{"id":557,"date":"2014-06-04T17:04:37","date_gmt":"2014-06-04T17:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.rsed.org\/?p=557"},"modified":"2017-12-17T05:24:05","modified_gmt":"2017-12-17T05:24:05","slug":"staying-off-the-summer-slide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/en\/latest-news\/blog\/staying-off-the-summer-slide\/","title":{"rendered":"Staying Off the Summer Slide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Summer is upon us, and with it comes the splash of waves at the pool, the glare of the sun at the boardwalk, open bottles of sunscreen and the summer slide<\/em>. While we are all busy planning our summer activities, it\u2019s easy to forget the educational ground that can be lost during students\u2019 months-long vacation from school \u2014 also known as the summer slide. According to a report from the National Summer Learning Association<\/a>, a conservative estimate of lost instructional time during the summer is about 22 percent, or roughly two months of the school year. Additionally, the Association suggests that teachers typically spend the first month of school re-teaching content from the previous year \u2014 precious time that could be spent diving into new skills and content building upon previous knowledge.<\/p>\n

But Rocketeers don\u2019t have to slide. Here are four ways that parents, caregivers and siblings can help students retain knowledge and even grow their brains between trips to the park and picnics at the beach.<\/p>\n

\"Read\"<\/a>1. Develop a Reading Fluency Routine<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Students benefit from listening to expert readers. Develop a 20-minute reading fluency\u00a0 routine by following these steps.<\/p>\n

1.<\/b><\/span> Choose a passage at your Rocketeer\u2019s reading level. You will read this same passage daily for one week.<\/p>\n

2.<\/b>\u00a0Sit side by side with your Rocketeer. Take turns reading the passage \u2014 you read first, and then ask the student to read the passage after you.<\/p>\n

3.<\/b>\u00a0Record how many words the student was able to read independently on that first day, and then track your Rocketeer\u2019s progress through the week. Not only will this build investment in the fluency routine, it will also build confidence for your student as she enters the next grade!<\/p>\n

If no adult is available, many libraries have audio recordings and matching books that a student could listen to and read daily.\u00a0 If you need reading materials, check out your local library, ReadWorks<\/a> or reach out to your Rocketeer\u2019s literacy teacher!<\/p>\n

\"sitewords\"<\/a>2. Sight Word Games<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As students begin to read, there are a number of words that appear frequently and require memorization. These words are called sight words, and they are easy and fun to practice at home. First, ask your Rocketeer\u2019s literacy teacher for a list of sight words your child needs to practice in order to increase her reading fluency. Then, get creative! Check out Education.com\u2019s list of sight word games<\/a>, and make up some of your own. One example is Sight Word Hunt. To play this game, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Write down 10-15 sight words from your Rocketeer\u2019s list on index cards.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Copy those same words onto Post-It notes or scraps of paper.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Hide the words around the house\u2014in the fridge, on the mirror, on top of the TV.<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> After giving your child the index cards, send them on a Sight Word Hunt to find (and read!) the match around the house. If you\u2019re outside enjoying the summer weather, try turning this game into a sight word egg hunt!<\/p>\n

\"popcorn\"<\/a>3. Using Movies and TV to Build Comprehension<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Summertime is known for the release blockbuster films. Whether you\u2019re seeing Maleficent <\/em>or Spider Man 2<\/em>, this can be the perfect season and opportunity to improve your Rocketeer\u2019s reading comprehension skills. By asking questions aligned to standards, students will be building their brain muscles without even realizing it! Some important skills and questions include the following:<\/p>\n