Library News

The Summer Slide and how to beat it!

By Marie Rippel

The summer slide is a decline in academic skills that can occur over the summer months when school isn’t in session. 

Although the summer slide may not affect every student, the general principle can be observed in all sorts of situations. Skills need to be practiced to ensure ongoing proficiency. For example, if your child plays the violin but stops practicing for three months, his skills will decline more than the skills of a child who continues to practice and play the violin over the summer, right?

Here’s the secret to preventing the summer slide: Promote learning all summer long. Don’t panic! I’m not talking about year-round schooling (although for some homeschool families, year-round schooling may be a good solution). I’m talking about consciously striving to provide learning opportunities throughout the summer to keep kids’ academic skills sharp.

**Each newsletter this term, I will attach information associated with each ofMarie Rippel's suggestions.**