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The Summer Slide

  • Writer: Kristin Harper
    Kristin Harper
  • May 27, 2024
  • 4 min read
2 young boys climbing up a a 3 person slide

Here is some great information (and learning opportunities) from Everyone Reading.



Hi Everyone!


We have all heard about the “summer slide,” where students can lose up to two months of learning over the summer months, and on average, it takes about 8 weeks for students to re-learn the skills in the fall.  Unfortunately, this slide isn’t a fable, and it can significantly impact reading proficiency in our students, especially those who already struggle. Some of the ways the slide impacts our readers is:

 

  • Loss of Reading Fluency: Research by Alexander, Entwisle, & Olson (2007) suggests that summer slide results in a loss of reading fluency. Without regular practice, children may struggle to maintain their reading speed and accuracy.

  • Decreased Comprehension Skills: Heyns (1978) found that the lack of academic stimulation during the summer months can lead to a decline in comprehension skills. Because of this, children may have difficulty understanding and interpreting complex texts.

  • Vocabulary Regression: Studies by Allington et al. (2010) indicate that summer slide contributes to vocabulary regression. Without exposure to new words and concepts through reading, children's vocabulary development may stagnate or decline.

  • Impact on Reading Motivation: Summer slide can also negatively affect reading motivation (Clark & Rumbold, 2006). When children experience setbacks in reading skills, they may become less motivated to engage in reading activities, further exacerbating the decline.


Widening Achievement Gap: Alexander, Entwisle, & Olson (2007) highlight the lasting consequences of summer slide, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The widening achievement gap between low-income and affluent students is often exacerbated during the summer months.


Long-Term Academic Impact: Cooper et al. (1996) emphasize the long-term academic impact of the summer slide. Children who experience significant learning loss over the summer may struggle to catch up academically once the new school year begins, leading to ongoing educational challenges.


Parents play a crucial role in fostering their children's reading habits, especially during the summer when school is out. Here are some effective strategies that can help lessen the impact of the dreaded slide.


  1. Create a Reading Routine: Establish a regular reading time each day. Research suggests that consistency in reading habits significantly contributes to reading development (Cunningham & Stanovich, 1997).

  2. Set Attainable Reading Goals: Encourage your child to set reading goals for the summer. Let them tell you how many books or books or pages per week they want to read. Goal setting enhances motivation and engagement (Locke & Latham, 2002), but we need to make sure the children are in the driver’s seat – so it is fun and doesn’t become a chore.

  3. Visit the Library or Local Book Store: Take regular trips to the library or a bookstore to explore new books. Public libraries often have summer reading programs and events designed to encourage reading (McMillan & Saffran, 2008).

  4. Lead by Example: Let your child see you reading regularly. Children are more likely to develop a love for reading if they observe their parents or caregivers reading for pleasure (Sénéchal & LeFevre, 2002).

  5. Discuss Books: Engage your child in discussions about the books they're reading. Asking open-ended questions about characters, plot, and themes can deepen comprehension and critical thinking skills (Duke & Bennett-Armistead, 2003).

  6. Incorporate Reading into Daily Activities: Encourage reading in various contexts, such as cooking recipes together, reading road signs during car rides, or exploring nature books during outdoor adventures (Morrow, 1990).

  7. Use Technology Wisely: Introduce educational reading apps or websites that align with your child's interests and reading level. Digital platforms can complement traditional reading materials and provide interactive experiences (Clark & Rumbold, 2006).

  8. Reward Progress: Offer incentives for reaching reading milestones, such as small rewards or special privileges. Positive reinforcement can motivate children to continue reading (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

  9. Learn How Your Child Learns Best: Join us for our summer parent series in June to learn the principles of structured literacy instruction and how to incorporate games and quick activities to keep their skills sharp! Information is below.



Summer Parent Series


Our parent courses are a series designed for parents who want to provide additional support for their children but aren't sure how. In about 15 minutes a day, you can solidify skills acquired during the 2023-2024 school year and build on that knowledge to keep them ready for September. The courses will provide the resources needed and access to a community to continue to share ideas and resources, answer questions, and provide other support during the summer.


The courses can be taken as a series or individually. All courses will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

 

  • Tuesday, June 4: Course 1 - Understanding Dyslexia and the Brain to Teach How They Learn: How does the dyslexic brain process information?

  • Tuesday, June 11: Course 2 - Supporting Word Recognition Acquisition: How can we support phonemic awareness and phonics to increase fluency?

  • Tuesday, June 18: Course 3 - Building Language Comprehension: Let's build your child's comprehension toolbox for vocabulary, background knowledge, and inferencing.

 

The 3-course series is $60, and you can register here: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=797282&

To register for individual courses for $25 each, please use the following links:

 

June 4: Course 1 - Understanding Dyslexia and the Brain to Teach How They Learn: https://na.eventscloud.com/797285


June 11: Course 2 - Supporting Word Recognition Acquisition: https://na.eventscloud.com/797286

 

June 18: Course 3 - Building Language Comprehension: https://na.eventscloud.com/797287



Strengthen any "Structured Literacy" approach by incorporating the

Strong Learning Reading Intervention Program K-3+


Learn how to use the Strong Learning Reading Intervention Program to strengthen any "Structured Literacy" approach. Strong Learning Intervention is a game-based program developed by Drs. Linda and Al Silbert have worked with struggling readers for over 45 years. In all their experience working with students and reading specialists, they all agree that these students need to practice but don't want to. They're children. They want to play.

“Strong Learning Game-Based Learning Resources has been a game-changer for The Compass school. The students love playing the games and practice their reading skills without realizing it. The resources integrate with any curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading, and we highly recommend them to any school looking to improve its students' decoding skills. Heather Ballantine, Literacy Coach, The Compass School, R.I. November 10, 2023. All registrants should have structured literacy experience with either Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, LTRS, or AIM.


Date: July 22nd at 6:30

Cost: $40

 
 
 

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