little girl cutting paper
Many kids call it the best time of the year: summer break. From swimming to sleeping in, who could disagree with them? I bet some parents are probably looking forward to not having that bedroom battle in the morning trying to get your child to school on time. While I do believe taking a brain break is beneficial, it’s important not to let the so-called “summer slide” take its toll. Research shows that, on average, when students return to school in the fall, they’ve slipped a month behind where they were in the spring.
Teachers I spoke with here in Collier County tell me they see the biggest declines over the summer in both reading and math skills. “We see a loss of reading fluency and comprehension as well as basic math facts. Things like telling time, writing in complete sentences with correct grammar, and spelling of basic words,” says Rayna Overmyer, fifth grade teacher at Laurel Oak Elementary.
In an effort to battle the brain drain, Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) has developed an online resource entitled, “Keep Learning Alive!” This resource can be found on our district website: www.collierschools.com. It is full of great tips and tools for parents of students in all grade levels, from elementary school to high school. We are extremely grateful to the District’s Curriculum and Instruction team for putting together this valuable guide. Some of the highlights include recreational reading lists for all grade levels and lots of fun math activities and games. You will also find information about how your student can access one of the best resources for video-based, online learning for free!
In addition to all of the information you will find in our online guide, I surveyed some CCPS teachers for some of their brain-boosting tips. Lisa Ettleman, a teacher at Avalon Elementary, tells me primary grades see a decline on students’ recognition of high frequency words. “Parents can reinforce these by using environmental print. Children can read words around the house, streets, stores, and other places they visit over the summer,” says Ettleman. She also encourages parents to have daily conversations with their children. She suggests asking them about their day - what did they see, do, touch, smell, and hear? It seems simple enough, but these communication skills are vital, especially in the information age.
When it comes to math skills, Suzanne Szczepanski, the math coach at Lely High School, tells me almost all students lose some math skills over the summer. “Many teenagers look for summer jobs; why not choose a math-related job? Teenagers could volunteer to mentor younger children or work at a summer camp. Any activity that requires critical thinking and/or problem solving will help students with math in the long run,” suggests Szczepanski.
Finally, I had a few teachers at the elementary level suggest that parents really need to keep working on fine motor skills over the summer: pencil, scissors, and construction skills. Fine motor skills are essential for performing everyday skills like buttoning a shirt or opening a lunch box. Teachers suggest having your child keep a summer journal to reinforce writing skills. Other ideas to work on fine motor skills include playing with building sets and blocks or painting.