When school doors are shuttered, summer learning loss may occur.
“This learning loss is called the “summer slide,” and happens when children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Tyronda Boone, a teacher who has worked as an educator for 22 years, instructs youth in the District of Columbia. She also possesses experience as a financial literacy educator, arts integration teacher and author of “Zoey and Zander’s Guide to Success.”
Boone provided insight and suggestions about preventing students from losing information that they learned during the previous school year.
She explained that some parents may feel that their child or children worked hard while school was in session, so they permit them to unwind and have fun during the summer. Other parents view the summertime as a prime opportunity to help their child or children catch up academically or master other skills that they may be introduced to in the next school year.
Either way, Boone believes that students should invest some time in a summer learning regiment.
“I do think that it’s important to make sure that your young person is engaged in some sort of academic activity, be it directly or indirectly,” Boone said, noting that even reading daily for enjoyment can be beneficial if children are building their fluency.
The National Center on Improving Literacy reported that “fluency is the ability to read words, phrases, sentences, and stories accurately, with enough speed, and expression.”
Fluency is regarded as “a critical gateway to comprehension.”
Boone explained that catching up two or three grade levels is harder for students to accomplish during the school year. When teachers must manage a larger class size or manage different levels of learners, getting up to speed can become even more challenging.
While combating learning loss when school is out, a variety of classes may be located online after conducting a bit of research. Students can still learn the same types of information away from a traditional classroom, according to Boone.
“So, you just really have to find out what motivates your child, explore what your child really enjoys doing and determine if there is a program that fits your child’s desires and their wants and their needs,” Boone said.
She noted that Outschool.com, an innovative education platform that offers a variety of group classes online, offers a variety of options that young people like such as a Super Mario multiplication class. Boone added that parents who are concerned about costly online learning programs can research scholarship opportunities that may be offered.
Helping a child to learn at home, even for busy or single parents, may also be as simple as turning to free resources online such as YouTube.
The Internet can serve as an educational resource, not just an entertainment hub. Too much relaxing and freedom to watch content such as TikTok videos to learn a dance craze should come with limits for youth. Young people should also be cautious about trying to follow friends who may not have to work on academics in the summer.
“If you want to get better at something, if you want your journey to be easier, you have to practice,” Boone said.
The veteran teacher also recommended establishing some rules and setting goals, while keeping the maturity level in mind. Positive reinforcement can be tied to the completion of realistic goals. Parents should not set expectations too high, especially when his or her child is trying to improve by catching up grade levels.
When it comes to having discipline to do schoolwork, some children need more support than others since adolescents do not yet have fully developed brains. If you know that your older child needs more parental support, it can be given to them in a way that still requires them to have a level of maturity. Privileges such as utilizing a vehicle or receiving an allowance are two examples to achieve a positive response by connecting wants to learning tasks.
In other cases, challenging young people academically is important, even at home. Boone added that tackling difficult subject matter should grow along with a child’s grade level.
Despite having good intentions that connect with summer learning, parents should not overwhelm themselves or set their child up for failure.
“So, with our young people and teenagers, we have to set realistic goals for them and help them to reach their goals because they’re still our children,” Boone said.Visit www.instagram.com/zoeyandzanders1 to learn more about Boone and her future endeavors.