The 2019-2020 school year was certainly full of surprises. COVID-19 caused schools to switch to remote learning in March, graduation ceremonies were held on Zoom, and many students were left confused about their class assignments. Abruptly changing learning environments like this could possibly lead to a worse “summer slide” than normal.
The summer slide, or summer learning loss, is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. This requires teachers to review the information that students forgot, which can take up a large portion of the new semester. With COVID-19 disrupting the spring semester, we can expect the summer slide to be worse than in previous years. Below are some tips on how to combat the summer slide and start the school year on the right foot.
Read Every Day
Reading together every day can stimulate and strengthen your child's language and literacy skills. Many libraries are still offering summer reading programs, which can make reading a fun activity or even a competition. Check your local library for free online reading apps or tools that provide access to ebooks and educational games.
Keep Practicing Math
Find ways to get math into your daily activities. Shopping at the store? Figure out which item is cheaper by comparing their price per volume.
Practice Cooking
Cooking is a great way to integrate math, reading, and following instructions. Plus, they get to enjoy a delicious meal or baked sweets after they finish their hard work! Maybe you can even put together a cookbook to practice their crafting skills as well.
Plant a Garden
Gardening and caring for plants is perfect for students looking to learn more about science. It’s also a great way to learn about responsibility.
Conduct Science Experiments
Science is around us every day, so you can practice science by doing even the most simple experiment. For younger children, show them how you can turn water into ice or steam. Older kids can try baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie by using different types of flour, sugar, and butter.
Take a Virtual Field Trip
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to board a dogsled in the Arctic? Or were curious about how Hershey’s chocolate is made? Learn all of that and more on virtual field trips, which are available online and for free.
Listen to Audio Books
Going on a road trip because the beaches are closed? Put the music on pause for a bit and try out an audiobook. You can get these for free from the library as well!
Go Camping
Our vacation options are limited this summer, but we still have camping! Camping is a great way to enjoy your time outdoors while staying socially distant from others. Children can practice science by learning how a fire is started, identifying the plants around them, and observing the starry night sky without the light pollution of their neighborhood.
Play Games
Many studios are offering their video games for free due to COVID-19, including us! Try our games HoloLAB Champions, Water Bears, and Water Bears VR to keep your child’s science and spatial awareness skills sharp.