Summer break can be a much-needed break for students after a long academic year. However, research shows that students often experience a regression in their learning over the summer months, commonly known as the summer slide. This regression can lead to a loss of academic skills and knowledge, which can affect a student’s academic success in the upcoming year.

To prevent the summer slide, it’s important for students, parents, and educators to work together to create a plan for summer learning. In part 1 of this series, we shared strategies and activities for preventing the summer slide. In this second part, we will be discussing some specific resources that students can use to practice their reading, math, and writing skills over the summer break.

Book recommendations for kids to read over the summer:

• “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White – This classic story follows the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte, who works to save him from being slaughtered.

• “The Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne – This series follows siblings Jack and Annie as they travel through time and space in a magical treehouse, exploring different historical periods and cultures.

• “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate – This heartwarming story is inspired by the true story of a gorilla who lived in captivity in a shopping mall. Ivan dreams of a better life for himself and his animal friends and works to make it a reality.

• “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling – This beloved series follows the adventures of a young orphan named Harry Potter, who discovers that he is a wizard and is whisked away to a magical school called Hogwarts.

• “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio – This inspiring story follows a boy named August who was born with a facial deformity and must navigate the challenges of starting middle school and making friends.

• “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett – This classic story follows the adventures of a young girl named Mary who discovers a hidden garden and works to bring it back to life.
• “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan – This series follows the adventures of a demigod named Percy Jackson, who must navigate the world of Greek mythology and save the world from disaster.

These books offer a range of genres and themes, from heartwarming tales of friendship and adventure to exciting stories of magic and mythology. By reading these books over the summer, children can improve their reading skills and develop a love of learning that will serve them well in the years to come.

Math resources for children to use over the summer:

• Khan Academy – Khan Academy is a free online resource that offers math lessons and practice exercises for students of all ages and skill levels. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic addition and subtraction to calculus and beyond.
• Math Playground – Math Playground is a website that offers math games, puzzles, and activities for children in grades K-6. It covers a range of topics, including basic arithmetic, geometry, and problem-solving.
• Prodigy Math Game – Prodigy Math Game is an online game that combines math practice with role-playing elements. Students create their own character and solve math problems to progress through the game.
• Mathnasium – Mathnasium is a tutoring center that offers summer math programs for students of all ages. They use a personalized approach to help students build their math skills and confidence.
• Bedtime Math – Bedtime Math is a free online resource that offers math problems and puzzles for children to solve before bedtime. It’s a fun and engaging way to incorporate math into daily life.
• Math Olympiad – Math Olympiad is a program that offers math competitions and problem-solving challenges for students in grades 4-8. It’s a great way to challenge and motivate students who enjoy math.

By using these resources over the summer, children can continue to develop their math skills and build a strong foundation for academic success.

Math stories that children can read along with excerpts:

• “The Greedy Triangle” by Marilyn Burns – This story follows a triangle who becomes bored with its three sides and asks a shapeshifter to add more sides. As the triangle gains more sides, it becomes more complex and harder to fit into different shapes.

Excerpt: “The Greedy Triangle was bored. ‘If I only had another side,’ he thought. And then he did! He grew a new side and became a quadrilateral. But the triangle was still bored, so he grew another side and another, and another, and another… Until he had so many sides, he couldn’t even remember his name!”

• “Math Curse” by Jon Scieszka – In this humorous story, a girl wakes up one day to find that everything she sees is related to math. She uses math to solve everyday problems, from figuring out how much money to bring to school to calculating the odds of winning a prize at the carnival.

Excerpt: “How many minutes till recess? Why does lunch have to start at 11:35? How many seconds until it’s over? Then the worst thing happens. Our teacher, Mrs. Fibonacci, announces that we have to do a project about the number one. Everyone groans, except me. I think I’m going to like this math curse.”

• “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table” by Cindy Neuschwander – This story takes place in medieval times and follows Sir Cumference, a knight who must solve a puzzle involving a circular table in order to save his kingdom.

Excerpt: “King Arthur was always thinking of ways to unite his kingdom, and he decided that a round table would be perfect for this. But when he tried to make one, he realized that he didn’t know how to divide the circle into equal parts. Sir Cumference came to the rescue, using math to solve the puzzle.”

• “Math Potatoes” by Greg Tang – This book features a series of rhyming math puzzles that encourage children to think creatively and use math skills to solve problems.

Excerpt: “Add like a frog, subtract like a bunny. Multiply like a mole, divide like a gummy. These are just some of the fun ways to do math in this book. By using math in creative ways, children can learn to think outside the box and develop their problem-solving skills.

By reading these math stories, children can develop a love of math and see how it can be applied in everyday life. These stories can help children understand math concepts in a fun and engaging way and inspire them to explore the world of math further.

Resources for students to practice writing over the summer:

• Writing prompts: Students can use writing prompts to practice their writing skills and spark their creativity. They can find prompts online, in books, or from their teacher. Some prompts can be fun and silly, while others can be more serious and thought-provoking.

• Journaling: Encouraging students to keep a journal over the summer is a great way to practice writing skills. They can write about their daily activities, their thoughts and feelings, or their experiences on vacation. Students can also decorate their journals and make them a fun and personal space to write.

• Writing contests: Many organizations and publications offer writing contests for students over the summer. These contests can provide motivation and inspiration for students to practice their writing skills and try their hand at different genres.

• Summer writing programs: Some schools and writing centers offer summer writing programs for students. These programs can provide structured instruction, feedback, and support for students as they practice their writing skills.

• Online writing resources: There are several online resources that offer writing practice and instruction for students. For example, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers resources on different writing styles, grammar, and research.

• Creative writing workshops: Some libraries and writing centers offer creative writing workshops for students over the summer. These workshops can provide students with a fun and supportive environment to practice their writing skills and receive feedback and guidance from experienced writers.

• Reading and analyzing literature: Reading and analyzing literature can be a great way for students to practice their writing skills. They can learn from the writing styles of authors they admire and try to emulate them in their own writing. They can also analyze the themes, characters, and plot of the literature they read and use these insights to inform their own writing.

• Writing groups: Students can form writing groups with their friends or peers to practice their writing skills together. They can share their writing, provide feedback, and offer support and encouragement to each other.
• Online writing communities: There are several online communities where students can connect with other writers, share their writing, and receive feedback. For example, Wattpad is a platform where writers can publish their work and receive feedback from a global community of readers and writers.

By using these writing practice resources, students can improve their writing skills and develop a love of writing. Writing can be a powerful tool for self-expression, creativity, and communication, and by practicing their writing skills over the summer, students can gain confidence and become more proficient writers.

How These Resources Will Help Students Avoid Regressing Over the Summer Break

We will share book recommendations for kids to read over the summer, along with some math resources and math stories that children can read along with excerpts. Additionally, we have shared some practice resources for students to practice writing over the summer. By incorporating these resources into their summer routine, students can continue to develop their academic skills and avoid the summer slide.

How Students Can Plan Their Days Over the Summer to Incorporate Reading, Math, and Writing Practice

To effectively incorporate these resources into their summer routine, students should plan their days to include time for reading, math, and writing practice. This can include setting aside time each day for reading or math games or scheduling weekly writing sessions. Setting aside time each day or week for these activities, students can maintain their academic skills and build a strong foundation for future learning.

The Benefits of Using These Resources to Prevent the Summer Slide.

By using these resources and planning their summer days effectively, students will benefit in many ways. They can improve their academic skills and knowledge, build their confidence, and develop a love of learning that will serve them well in the future. Additionally, they will be better prepared to return to school in the fall, ready to learn and succeed.