Summer Learning Opportunities

Everyone loves summer. As soon as the last school bell rings, students grab their backpacks and race out the door, leaving all thoughts of dangling participles, quadratic equations and conjugated verbs behind. And what happens next? Sometimes it’s camp or summer reading programs.  More often, it’s a lot of TV watching, video games, social media, going out with friends, and avoiding anything that looks remotely like a book. 

When the research is analyzed, it becomes clear that summer learning shouldn’t be a luxury or just an afterthought when there’s nothing else to do. Summer learning – no matter if it’s at a camp, a charter school, or a traditional high school - has a real positive impact on both academic and social-emotional development. It provides structure to children’s summer experiences, making it more likely that they will stay engaged and focused and out of trouble. It also keeps their academic skills polished and, in some cases, makes it possible for them to get ahead.

One of the best things about summer learning is that students proceed at a more leisurely pace, with less pressure, and focus on one subject at a time. This kind of situation is ideal for reigniting students’ love of learning. It gives them the freedom to learn at their own pace, thus increasing their confidence and helping them feel more prepared at the beginning of the next school year—setting them up for success right from the start! When students don’t experience the summer gap in learning, they are much more likely to keep up with their peers and graduate high school on time.