Preventing Summer Learning Loss

As Parents we are constantly looking for ways to make sure our children are getting everything they need. From the food they eat (like those pesky vegetables they are always fighting us on) to how long they play video games and what time they go to bed at night, we are doing what we believe is best for their short term and long term development.

As a not quite so seasoned parent, I find myself constantly asking if I am doing what is right for my son. Is he on the right track. Is he learning at the same level as his peers, should he be talking more, am I doing everything I can to ensure his development is where it should be? It’s almost inherent, and in our genes to question how we can make sure our children are getting everything they need. Whether it’s academic, developmental, or emotional. As a parent, we want to make sure our children are confident and ready to take on the world around them with the least amount of struggles!

Having your child enrolled or thinking to enroll them at Mathnasium, I know that you are constantly thinking that too. Whether your child works with our instructors to help bridge the gaps in their learning, or if they are working with us for enrichment and to keep them sharp and ready for the next learning topic in their current class, you are doing what you need to, to ensure that they are getting everything they can! And we are happy to help! Our instructors are always excited to build your child’s confidence and ability in Math!

As the summer begins to approach and you begin to gear up for summer vacations, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about Summer Learning Loss. It has been studied, and proven that children who are not actively engaging in 2-3 hours per week in Math work, could lose up to 2 months worth of Math they have learned from this school year! Because of the learning slide, the first 6 weeks of the school year is typically spent catching up and reviewing what the children have lost!

I’m not trying to startle you, but this is extremely real, and can become very frustrating for our students!

Here are things that you can do to help your child.

1. Enroll/ keep them enrolled in Mathnasium and bring them about 2x a week for sessions.
2. Work on Math problems at home.
3. Bake cookies and have them calculate measurements based on halving or doubling your recipe.
4. Gardening - how much soil do you need? How far apart should your plants be? How much mulch do you need for the garden bed?
5. Play board games that inspire Mathematical thinking. Here are a few for you to look into!
   1. Yatzee
   2. Monopoly
   3. Sequence
   4. Quirkle
   5. Candy Land
   6. Sum Swamp
6. Teach them to balance the checkbook.
7. And I’ll say it again - Enroll them / keep them enrolled at Mathnasium and bring them at least 2x a week! We can spend the summer bridging gaps and preparing them for their next school year!

If you haven’t enrolled yet - here are some things that we focus on during our Summer Math Workout.

2019 Summer Math Workout

Our flexible schedule will be tailored to meet your child’s specific goals.

• Curing finger counting
• Mastering Number facts
• Improving Multiplication/Division
• Having Fun with Math
• Making sense of Fractions, Percentages, and Decimals.
• Preparing for Middle and High School
• Building confidence in Math
• Problem Solving
• Cracking the SAT/ACT
• Previewing or Reviewing Pre-Algebra, Math I, Math II, or Math III

Our Summer Math Workout program is offered in packages ​allowing for no long term commitment.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Beth Cosentino - Assistant Center Director