Summer is here, and the question arises: should you bring your child’s homework or leave it behind? Here's how to prevent "summer slip" and what teachers really recommend to keep kids on track.
As you pack your beach bag, we’ve got one question for you. Do you bring the homework or leave it behind?
Teachers issue assignments over the summer to avoid “summer slip.” Summer slip is learning loss that occurs during the summer months when students’ academic skills and knowledge quite literally…slip. From a teacher’s perspective, this is a big deal. Teachers have spent the entire year working to support student’s academic, social, and emotional growth. The thought of students losing a large portion of that progress is nothing short of gut-wrenching.
What are teachers concerned about?
With everything AMAZING that happens during summer, often there is very little room for academics. Teachers worry that their students will not engage in ANY academic skills, which is concerning for a few reasons:
- Progress that was made during the school year may decrease, as many skills require consistency. Particularly when it comes to reading and math, consistent exposure and practice is crucial. For example, without continued exposure to reading, younger students might forget vowel teams, letter sounds, or see a decrease in their reading fluency.
- Students might enter the new school year behind. If they haven’t done any academic work through the summer, the start of the school year can be jarring, and it can be challenging to “catch up.”
- Without some routine of academic skills, students might lose motivation for that type of learning.
The other troublesome piece to summer slip is that some students might be more vulnerable to this than others. Those students who have limited access to either educational resources or opportunities might experience summer slip more dramatically. Unfortunately, the result of this is the ever-growing gap between high-achieving students and struggling students.
Should I just get a tutor? Will that prevent Summer Slip?
No! If your child hasn’t previously worked with a tutor for specialized support, hiring a tutor for summer support is not the move. Why? Students (especially upper elementary and older) need to develop the skills and discipline to do their work independently. Hiring a tutor takes away the time management and accountability piece, which is a huge part of being a student. So instead of hiring a tutor, sit down with your student and try to have a meaningful conversation about this. This is an important time to discuss your concerns over the summer (for example, no longer reading for 30 minutes before bedtime), the purpose of summer work (like starting ___ grade feeling confident and ready), and the importance of consistency (we like to say “practice makes progress!”).
Below are a few prompts that we think might be helpful to get you started with this conversation:
- What are you most proud of after this school year?
- What was the hardest subject for you?
- Why do you think your teacher gave you assignments this summer?
- How do you think we should split up your summer work?
- How do you want to feel entering __ grade?
By having a conversation like this, you’re giving your child a chance to reflect on their learning and growth, while also giving them some autonomy around their summer assignments. Of course every child is going to need something different, so please don’t use this as a script, but rather as inspiration to initiate a meaningful conversation.
So how should I conquer the summer assignments?
Teachers are focused on making sure the student is the one completing the assignment, and not the parents. Whatever your summer looks like, make a plan (the earlier the better) to conquer the assignments. If your child is away for 8 weeks, well…you’re going to conquer assignments in mid-August. If your child is home for camp, try to do a slow and steady drip. Prioritize helping your child find a conducive environment to work, plus make sure they’ve had a good snack and some time to run around, so they’re able to focus for the short period of time you’re asking them to. Finally, remember that summer slip, as an idea, varies among students. Rather than panic, use this as your friendly reminder from educators to make a plan and find some consistency in your child’s summer learning.