55. Janeane Davis says

    June 1, 2014 at 6:28 pm

    Libraries are incredible resources and can help children learn all kinds of things, they are also a great hangout.,

  56. Shell Feis says

    June 2, 2014 at 1:54 am

    Thank you for sharing this! My son is about to end his first year of school {preschool} so we haven’t had a real summer like this before and I was really worried about retaining information. He just started reading &I’m afraid he’ll start to forget the skills he’s learned!

  57. Marina says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:38 am

    Yes!! I make sure we do the reading programs, learning programs at home and VBS.

  58. Melinda says

    June 2, 2014 at 11:21 am

    i love pinterest for new ideas for educational activities, my own brain does a slide sometimes

  59. Christina S says

    June 2, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    Great list! There are so many options for kids to continue learning now!

  60. Migdalia - says

    June 2, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Great info Virginia! I make my son’s write short recaps of what we did, not just to keep their skills up, but to also maintain a journal of happy memories that they can read/fall back on when they have a disappointing day. It’s a wonderful keepsake. My oldest, who will turn 20 this year, recently reread his journal and we couldn’t stop laughing! Can’t wait to show my grandkids one day 🙂

  61. Jen - Life With Levi says

    June 2, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    Wow. I’ve heard about the summer slide, but I didn’t realize it was so significant. Two months of learning is HUGE.

  62. Valerie Remy-Milora says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    These are some wonderful tips Virginia, thanks for sharing! My 7 year old is really into writing and illustrating books right now so I am putting together a little kit for her to take along to France. She will be spending the summer there with my parents. She gets to be immersed in the French language and culture as she’ll be taking horse back riding lessons and water skiing lessons and spending quality time with my parents. Happy summer!

  63. Jessica (Savory Experiments) says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    So creative! I love how you incorporated learning into every day activities.

  64. Melissa Bowers says

    June 10, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    The plan is for us to continue homeschooling throughout the summer to finish up a bit of what’s left from this year and get a jump-start on next year’s curriculum (we mostly use WinterPromise, with Singapore for math and a few other random items!), but it has been so challenging to want to sit down and “do school” lately when the weather has been so beautiful and warm! 🙂

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