Keeping Students Engaged in Learning During the Summer
June 13, 2019

Renton Prep’s Guide to Summer Learning

Summer is here and it is the time for vacation and a break from school! However, as good as it is, it can often lead students to forget some of the things they learned. This is referred to as “summer slide.” It’s the tendency for students to lose some of the academic achievements they gained during the year. Not to say that they should invest all their time studying throughout the summer, but there are plenty of resources available to encourage summer learning. This habit will help students maintain their academic performance and be well prepared for the upcoming school year! In this article, you’ll find various educational resources you and your child can dive into this summer!

Tools for Summer Learning

As a Microsoft Showcase school, we are able to equip our students with creative learning resources. There are numerous tools that focus on different subjects. This allows students to practice what they struggle with most. Ranging from reading, mathematics, science, or writing, the tools below are available to improve students’ overall academic performance.

Mathematics

Each year during summer break, the average student loses about 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in math skills! A lot of content can be taught in 2 months, which means much of that information is lost without continuous practice. The following are Microsoft mathematics apps that are very useful for young learners:

Students can practice simple math skills and learn to create spreadsheets that they can share with others. Visit the Microsoft Store to explore more mathematics apps.

Science & STEM

The abundance in science is what makes it such a wonderful subject for students. They can learn about the intellectual and practical studies of the physical and natural world. Whether it be about the anatomy of the human body, the biology of organisms, or the structures of outer space, students are given so many opportunities to obtain new knowledge. As for STEM, young people are exposed to physical science, coding, engineering, and general computation. During the summer, Microsoft, as well as other sources, have ways for your child to stay engaged.

Keep that spark of learning alive in the summer by checking out the applications above! For more science and STEM-related Microsoft resources, click here.

Reading & Composition

On average, students who read during the summer gain about 1 month of reading proficiency. Students who don’t, lose about 2-3 months of proficiency. Therefore, keeping your child familiar with the fundamentals of writing and grammar is highly important! Students ca choose to read a few books during the break or engage in quick reading sessions a few times a week. The options are endless.

The applications above provide personalized support to make documents and web pages more accessible for students. They are easy to use and powerful tools to help students gain confidence in their reading and writing abilities. Good at it or not, these apps are beneficial when it comes to improving reading and strengthening writing skills.

Summer Prep for Teachers

To make classroom time more bearable, manageable, and flexible for both teachers and students, Microsoft has multiple tools in store. It can be difficult for teachers to manage and keep track of busy classes. Especially those with diverse students who have different academic levels and capacities. Summer is the perfect time for teachers to prepare for the next school year.

At Renton Prep, we expose students to Microsoft Education tools like the ones mentioned above. This article provides examples of how both our teachers and students benefit from Microsoft Teams.

Preparation Year Round

These ideas and tools help equip students well for the summer! Although the break serves as an intermission from school, it’s great for students to check in on their studies from time to time. Rather than allowing students to lay off, always encourage them to be open to learning. We are excited for the 2019-2020 school year! Contact us today to enroll your child.

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