How to Keep Kids Learning through the Summer
Practical tips and sources to help you and your family focus on summer educational options from the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) and Parents for Charter Schools
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 1, 2020) – Distance learning practiced at home during the coronavirus interruption of the regular school year can easily transition to a focus on summer educational options, according to two organizations with a history of leading Florida’s charter school movement.
The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) and Parents for Charter Schools released practical tips and sources to help kids keep learning through the summer. Their learning routines followed during the past few months can be adapted to the summer season, instead of being abruptly ended.
“Educational experts tell us that children can lose between one and three months of progress over the summer if they don’t practice reading and math skills,” said Robert Haag, President of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools. “Teachers call this the ‘Summer Slide,’ when students can quickly fall back to earlier learning levels.”
According to leaders of FCPCS and Parents for Charter Schools, it only takes 30 minutes a day to focus on grade-level skills during the summer. It’s important for families to maintain a regular schedule and designate 30 minutes every day to concentrate on reading and math skills.
Many excellent resources are available on line to support students and their families during the summer months. FCPCS and Parents for Charter Schools recommend a free plan offered by the national PTA and other educational organizations to support summer learning in reading and math. It begins with a free and easy readiness check at https://bealearninghero.org/readiness-check/and includes summer learning ideas tailored to a child’s needs.
The organization Teach Thought offers a free MLB Summer Slugger Program to parents at no cost. Students engage with content that reinforces key foundational and procedural skills while enjoying the freedom and motivation of a baseball-themed, game-based learning experience. Details are posted on line at https://www.teachthought.com/life/what-is-the-mlb-summer-slugger-program/
Membership in Parents for Charter Schools is free. Parents who sign up at https://flcpcs.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mcform&view=ngforms&id=2001227#/ will receive a weekly email newsletter with information and tips to help children get the most from their charter school education.
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state, with a membership of nearly 75 percent of all operating charter schools. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.
