Early Years: Grades 1-3

Whether a child is heading to class for the very first time or a seasoned veteran of the third grade, the summer break is a great chance to introduce or keep a young student familiar with the type of structure that they encounter in the classroom.

• Read books together at a set time everyday
• Ask questions and have a discussion about readings
• Introduce fun workbooks that cover classroom subjects such as math and reading
• Set routines such as bedtime and reading times and stick to them

Middle Years: Grades 4-8

Children are growing rapidly both physically and mentally during this time. It’s a very busy time frame for children—they have a lot coming at them, from school to increasing family and social obligations. Summer represents a great opportunity for them to synthesize all the information that they have learned during the school year. Summer is the time for students to have those “A-HA” moments that can translate school year book learning into experiences that sink in. Here’s how

• Visit museums
• Take nature walks and discuss trees/plants/wildlife
• Take up a new hobby such as painting or gardening
• Research a favorite subject from school

Teen Years: High School

The summer break during the high school years is almost as important as the school year itself. At the high school level the curriculum moves along at an impressive speed—even a single missed school day can result in a major skill gap. But the pace doesn’t slow down for missed skills; usually the first real break that high school students get is the summer. That’s why the summer is a great opportunity for high school students—they can catch up and fill in any skills gaps.

Whether it is summer school, a private tutor, an education company such as Oxford Learning, or simply a focused desire to read and write more, teens can make the most of the extra time in the summer to improve grades—after all, it’s not too often that highschoolers have extra time, so why not make the most of it?