It’s wistful to admit, but summer is almost over. Days are shorter, evenings are breezier, and, wherever you live, kids are already back to school or are headed there shortly. There’s an excitement to this change of seasons, but there’s an element of stress – for kids, as they return to school both mentally and physically, and for parents and teachers, as they reset routines and prepare for the school-year ahead. Even if your kids are already toting backpacks and doing homework, it’s not too late to give your kids a leg up for the new school year.
Summer-learning loss is well documented. Though there’s some debate as to how much and to whom it happens, there are a few things we know about the “summer slide.” Early research showed that students can lose up to 30 percent of their year’s learning over the summer, and this gap can worsen for students in different socio-economic groups who might not have access to the environments needed to maintain learning over the summer. In some studies, slowdown of math skills was more severe than of English.
To combat the slide, don’t just polish the apple, pack up the trapper keepers and assume your kids are all set. It’s all about inspiring students by sparking interest (and joy) in the discovery of learning.
As your kids are preparing for or returning to school, here are some tricks for boosting STEM learning in particular:
Transportation Gallery at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Museum of Science and Industry
- A field trip is an excellent way to sneak science back into your student’s life. This summer, we took the Forbes blog on a STEM road trip featuring some of the nation’s best hotspots for learning about math, technology, science and engineering, but it doesn’t have to be summer to take in the incredible museums and centers on offer in the United States. Whether you’re on the West Coast, in the Heartland, the Northeast or living down south, find a spot near you and take your children for a visit. You never know what kind of interest the exploration might spark.
- You can also discover STEM without even leaving the house. Try out Bedtime Math, geared especially for younger kids and their parents. This app is an easy, free download, and parents can sign up via email to receive a math-themed bedtime story each day to read with their kids in the evening. Run by a nonprofit organization, the positive effects of Bedtime Math are backed up by data that show how great this nighttime activity is for creating an environment that stops kids from becoming scared of math – something that can happen at a young age and persist into adulthood. 100Kin10’s newest report (coming out this fall!) shows just how key combatting the fear of math is for students and teachers alike – especially for our youngest learners.
- As you’re tucking your kids in, you could read one of our favorite STEM children’s books, like The Most Magnificent Thing and Rosie Revere, Engineer,Cuddle up to read this inspiring bedtime storyor conduct a DIY experiment from our family favorite, Curious Jane , a “magazine for girls who like to make things.”
If you have a little extra time, watch an awe-inspiring movie like Hidden Figures, especially if your family was bitten by Moon-Landing Mania (we were!).
As I get ready to set that (too early) alarm clock and pack those (soul-crushing) school lunches, I’m reminded of something our kids’ school principal says, which is that learning is a partnership between the student, the home, and the school. Every parent and caregiver has something important to contribute to the learning and growth of their young people, and schools are stepping up to create true partnerships. Research shows that parent involvement has an overwhelmingly positive impact on students’ academic performance and happiness. Carnegie Corporation of New York has been doing important work supporting organizations that emphasize a family-centered approach to student success. Check out Power My Learning, a nonprofit that provides coordinated teacher-parent-student support, for resources and activities to help you and your child navigate school together.
Summer is a time to relax – and in our home, we’re sucking the marrow off the bone of this lovely time of year. Eat that last burger, fire up the grill, hit the beach or park or pool, and, for those of us with school starts after Labor Day, enjoy these last days of relative calm. But find a few minutes for one of these activities, and you and your kids might just be more relaxed than you expected when that first-day alarm goes off.
