Teaching & Learning

Holiday Learning 

How do we keep our learning muscles strong?

As we approach the upcoming two-week break, we want to wish everyone a restful and rejuvenating holiday. It is a well-deserved time for our students to recharge, play, and spend quality time with family.

While rest is essential, we also want to share a little insight into how we can keep our students’ learning muscles strong while school is out.

The Power of Practice

Research into how children learn shows that for new information or skills—like a new phonics sound or a multiplication table—to truly stick, it needs to be moved into long-term memory.

This transition happens through consistent, low-stress practice. When students take a full two weeks away from these basic skills, we often notice a dip in their progress upon return. Essentially, if the neural pathways aren't used, the brain begins to prune that information to make room for other things!

Making it Manageable

We aren't suggesting hours of desk work! Instead, we encourage Maintenance Moments—short, 10-to-15-minute bursts of activity that keep the momentum going:

• The Magic of Reading: Whether it’s a graphic novel, a picture book, or a recipe, 15 minutes of daily reading prevents literacy sliding and keeps vocabulary growing.
• Real-World Math: Practicing basic skills like counting change at the shops, telling the time, or measuring ingredients for a holiday treat keeps numeracy fresh.
• Journaling: Encourage your child to write two or three sentences about their favorite part of the day.

Why It Matters

By keeping these basic skills warm, students return to St. Joseph’s feeling confident and ready to dive into new concepts. It prevents the frustration of having to re-learn old material and allows us to hit the ground running for a successful new term.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child’s education. We look forward to continuing on our learning journey and supporting all of our students to grow and shine in all they do.