5 Necessities for a Great Summer School Program
We are no strangers to the “summer slide”—the phenomenon that students’ academic levels fall after summer break away from school. Research has proven the positive effects of participating in summer school on academic wellness. Around this time of year, parents are ready to sign their students up for summer school to keep their brains active and academic skills strong these next few months.
Variations of summer school programs are pretty famous for students K-12. There’s no wonder as the benefits of participating in a summer school program are great:
- Supports academic advancement
- Improves social development
- Establishes routine
- Advances cognitive development
Mobile Ed has a few helpful guidelines for making your summer school program the best you’ve ever had.
- Choose an Effective Curriculum. One of your team's first decisions is what your program should accomplish this summer and what resources you need to achieve those goals. You may consider how you can support your students for the next school year. Give your summer-school planning team a head start by choosing a program backed with research and data.
- Actively Recruit Participants. Summer school is a great opportunity for all students to solidify foundational principles and accelerate their learning. A personal invitation to families and intentional messaging can make families aware of the program and the benefits of participation.
- Keep it Appealing. We all recognize that for students walking into summer school, sitting in a classroom most likely wasn’t their first choice for how to spend the sunny day. If possible, appeal to your students' interests and divide lessons into shorter segments for deeper engagement. Mobile Ed’s educational assembly programs are featured nationwide in summer schools and camps. These programs combine curriculum requirements with exciting, interactive experiences for a compelling learning experience.
- Emphasize Practice and Feedback. Repetition is the key to long-term learning. Consider how you’ll add in practice, assessments, and check-ins with your students and how you’ll provide them with feedback.
- Remain Flexible. Our goals are most successful when we can adapt to each classroom. This includes changing up the plan once in a while and adapting to the needs of our students each day. Keeping an attitude of flexibility will make your program effective and keep you and your students excited to learn.
Mobile Ed is a national leader in educational assembly programs. Founded by a teacher 44 years ago, we are a powerful resource for educators nationwide. Mobile Ed offers unique educational programs for schools, libraries, camps, and summer schools.
Check out our website for more information on what we do and offer.