Maintaining Academic Skills Throughout the Summer

As the school year wraps up, and summer break begins, students often feel a wave of relief. The excitement of no homework or exams is exhilarating -- I get it! As a tutor, I always advocate for a balance between work and play. Students deserve a break after the school year, but it's also helpful to keep those academic skills sharp. Below you will find some ways to maintain your child's academic skills (while still having fun)!

1. Explore New Hobbies

Encouraging students to dive into new hobbies can stimulate their brains in unexpected ways. Whether it's painting, gardening, coding, or learning a musical instrument, trying something new fosters creativity and improvement in problem-solving skills. It's a big win all around!

2. Encourage Summer Journalling

Writing is a great way for students to express their thoughts and explore creativity. Something as simple as carving out ten to fifteen minutes a day for journaling can have a huge impact!

Not sure where to start? Writing prompts are a great way to get ideas flowing. The New York Times has a writing prompt page that is designed for students. There are visual prompts, opinion-based questions, and opportunities to respond to current events. I'm sure your child will find something that inspires them!

3. Keep Reading on Your Radar

Reading during summer is essential for retaining literacy skills. Again, you don't have to set aside a lot of time to make a difference. Ten to fifteen minutes of reading a day is an awesome place to start!

If you're struggling with getting your child interested in reading, try taking them to your local library. All the books are free and if the book your child chooses isn't their vibe, they can always take it back. Remember that graphic novels and comics are great reading practice too! Don't feel like your child has to read 'serious' books to experience the benefits of reading.

4. Discover Educational Games and Apps

There are so many games out there to stimulate learning! If you want to go old school, pull out your scrabble board, or a game like Boggle, to test your child's spelling skills!

There are also a lot of great online games. One that I recommend is Blossom, which is a free word game created by Merriam Webster. There are also a lot of great free games offered through the New York Times App including: Wordle, Spelling Bee, Strands and more!

5. Try Out Summer Tutoring

Summer is a great time for students to work on advancing their reading and writing skills. Without any pressing assignments, students have the opportunity to cultivate the skills they will need to prepare for the year to come. I always say that more prep means less stress when the school year rolls around! If you're interested in trying out a lesson or two, you can book a trial lesson online through my website. I will be offering summer sessions all through July!

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Summer Can Be Fun and Educational!

It doesn't take a lot to keep learning going throughout the summer. Whether it's setting aside a few minutes a day to journal, hitting up the local library, or trying out tutoring sessions, there are so many ways to maintain (and even grow) our reading and writing skills. Whatever you decide to try out, I hope you have a wonderful summer!