Achieve’s Dean of K-4 Teresa Sparks helps lead the summer learning program at Achieve, which is set up for both in-person instruction and hybrid learning. This format increases the access for scholars to continue learning during the summer.
Sparks said this summer curriculum provides scholars a variety of benefits but grouped them into three main categories: building confidence, eliminating the “summer slide,” and staying connected.
Building Confidence
Learning throughout the Summer can help students increase confidence. The curriculum for the program addresses some content scholars may have struggled with during the previous school year and previews content they will see in the upcoming year. Sparks said this strategy boosts confidence going into the next school year.
“Their confidence is huge coming in,” Sparks said. “Maybe knowing that you're not the best reader or you're not the best at math is going to be scary because if you didn't feel really good about it the year before, you're definitely not going to feel good coming into the new year.”
She said while scholars are dealing with a lot of unknowns at the beginning of the year, Summer education eliminates stress about those troublesome subjects or skills and builds a faster start.
“That confidence just helps them feel a whole lot better going into that new grade level,” Sparks said.
Eliminating the “Summer Slide”
The “Summer Slide” is a phenomenon describing the lost knowledge for scholars that comes during the extended break from school. Sparks said the effects of the Summer Slide are apparent when a student struggles with a topic.
“If you are not working on a weakness that you had, then obviously you're going to start off the year with an even bigger weakness,” Sparks said. “That slide or gap just becomes so much bigger.”
Achieve’s program aims to eliminate that gap as much as possible for scholars. The one-on-one class time available during the Summer helps put the brakes on that pesky Summer Slide.
“If you're practicing or working in school over Summer, that helps with keeping that gap as small as it can be and maybe even fill it,” Sparks said. “That's our goal too. We want to make sure we can fill some of those gaps or those holes if we can.”
Staying Connected
Summer may provide sunshine and warm weather, but some scholars often miss the social aspect of going into school every day.
Achieve, which has outperformed the local district since it opened before the 2009-10 school year, combats this with a Summer Learning Fair. Scholars come and connect with teachers and classmates at a Carnival-style event.
Sparks said some scholars might not have other kids in their neighborhood or maybe they don’t live by their classmates. She said going to school and participating in the Summer learning program provides scholars that social environment on a daily basis.
“I think it's a great way to stay connected,” Sparks said. “Students get that social piece. They can be a kid and have fun and be with their friends in the summer while continuing to learn.”
Check out a school near you!
About Achieve Charter Academy
Achieve Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Canton, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit Achieve Charter Academy's blog to read more stories like this.