What's the "Summer Slide?"

Hello Families!
This is the final newsletter that will be sent out to families for this school year.  The purpose for this message is to guide parents in understanding what educators refer to as "The Summer Slide."  This year's second grade class has made great academic growth this year and I am so very proud of all their hard work.   That's why I wanted to take the time to communicate to each of you the importance of having your children academically engaged during the course of the summer.  Children who do not work in the areas of reading, writing, or math for an entire summer often experience what is known as the "summer slide."  This learning loss occurs due to a child's lack of educational experiences during the course of a summer.  However there is good news, if your child simply spends fifteen minutes reading and fifteen minutes working in the area of math four to five days a week, they can avoid the summer slide.  Here are some ideas to keep your child academically growing during the course of the summer.  Please know that I discussed some of the activities with the class last week.

• Reading Ideas ~ Have your child select one, or two simple chapter books to read over the course of the summer.  One book for June and one book for July.  Another idea is to have your child visit a free website called "Tumble Books."  This site reads to your child and it highlights the words while they are being read to.  It's a wonderful site that promotes learning.  I have provided the link below. 

• Tumble Books ~ Phoenix Public Library 

• Purchase a journal of any kind and after your child reads each day, have them write two to three complete sentences of what they read.  Your child may also create illustrations if they wish to. 

• Math Ideas~ Your child can log onto IXL and practice their addition and subtraction facts.  These facts need to be focused on in order to best prepare your child upon entering the third grade.  A few other great free sites for math are "Math Playground" and if using an I-pad, try "Splashmath."

• If you are wanting to avoid technology, there are books that can be purchased at Barnes and Noble, or even on Amazon.   They are known as "Summer Bridge Books" and they will assist your child as they prepare to enter the third grade.  I provided an image below of one of the many different kinds of Summer Bridge workbooks.  Simply find one that speaks to your child and allows them to feel excited about learning.
   
  • Of course, any kind of academic based summer camp and/or tutoring service helps your child to continue in their academic growth too!   I have had wonderful feedback in regards to "Mathnasium" and I am aware that they have reasonable summer rates.   If you are looking for some free activities, how about a trip to Barnes and Noble to read books, or to your neighborhood library.  Both Barnes and Noble and your public library have summer reading programs that can greatly benefit your child. 

  
  

  In ending, I hope that all of this information is helpful and please know that every teacher wants all of their students to have a fun filled and beautiful summer!  However, it really does help to alleviate anxiety and stress when August rolls around if a student has continued to engage in some academic activities over the course of the summer.  The child that has invested some time doing simple learning based activities over their summer will be better prepared to focus on learning once they return to school.  The child that practiced their reading, writing, and math over the summer continued to grow academically and typically will avoid the dreaded "Summer Slide."