How to keep the learning momentum going over the summer holidays.
An all too often topic of discussion in the teacher’s staff room after the the long summers holiday is how hard it is to get their pupils back into learning mode after the dreaded ‘summer dip’ or ‘summer loss’ as it’s know by some.
We can all remember those long summer days spent playing outside or visiting family and even jetting on a plane to go somewhere new and exciting. Sitting in a classroom, trying to remember those digraphs taught last year, or trying to hold a pencil correctly and write at length for the first time in weeks was far from our thoughts.
When you think about it, it does make sense that we might be a bit rusty when we return to school in September. For many, when you take into consideration the 6 weeks holiday, plus sports days, summer concerts, educational visits, winding down at the end of term - it is very probable that true formal sustained learning hasn’t happened for over 2 months!
How can you keep the learning going after school as finished for the summer?
So what can we as parents do to reduce this summer dip and keep the momentum going? Below are a few simple ideas on how to keep your child ‘in the learning zone’ throughout the summer holidays.
Start a routine. Short but frequent is the key. Children in Reception and the start of Year 1 can’t usually stay focussed on work for more than about 20 minutes, so bear this in mind. Older children can, or course, work for longer, but remember it is their summer break too, so short varied tasks will be the key to success. It’s important to do sit down work like maths or writing in the mornings when children are more fresh and focused to concentrate.
You are not necessarily aiming to teach new things, rather to consolidate and embed previous learning and ensure nothing is forgotten. Use the end of year report to help you focus on key targets to practise and concepts to revisit. Think about what has been mentioned at parent teacher meetings, or things you have noticed that they could practise.
Think about practical ways of including learning, for example, cooking is a great way of using maths: measuring, weighing, adding, comparing, time, fractions etc. Phonics, maths and reading can all be covered in practical ways. Shopping, using public transport, reading posters and signs are all opportunities to practice these skills.
It doesn’t have to all take place at as desk or table. Gardening, walks in the forest or park, visiting museums and theatres all contribute to stimulating their minds, gets them thinking, expands their vocabulary and encourages them to apply their knowledge they acquired at school.
Of all tasks to do at home, writing is often the hardest to get going (probably because it takes the most effort), but there are lots of ways to weave this into fun activities. Writing a holiday diary is a good way to start. It doesn’t have to be every day, perhaps when they have done something noteworthy. Photos, pictures or tickets can all be added to a caption or sentence about about the activity. Writing letters and cards to friends or family, sending a postcard to the new class teacher, creating a fact book on sea animals, transport or countries, all help to make writing practice more meaningful and fun.
Book a summer camp or 1:1 tutor. Some families like to draw on the skills of others to help the learning momentum continue. Tutors have the training and knowledge of how to cover the topics and concepts you would like your child to practise. There is no right or wrong to any of these, it’s about what works best for you and your family.
Cooking at home can open a host of learning opportunities.
I’m sure most parents have had resistance when it comes time to read their book or do their homework, so anything that you’re going to do above and beyond this, may possibly be met with further moans and groans! Above all, any sort of school work done at home should be fun, interactive and low pressure.
Whichever you decide to focus on, it will undoubtable benefit and enrich your child’s learning experiences over the long summer break. If you are thinking about using a tutor for 1:1 tuition, then we at Beyond Tutoring are more than happy to help with this. We have a variety of skilled tutors for all age groups and subject areas. Contact us to find out more!
