By Jordan Newell, Summer 2012 Intern
veg out (v.) an activity characteristically defined by inactivity,
often performed on a couch in front of a television; an activity
associated with today’s youth culture, particularly during the summer
months between school sessions.
After spending the summer in this state of inactivity, it is often
difficult to recall and apply what was learned the previous school year.
According to a recent piece
on CNN’s Schools of Thought blog, students typically perform worse on
standardized tests after summer break than before it. This phenomenon
occurs because students often associate summer vacation with fun and
relaxation away from school. Come fall, students have forgotten a large
quantity of what they learned during the school year; for three months
of summer, they are not using or building upon the knowledge gained in
class.
But for me, summer break included camp; camps are a great way for
students to continue learning between school sessions, and there is a
program for just about any interest. A program in Denver, Summer
Scholars, combines physical activity, teamwork, strategic thinking, and
quick figure math problems while another program in New York, Harlem
RBI, combines education and baseball.
Often, the children who attend these camps come from families who can
easily afford the fees, equipment, books, and any other materials for
their children’s activities.
These days, however, there are many ways that the summer months can be
full of fun and learning (and good quality family time!) at little cost.
Families can read together and play learning games online at pbs.org or
BookAdventure.com. Don’t forget about local public libraries either. The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)
is a group of states that offers reading logs, posters, bookmarks, and
certificates. Member libraries can provide low-cost reading activities
for schoolchildren of any income level, keeping kids sharp and allowing
for an environment that encourages learning. Libraries also have access
to all sorts of learning materials, and many have new technologies
available such as the Kindle or other e-readers for checkout to use with
the e-books available on their websites.
Summer is a great time for both learning and vacation—why not check out
the next book on your reading list and take it on the family trip to
the beach?
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