Supporting Your Child’s Reading Development: Preventing Summer Learning Loss in Grades 1-3
Summer break is absolutely a time for kids to enjoy the sunshine and take a break from the academic demands of school. However, research shows that summer learning loss can have a significant impact on a child’s reading development, particularly for those in grades 1-3. So why are grades 1-3 particularly significant for reading development, what is summer learning loss, and how can parents tips prevent summer learning loss and support their child’s reading development?
Why Grades 1-3 are Critical for Reading Development
Grades 1-3 are a crucial time for children to develop foundational reading skills. During this time, instruction is focused on helping children learn how to decode words, develop vocabulary, and comprehend meaning. In third grade, instruction moves from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’. Research shows that early intervention is key in preventing reading difficulties and ensuring success in later grades and life. According to the National Institute for Literacy, children who do not learn to read in the first few years of school are more likely to struggle with reading throughout their academic careers and beyond. Additionally, studies have shown that a child’s reading ability in first grade is a strong predictor of their reading ability in third grade.
Understanding Summer Learning Loss
Summer learning loss, also known as the summer slide, refers to the loss of academic skills and knowledge that can occur during the summer months when students are not in school. Research shows that summer learning loss is particularly significant for students in grades 1-3, with some studies suggesting that these students can lose up to 20% of their reading skills over the summer break.
Preventing Summer Learning Loss in Reading: Tips for Parents
Explore your local library
Many libraries offer summer reading programs and activities for children that can help keep them engaged and motivated to read. Take your child to the library regularly, and have them select books that fit their interests. You could also select a more difficult chapter book that could be read to your child in the evening.
Whenever and Wherever: As-needed Tutoring
Tutoring sessions in reading should be multi-sensory and skill-based with lots of opportunities to practice reading in authentic contexts and spelling target words. Fitting in short, 30 minutes sessions throughout your summer could give your family the balance between taking an academic break, but also planning ahead for a successful September entry back into school.
At-Home Activities
Focus on activities that build foundational reading skills, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding strategies, and sight word recognition. There are many fun and engaging activities that can help your child develop these skills, such as word games, rhyming activities, and sight word flashcards. There are also apps that can support your child’s foundational reading skills – Teach Your Monster to Read, Reading A-Z, Lalilo’s free version.
We Can Help!
Preventing summer learning loss is crucial for children in grades 1-3, as this is a critical time for reading development. By setting aside time each day for reading, exploring your local library, incorporating reading into everyday activities, and using online resources, you can help your child continue to develop their reading skills over the summer months. By doing so, you can help ensure that your child is set up a smooth transition in September.
We are offering a combination of as-needed tutoring, and at-home activities this summer. Our membership option includes a premium license to a games-based computer software designed to improve reading in 30 minutes each week. Combined with this is weekly at-home materials delivered to you that is based on your child’s specific data gathered from the computer program. Click here to learn more.
Indicate your interest here for to book tutoring on an as-needed basis this summer.
