If you don’t think those three things go together, your kids might be at risk of suffering from summer slide. While it may sound like one of those cool attractions at a nearby water park, summer slide actually refers to the learning that kids lose each summer, as priorities shift from class time and homework to swimming pools and summer vacations.
According to the authors of a report from the National Summer Learning Association: “A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year.” Yikes! It is common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. With the added pressure on kids to meet more-stringent State-required testing earlier in the Fall, this poses a big problem for children whose scores place them on the edge between “on track” and “not on track”.
To help those kids, educators from Crestwood, Aurora and Garfield School Districts worked together to obtain grant funds to hold Summer School programs in each respective District. At Crestwood, former Primary and Intermediate School principals Beth Trivelli and Mike Maglionico spearheaded the efforts to help offer this additional instruction for Crestwood students.
Using end-of-the-year testing and reading assessments, children who were identified as “not on target” were offered the opportunity to attend the program, which started during the two weeks after school ended in June, and will continue for two weeks prior to the start of the new academic year in August. The summer program at Crestwood serves over 80 kids, ranging from those who completed kindergarten up to grade four. Classes are held each morning, Monday through Thursday.
At the completion of the June session, students were given special packets to keep, so they could continue reading and learning at home. Each packet contained ten books at the child’s reading level, a journal, and multiple activity pages to work on through the month of July. Those same students will return for the second session in August. According to Mr. Maglionico, former principal at Crestwood Intermediate School, “While we’re confident this program will help our students, the district is prepared to provide individual intervention plans for those students who do not pass the Reading OAA tests.” That testing must occur by September 30, according to State requirements.
In light of the recent resignations of both Mrs. Trivelli, who took a position with Hudson Schools, and Mr. Maglionico, who accepted a promotion to Director of Pupil Services with Crestwood, new Superintendent David Toth supports the program, stating, “I do not anticipate any interruptions to the summer reading program or educational programming at either school.”
For tips on how to prevent the students in your life from succumbing to summer slide, visit: www.littlescholarsllc.wordpress.com/10-ways-to-prevent-summer-slide.
