This summer, 10-year-old Nick Ward of Brooklyn has attended karate camp and learned to play drums and guitar. But the summer hasn’t been 100% “fun” for Nick, who is preparing to start middle school in September.
Nick’s middle school sent home a summer reading list and his parents are making sure he’s prepared to go back to school after Labor Day.
“We’ve been spending a lot of time at the library and he’s read three of the five books he has to read and finished the book reports,” Nick’s father, Nathan Ward, said. “Since he’s moving up to middle school, we’re working with him to refine the book reports.”
Nick said he is enjoying his summer workload: “My favorite book that I read this summer is The Egypt Game [by Zilpha Keatley Snyder] because it really relates to what real life is like,” he said, adding: “I also like the characters because I can relate to them.”
Reading is one of the many ways to prevent summer learning loss, according to the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. The Center has found that students generally fall two months behind in math and reading skills over the summer. It also found that the lack of access to summer learning opportunities accounts for more than half of the achievement gap between low-income and high-income students.
“What’s most important is that kids are learning all the time, and always have opportunities and access to high-quality learning,” said Jennifer Brady, the Center’s Director of Professional Development.
The Center recommends that parents should take their children on family field trips to zoos, museums, and libraries. It also suggests that parents should encourage their children to practice math each day, do good deeds, keep a schedule, get outside, and take other steps to prepare for the coming school year.
“There are so many things you can do that don't take a lot of skill or money,” said Andrea Roberts, mother of a first-grader at Brooklyn’s Explore Charter School and Director of Family Literacy at Learning Leaders, a non-profit organization that encourages parent volunteerism in the schools.
“Summer programs can be expensive,” she said, “so I go to a 99-cent store and buy some arts and crafts. I also make up little science projects—with microwave popcorn, you can ask, how long do you think this is going to take to pop? You say it’s supposed to take three minutes, and the child learns; this is what three minutes feels like.”
Santiago Taveras, Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the New York City Department of Education, takes a more formal approach with his children.
“I think it’s very important to have a structured summer program that emphasizes academics,” he said. “My kids have to spend two hours each day on academic supplements before doing anything else.”
Whether parents plan trips to the museum or organize more structured lessons, summer projects help children stay on top of their skills and build confidence.
“I’m excited about starting middle school,” Nick Ward said. “I’m ready.”