Preventing the Summer Slide

The summer slide, caused by a drop in learning between school years, can lead to knowledge loss, but there are ways to minimize its effects.

The summer slide is not as fun as it sounds. Rather than kid shooting down a sliding board at their favorite playground, it instead describes a phenomenon of learning lapses during the summer break that lead to slow starts to the school year and a loss of learned knowledge.

“The summer slide is a time where students aren’t utilizing the pathways that they’ve just recently created in school,” says Andrea Borowczak, director and professor of The UCF School of Teacher Education. “Those neural pathways have to be used in order for them to become routine and when those pathways aren’t used, they fade or they stop. And so the overall progression of learning slows down or stops, and some of those pathways that are built are no longer there … because of that lack of engagement with that material.”

The best way to minimize the effects of the summer slide is to encourage your kids to engage in learning all year long. Allowing children to become excited about acquiring knowledge is to allow them to forge their own path. Schools often teach the same material to all students, which doesn’t always allow them to dive deeper into subjects that interest them.

“If you want to build a love of learning, you have got to let the kids tell you what they’re interested in. You’ve got to let them go deep into what sparks their interest,” says Dani Fox, head of company pods at KaiPod Learning. “As adults, we need to navigate this world with them being curious and encourage them to wonder why something’s like this.”

Curious minds are likely to be excited and engaged, and what better way to question new things than through the world of books?

“Hiring a tutor from In-Home Tutors should be a part of your plan to manage the summer slide, but please don’t overlook other important areas of enrichment this summer,” says Dennis Freeman, director of In-Home Tutors. “Build in multiple trips to your local library and allow time for your kids to enjoy browsing through all the books.”

Filled to the brim with information, books provide a glimpse into a world beyond what children might otherwise experience, while also allowing children to follow their own interests and to experience a plethora of different writing styles.

If you’re looking to further expand a child’s horizons, it might be worth looking into booking a trip.

“If it’s within their means to travel and to engage the student in really meaningful experiences, there’s a lot of educational value in that,” says Brenda Fields, PhD, assistant high school director and IB coordinator at Windermere Preparatory School.

You don’t have to travel abroad to get the impacts of traveling. As long as you are engaging in conversations and encouraging your child to be curious about new things, they’ll walk away from every trip—whether that be to the zoo, a play, a new state or country—having learned something new.

“You could do things like visit museums, go to different cities—anything that introduces something new and helps you to ponder other ways of life or cultures and cities,” says Joseph Cioffi, marketing director at Foundation Academy. “If you engage in the content that’s in front of you—whether it be in the mountains or in the city or in the country—there’s always learning experiences for families.”

While on vacation, talk with your children about what they are seeing and don’t be afraid to be a bit curious yourself. Parents aren’t meant to have all the answers all the time and providing children with that insight may make them feel more comfortable with not having all the answers either. It creates an open space where parents and children alike can come together to learn.

It’s perhaps most important to remember that learning can and should become part of daily life. Children may find vacations and trips to a theme park to be amusing, but they don’t always need flashy trips to make them excited and get them to engage.

“Sometimes we [parents] put a lot of pressure on ourselves to feel like we have to have the best or the newest thing but they can look for lessons in their daily lives and bring some of that to life,” says Borowczak. “There’s a lesson in almost every subject area in everything we do. If you’re cleaning the floor [for example], you can talk about the chemicals that are involved as a chemistry lesson. You can talk about the importance of cleaning and medical hygiene.”

The best way to minimize the effects of the summer slide and to keep your child’s mind sharp and ready for the beginning of the next school year is to promote constant learning. Trips, locally or abroad, can be a great way to expose children to new cultures and ideas, but there is still plenty to learn at home.

Keeping your little one engaged with summer reading programs can help keep their neural pathways working and can aid them in becoming a stronger writer. Turning simple actions of daily life like a walk in the park or cooking dinner into a fun lesson can help your child see the world with curiosity and keep them interested in learning new things.

