Catch Up, Get Ahead This Summer

The summer months, although a time of fun, can be a time when hard earned learning is lost. Studies have shown that students can lose anywhere from one to three months of learning over the summer break, especially in the areas of math and reading.

With Indiana’s state budget stretching, students who otherwise depended on summer school courses for accelerated or enrichment classes may need to look elsewhere. Maggie Schilling, Area Director of Club Z! Tutoring of Lawrence Township, explains, “Parents keep expressing concern that their children will have nothing to do and nothing to challenge them over the summer. They are looking for affordable alternatives.”

Here are a few simple ideas parents can use to decrease the impact of summer learning loss with their children:

• Gear up on learning materials. Materials such as books, games, flash cards and art supplies can be fun and helpful.
• Make summer activities a learning experience. Conduct science experiments in the pool or play rhyming games while traveling.
• Practice vocabulary and measuring skills while cooking or cleaning the house.
• Engage your child in planning a summer vacation with mapping, researching cities and learning history of various areas.
• Encourage your child to read the daily newspaper with you each morning or once a week.
• Take your child on “field trips” in your community. Visits to the library, museum, parks and even the beach can provide a host of learning opportunities.
• Enroll your child in an educational program. This will provide positive reinforcement to help build confidence and meet the needs of students who have a history of struggling in school.

Enriching your children’s knowledge over the summer will help rebuild self-esteem that was battered by undesirable grades from the previous school year. Close the achievement gap by helping your children catch up and get ahead before the start of the new school year. Allow your children to explore and develop the skill areas they struggle with: math, reading, foreign languages and more.

For more information, contact Maggie Schilling at Club Z! In-Home Tutoring at 317-826-2222, or SSchilling@clubztutoring.com.