Back when I was teaching history at a boarding school I struggled about what to do in the coming summer months. I applied for grants, secured travel money, and ventured out west as well as to Africa. I had absolutely nothing to complain about. The world was “my oyster” and I was eating up every opportunity that came my way (and, of course, that I created). The struggle came when I had to sort through what I really wanted out of the summer, especially when I had to select between two fabulous opportunities – a position as a Wilderness Instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), for example, or a summer respite at a friend’s cabin on Lopez Island. I remember finally admitting to myself: I had enough of teenagers for the year.
As much as I wanted to backpack through the Wind River Range in Wyoming (and get paid for it!), I needed a break from the daily excitement of a teenager’s life. Not once, though, did I take a break from reading, thinking, conversing with friends, writing in my journal, or even creating new curricula for the upcoming school year.
Summertime can present fabulous opportunities to break away from the mold of school, including teachers and peers (or in my case, my students). But unless a child or teen is truly in the habit of reading and writing, solving math problems and conversing with old and new friends, then summer can be more of a trap or pitfall than a launching pad to new wonders in life. Summer learning loss is real, particularly for low-income students who may not have the same opportunities to engage in constructive activities. This loss is greater in math, too – across the board.
Fortunately, there are some fabulous organizations that provide enrichment activities and rigorous academic programming to under-served youth, but those organizations are still few and far between…and they need our financial support as well as our time and expertise.
There’s a ton you can do to keep your child reading and writing, solving math problems, making new friends, learning to self-advocate and manage his or her time, etc. I’ll continue sharing resources and insights in future posts. I’m also interested in hearing about your experiences and ideas too.
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