Summertime is a great time for children to take a break from the pressing demands of homework and subjects that just might not interest them, but with the right amount of wonder and encouragement, they can continue to learn without even realizing it.

“By being aware of the summer slide and taking proactive steps to address it, parents can help ensure that their children are prepared to succeed when they return to school in the fall,” says Jason Smith, director of public relations for Orange County Public Schools. “As you make plans for summer fun, don’t forget to also prioritize summer learning—it’s an investment in your child’s future academic success.”

Preventing the Summer Slide

The summer slide, caused by a drop in learning between school years, can lead to knowledge loss, but there are ways to minimize its effects.

The summer slide is not as fun as it sounds. Rather than kid shooting down a sliding board at their favorite playground, it instead describes a phenomenon of learning lapses during the summer break that lead to slow starts to the school year and a loss of learned knowledge.

“The summer slide is a time where students aren’t utilizing the pathways that they’ve just recently created in school,” says Andrea Borowczak, director and professor of The UCF School of Teacher Education. “Those neural pathways have to be used in order for them to become routine and when those pathways aren’t used, they fade or they stop. And so the overall progression of learning slows down or stops, and some of those pathways that are built are no longer there … because of that lack of engagement with that material.”

The best way to minimize the effects of the summer slide is to encourage your kids to engage in learning all year long. Allowing children to become excited about acquiring knowledge is to allow them to forge their own path. Schools often teach the same material to all students, which doesn’t always allow them to dive deeper into subjects that interest them.

“If you want to build a love of learning, you have got to let the kids tell you what they’re interested in. You’ve got to let them go deep into what sparks their interest,” says Dani Fox, head of company pods at KaiPod Learning. “As adults, we need to navigate this world with them being curious and encourage them to wonder why something’s like this.”

Curious minds are likely to be excited and engaged, and what better way to question new things than through the world of books?

“Hiring a tutor from In-Home Tutors should be a part of your plan to manage the summer slide, but please don’t overlook other important areas of enrichment this summer,” says Dennis Freeman, director of In-Home Tutors. “Build in multiple trips to your local library and allow time for your kids to enjoy browsing through all the books.”

Filled to the brim with information, books provide a glimpse into a world beyond what children might otherwise experience, while also allowing children to follow their own interests and to experience a plethora of different writing styles.

If you’re looking to further expand a child’s horizons, it might be worth looking into booking a trip.

“If it’s within their means to travel and to engage the student in really meaningful experiences, there’s a lot of educational value in that,” says Brenda Fields, PhD, assistant high school director and IB coordinator at Windermere Preparatory School.

You don’t have to travel abroad to get the impacts of traveling. As long as you are engaging in conversations and encouraging your child to be curious about new things, they’ll walk away from every trip—whether that be to the zoo, a play, a new state or country—having learned something new.

“You could do things like visit museums, go to different cities—anything that introduces something new and helps you to ponder other ways of life or cultures and cities,” says Joseph Cioffi, marketing director at Foundation Academy. “If you engage in the content that’s in front of you—whether it be in the mountains or in the city or in the country—there’s always learning experiences for families.”

While on vacation, talk with your children about what they are seeing and don’t be afraid to be a bit curious yourself. Parents aren’t meant to have all the answers all the time and providing children with that insight may make them feel more comfortable with not having all the answers either. It creates an open space where parents and children alike can come together to learn.

It’s perhaps most important to remember that learning can and should become part of daily life. Children may find vacations and trips to a theme park to be amusing, but they don’t always need flashy trips to make them excited and get them to engage.

“Sometimes we [parents] put a lot of pressure on ourselves to feel like we have to have the best or the newest thing but they can look for lessons in their daily lives and bring some of that to life,” says Borowczak. “There’s a lesson in almost every subject area in everything we do. If you’re cleaning the floor [for example], you can talk about the chemicals that are involved as a chemistry lesson. You can talk about the importance of cleaning and medical hygiene.”

