The Edmond Sun

Opinion

June 26, 2009

Summer: Time for fun, learning

Summer break is in full swing and students likely have indulged in sleeping in and spending hours playing with friends.

That is wonderful. Summer vacations should be full of fun. However, they don’t have to mean a break from learning. In fact, they shouldn’t mean a break from learning.

Countless studies continue to show that children experience learning loss during the summer months, particularly students in low-income homes.

On average, all students lose about two months in math skills over the summer months. While upper and middle income students gain in reading skills during this time, lower income students experience a loss, according to a study by Harris Cooper, professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

A recent report from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, “The Learning Season: The Untapped Power of Summer to Advance Student Achievement,” shows that nonacademic experiences during the summer can support success during the school year, including higher grades and test scores.

Families can prevent a “summer brain drain” and help children enrich their learning skills during the summer by heeding a few low-cost suggestions adapted from the Center for Summer Learning:

• Take family educational trips. These can be visits to parks, historical or children’s museums, zoos and nature centers.

• Practice math daily by measuring items around the house or yard. Children can add and subtract items at the grocery store and cooking (with adult supervision) is a good way to learn fractions.

• Do good deeds together. Children learn better and “act out” less when they engage in activities that aid in their social emotional development, such as community service, maybe planting trees or cleaning up a park.

• Enroll children in summer programs offered by local schools, recreation centers, universities or community-based organizations.

• Keep a schedule. Continuing daily routines will provide structure and limits. This will provide a balance and keep young minds engaged.

• Get outside and play. Intense physical activity and exercise contribute to healthy development and release pent up energy.

Also, providing plenty of reading material in the home and finding quality educational activities online are helpful to preventing summer brain drain.

Whatever you have planned, don’t forget to make the most out of the time you have together as a family. Here’s to plenty of fun and learning this summer!

SANDY GARRETT is state superintendent of public instruction for Oklahoma.

Text Only
Opinion
  • Aerospace tax credits ensure viability of industry

    April 15, 1953. Tax day again. It also marked the last time the U.S. lost a soldier from an enemy air attack.

    May 25, 2012

  • Tax outrage stems from moral distaste

    A study published this week in the journal Symbolic Interaction revisits the relationship between taxation and morality.

    May 25, 2012

  • Suddenly, Asperger’s Syndrome is cured

    My 11-year-old grandson just took his first trip off the diving board.

    May 24, 2012

  • Book recalls Anastasia's story

    In February of 1916 a young woman was pulled from the icy waters of a canal in Berlin, Germany.

    May 23, 2012

  • iRead, you read, we all win

    I’m thrilled to be able to announce the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s iRead initiative. Check out our iRead page on our website, http://ok.gov/sde/newsblogs/iRead.
    With iRead, our goal is to ensure literacy for all Oklahomans from birth to 12th grade. Literacy is more than just reading. Being literate encompasses listening, speaking, reading, and writing — really all of communication.

    May 22, 2012

  • Growth revenue should go back to taxpayers

    Over the next few days, the Legislature will consider a proposal to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax.

    May 21, 2012

  • Thunder Up for Oklahoma

    The Thunder basketball team has a big impact on the state of Oklahoma. Not just because we are excelling in the NBA playoffs.

    May 21, 2012

  • Growth revenue should go back to taxpayers

    Over the next few days, the Legislature will consider a proposal to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax. This year, Oklahoma state government will have more than $200 million of new growth revenue to spend. I believe it is vital for this revenue to go back to the taxpayers who overfinanced state government. This is important, because if the money is not returned, it will almost certainly be used to grow the size of government.

    May 21, 2012

  • Tax cuts don’t make the grade

    When is not big enough also too big?

    May 18, 2012

  • Tax plan means keeping more of what you earn

    The discussion about cutting Oklahoma’s income tax started before the legislative session.

    May 18, 2012

Poll

One year after Osama bin Laden’s death, do you believe the U.S. can say it has successfully completed the war on terror?

Yes
No
Don't know
     View Results