Everyone loves the summer break, especially students. Just watch students on the last day of school; they grin from ear to ear as they throw papers in the air and backpacks under the bed or in the trash. It is a time to celebrate. The lazy and hazy days of summer are about to begin. However, as much fun as summer can be with swimming, video games and vacations, it is not the time to stop learning.

The summer slide or summer setback is a real phenomenon that occurs each year. Specifically, students often lose math skills and most disadvantaged youth lose both math and literacy skills. After this particular school year with remote learning and disruptions occurring regularly, most students are already behind where they would have been during a “normal” school year. Many districts have decided to extend the school year to try to recoup lost instruction. However, if your school district is adhering to a typical summer break, you can prevent the summer slide and add to your learning by following some of the suggestions below.

Follow Your Interests

The best part about summer learning is that it does not have to feel like school at all. The summer is your opportunity to work on subjects where you often struggle or dig deeper into topics that hold your interest. Really, you can do both. You now have time to read, work on crossword puzzles, and play math games on the internet.

Check Out the Internet

The internet offers an array of fun tools to help you continue learning throughout the summer. You will find several ideas on how to occupy your time in a fun and beneficial way. Check out Common Sense Media for an array of math games and apps for all ages. If you are looking to add to your creativity and you have a propensity for art, you can check out Art Projects for Kids.

Read and Write

If you’d like a different kind of entertainment, find a good book. When was the last time you took a visit to your local library? The librarian will show you the latest books and make suggestions according to your preferences. You can take the book to the beach or pool. And, once you finish reading it, you can keep track of what you liked (or didn’t like) about it in a journal. Keeping a journal is another way to help you improve your writing skills. If you are willing to share your writing with someone else so that you are actually writing for an audience, you will improve your writing even more.

Find a Tutor

If you prefer to have some interaction with an instructor, yet want to establish your own schedule, the summer is a great time to find a tutor. If you attend a tutoring session one to two times per week, you can work with an adult who can help you build your skills. These sessions are your opportunity to work on the topics and skills that often cause you stress. The tutor can help you improve your skills and provide a few tips that will help you once school begins again.

Don’t let the summer slide impact you. Follow your interests and enjoy the flexibility the summer offers. It can be a time to improve your learning and discover a new talent or passion.