The best way to minimize the effects of the summer slide and to keep your child’s mind sharp and ready for the beginning of the next school year is to promote constant learning. Trips, locally or abroad, can be a great way to expose children to new cultures and ideas, but there is still plenty to learn at home.

Keeping your little one engaged with summer reading programs can help keep their neural pathways working and can aid them in becoming a stronger writer. Turning simple actions of daily life like a walk in the park or cooking dinner into a fun lesson can help your child see the world with curiosity and keep them interested in learning new things.

Summertime is a great time for children to take a break from the pressing demands of homework and subjects that just might not interest them, but with the right amount of wonder and encouragement, they can continue to learn without even realizing it.

Put to the Test

While some colleges have decreased the importance of standardized testing, both the SAT and ACT remain a key factor in the admissions process.

During COVID, there was a noticeable increase in colleges and universities that became test-optional, allowing for prospective students to avoid having their SAT or ACT scores be considered during the admissions process. However, some schools are now looking to reinstate the testing requirements as they are thought of as greater predictors of how a student will academically perform in college, rather than relying strictly on grades.

So, should your child be taking the test? Which one may suit them better? We collected the data and spoke to Dennis Freeman, director of In-Home Tutors and Jason Smith, director of public relations for Orange County Public Schools to demystify these exams, learn more about them and find out how students can best prepare themselves.

What’s the difference between the SAT and the ACT?

The main differences between the two tests are their timing and layouts. The SAT consists of two sections over the course of three hours and 15 minutes while the ACT is constructed of four sections over the course of two hours and 55 minutes.

Which should your child take?

Those who struggle with focusing might do well with the ACT’s quicker-paced, more segmented format. Alternatively, those who like to take their time may fare better with the longer, slower sections of the SAT.

However, why take one when you can take both? In fact, when considering which test to take, it might be best to take both.

“The ACT hasn’t changed much in years; it is still a paper-and-pencil test with a predictable set of questions. The Digital SAT is an adaptive test, meaning that the student will receive an easier or harder set of questions depending on their answers to the initial section,” says Freeman. “If you take both tests, you may have a better chance of getting the best score you can.”

How much does it cost?

Each SAT session costs $60 with an increase to $68 beginning on Aug. 24. At the same time, test-takers can expect updated fees including a $34 late registration fee, a $39 late-cancel fee and a $29 fee for a change in testing center.

Each ACT session costs $68 or $98 with the optional writing portion. Potential fees include a $38 late registration fee and a $44 fee for a change in test day or center.

More information on those fees can be found at ACT.org or CollegeBoard.org. Those facing financial hardship can apply for fee waivers for both or either of the tests.

How do colleges consider test scores?

College entrance exams have certainly lost their shine in recent years. According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, more than 80% of colleges and universities will not require scores or will not consider them for the 2025 fall admission cycle.

Despite this, scores can be an internal indication of college readiness and indeed, many schools still require or will at least consider test scores when determining admission. A high test score has shown to be an accurate, early indicator of college success.

How can students improve their scores?

Test-takers can retake their exams as often as they would like, allowing for multiple attempts at their desired score.

In addition to self-study resources, students can enlist the help of tutoring programs specifically centered around the demands of either test. These courses have a history of improving test-takers’ scores by multiple points. In fact, research released by the ACT showed that those who engaged in ACT test prep scored, on average, 1.6 scale score points higher than the national average.

What can students be doing now to set themselves up for success?

In addition to working with tutors, engaging in a test prep course or utilizing self studying materials, students should take a look at all their school’s have to offer. Many schools provide chances for further in depth education through programs like Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge, and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These courses encourage students to think critically and go beyond simply memorizing materials.

“This emphasis on rigor goes beyond simply covering advanced content. It fosters the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and inquiry-based learning–all hallmarks of successful college students,” says Smith. “By actively engaging with these programs, students are not just prepared for college; they are empowered to excel within it.”