Summer Learning Loss – the Summer Slide

Is Summer Learning Loss Real?

A research study in the American Educational Research Journal found that “the average student loses 17-34% of the prior year’s learning gains during summer break, as well as that students who lose ground in one summer are more likely to also lose ground in subsequent summers.” They also found that there was more substantial loss in math and reading. Read more about summer learning loss here from the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education.

How to Address Summer Learning Loss

  • Summer learning programs can be effective in helping prevent summer learning loss and closing achievement gaps.
  • Having access to books and encouraging summer reading is important in helping students gain in reading achievement, comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar.
  • Journaling over the summer is a great way to not only capture memories, but also provide writing practice for students. Encouraging kids to write in their journal daily keeps their literacy skills fresh.
  • Another way to keep writing skills fresh is to encourage letter writing with a pen pal or distant relative.
  • For more targeted academic support, summer tutoring is very effective in helping students keep current and improve math and reading skills.

Summer Tutoring with TutorUp

All of our tutors are certified teachers and have a lot of flexibility in their summer schedules. If you’re interested in providing some weekly academic support for your student this summer, we have lots of options for you.