The Baltimore Sun
Ahhh, another “end” of the school year. Or is it? We typically think, by default, that our children’s “education” only happens from September to June. But while this time is certainly important, we need to expand our thinking — and our time frame — if we are going to truly support our children’s academic progress and future opportunities. We should be inspiring children to discover their passions and realize their potential all year — and the summer space gives us an opportunity to try new ways to advance education.
“Summer learning loss,” in which students lose academic knowledge and skills over summer break, is a significant problem. In a 2013 study by the National Summer Learning Association, 90 percent of teachers reported spending at least three weeks at the beginning of the school year re-teaching content from the previous year; 24 percent of these teachers reported spending five to six weeks reviewing previous lessons.