8 Strategies to Prevent Summer Slide for Students

If you have trouble getting back on track at the start of each new school year, you’re not alone. In fact, a majority of students experience some degree of “summer slide” or “summer learning loss.”

 

Summer slide is the observable decline in academic performance that many students experience during the summer break. It’s a very real phenomenon, affecting students across all grade levels and core subjects. So what can we do about it? Summer learning loss isn’t inevitable. There are many things you can do to prevent yourself from losing the valuable knowledge you’ve gained.

 

We’re bringing you some proven ways you can fight the summer slide and keep your mind engaged throughout the summer so you’re ready for the coming school year!

1. Participate in a Summer Reading Program

Many schools, community centers, and libraries offer summer reading programs for kids of all ages. While each program is a bit different, most involve keeping track of how many books you read over the summer season. Some programs also offer book clubs, book exchanges, and prizes!

 

If you don’t want to follow a structured program, you can still take advantage of the benefits of reading by taking regular trips to your local library. Reading even a few pages every day can help you keep summer slide at bay. 

2. Spend Time Outside

Getting outside on a daily basis is beneficial to your mental and physical well-being. In fact, spending time outside has been shown to improve cognition, memory, and sleep quality. These are all vital to staying sharp throughout the summer.

 

You might love participating in outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, or kayaking. Or you may prefer to sit on your front porch or take a relaxing walk to get some fresh air. Regardless of how you choose to spend your time outdoors, connecting with the natural world around you can do wonders to prevent summer learning loss.

3. Volunteer Locally

Volunteering is one of the best ways to keep yourself engaged during the summer. Not only does it keep your mind sharp, but it also ensures that you maintain a set schedule throughout your vacation. 

 

But the benefits of volunteering go far beyond preventing summer slide. Contributing to your community and helping others is personally rewarding, can create lasting memories, and enables you to connect with others.

 

Here are some amazing volunteer options to consider:

• An animal shelter
• Your local library
• A soup kitchen or food drive
• A community garden
• Mentorship programs with younger kids
• A nursing home

4. Join a Summer Study Group

Group collaboration is a vital skill you’ll need throughout your academic journey and beyond. If you‘re worried about falling behind during your time off, consider starting a summer study group with friends or classmates.

 

Since it’s summer, you have the freedom to organize your study sessions any way you want. You can create in-depth study guides together, or simply meet once a week to go over past lessons. For many students, working with others in a fun and collaborative environment is extremely helpful. It allows you to exchange tips and ideas and keep each other on track.

5. Play Educational Games

Learning should be fun and exciting, especially during summer vacation! Playing games that engage your mind and strengthen your skills can be both fun and challenging. 

 

Here are a few popular games that are great for preventing summer slide:

• Scrabble
• Monopoly
• Chess 
• Trivia 

 

You might also consider watching educational documentaries or online videos to keep your mind engaged and explore your interests.

6. Plan Field Trips With Friends

Field trips offer students the chance to learn by exploring the world outside the classroom. But these excursions don’t have to stop during the summer months. In fact, summer is perfect for taking educational trips to a museum, zoo, aquarium, or national park.

 

To add some structure to your field trip, prepare ahead of time by printing out checklists, background information, and flashcards.

7. Learn a New Skill

One way to keep your mind in learning-mode while you’re away from school is to pick up a new hobby or skill. In fact, summer vacation is a great time to learn something new outside of the classroom, since you have the time and energy to truly dedicate yourself to it.

 

Here are a few ideas of skills you could learn:

• Cooking
• Speaking a foreign language
• Drawing or painting
• Photography
• Driving
• Knitting or sewing
• Playing an instrument
• Gardening
• Playing a sport

8. Consider Summer School

Preventing summer learning loss is just one of the many benefits of summer school. Summer classes can help you get back on track if you’ve fallen behind, improve your GPA, and help keep your core academic skills from falling during the warmer months.

 

Most in-person and online schools maintain their core course offerings during the summer. Many also offer electives and virtual college prep to interested students. 

 

In many cases, you don’t have to take a full schedule of classes. For example, if you find that your math skills tend to suffer most during summer, you may choose to just take a math class and keep the rest of your schedule free for summer fun.

Stay Motivated and Keep Your Learning Skills Sharp

Whether you choose to attend online summer school, participate in another structured summer program, or work with your Learning Coach on your own time, staying engaged in the learning process over the summer is a worthwhile endeavor!

At Summit Learning Charter, we support each and every student and family throughout the entire year, including summer. We want to help you succeed, expand on your knowledge, and pursue your academic and personal goals throughout the summer months. 

 

Contact us to get your questions answered, discuss summer learning options, and learn more about our virtual academy.