Watch the Webinar: Making Summer Learning Count

Our recent Making Summer Count webinar revealed a disconnect between superintendent goals of academic growth, and parents who want children to develop the friendships and life skills that make summertime memorable. 

Make Summer Learning Work

By designing summer learning programs around three foundational principles: relationships, routines, and realistic support, schools can offer the enrichment desired from families while maintaining learning during the summer months.

Relationships

Facilitate relationship building as a priority. Kids don't remember worksheets; they remember the camp counselor who taught them about constellations, or the librarian who helped them discover their new favorite book series. When children feel known, they take risks; when they feel valued, they participate; when they feel safe, they learn.

Routines

Help children stay engaged without adopting the rigidity of the school day. Post a calendar featuring summer activities and community events that families can access on the school’s website. Or, create a take-home pack of games and prompts that helps families create small, daily moments that can anchor a child’s day while strengthening their learning muscles.

Realistic Support

Meet families where they are to avoid adding pressure to their daily lives. Connect families to existing community resources, like libraries and parks. Offer practical ideas for family bonding, such as reading books together, encouraging scientific curiosity on a nature walk, and playing simple math games are all fun and easy ways to promote learning at home.

Summer engagement thrives when schools embrace partnerships and recognize that they don't have to, and shouldn't, do this work alone. Create a partnership map with local organizations, such as libraries, faith-based organizations, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and local nonprofits. This will increase access for students who want to participate in programs, and also helps ease financial burdens for families who can’t afford traditional summer camps.

Families want summer programs, and superintendents value summer learning; the goal now is to align those priorities and provide deeper, more equitable access.

Check out the recording here: Making Summer Count: Schoolwide Strategies That Support Families and Ensure Student Success