I do feel some worry. Will we be ready for the fall without the typical school day routine? Should we be reading each day? Will we regress in skills gained? For my daughter and other children with disabilities, parents want to do their best so their children do not regress over the summer. Reinforcing skills can be done in fun ways that show children how useful the skills that they learn in school are in their day to day life.
Summer can bring families the conflict between rest and reset, coupled with the pressure to continue working on skills that their child learned throughout the year. As both a special education teacher and a parent of a child with special needs, I understand that tension, on a personal level. Summer doesn’t need to become school at home, but it can become something just as powerful: a season of real-life learning.
In my opinion, the most impactful learning doesn’t take place in a classroom. It takes place when we generalize those skills to our own home and community, whether in a grocery store, on car rides, in our kitchens, or through our own conversations.
When we think of learning, many of us think of a classroom. We imagine a teacher leading small group instruction. While this is the stereotypical way that learning is often viewed, the picture that we create in our head doesn’t match what our world outside of the school setting looks like. Traditional methods of learning are helpful, but it is important for children to put new skills into practice.
Real life application of skills can reinforce everything the child’s teacher, therapists, and interventionists are working on. Creating opportunities to learn outside of an education setting helps to build language, strengthen problem solving, increase a child’s independence, and reinforce academics.
Math is everywhere. Kids are working with numbers in the classroom, but children can also engage in activities that reinforce these skill and remind them why they are learning and practicing math skills.
In the kitchen, cooking together and doubling a family recipe practices measurements, addition and multiplication facts. Measuring ingredients and following the sequence of steps to try a new recipe together reinforces skills that are being learned in school. When cooking, using an analog clock to identify when the recipe starts and finishes teaches or reinforces important skills. Figuring out how long it took the dish to be completed from start to finish helps with problem solving and math.
A routine trip to the grocery store can be a great learning location for math as well. The child can count items that are put in the cart. When shopping, working together to compare prices to find the cheapest ingredient options is a useful skill. To keep within a budget, the child can learn to estimate the total of a purchase. Small children can walk through a store and read aisle numbers and calories in items to practice identifying and reading numbers. Even something as simple as talking through “how many more are needed” builds number sense in a meaningful way. These organic moments of learning during routine activities can remove the pressure of “getting it right” and replace learning with curiosity and participation.
Although reading together is a great activity, reading doesn’t need to only happen with a book. Learning opportunities and language skills can be promoted by watching a movie or TV program and talking about story elements. Who are the main characters? What is the setting? What might happen next? Commercial breaks, are a good time to ask some of those questions. Story elements can be found in more than books. Stories are all around us.
There are opportunities to find words and strengthen reading in the community. Reading street signs and highway billboards can help teach functional reading skills. Going out to a restaurant and reading menus and following maps (or even a GPS) can give young adults confidence when out in the community.
In the classroom, my students are engaged when I create lessons and activities that align with not only their learning styles, but also their interests. I encourage parents and families to do the same. If the child has an interest in animals, taking a trip to the zoo can be fun and educational. If the child enjoys nature, a park or a nature center with activities encourages learning and exploring at the child’s pace.
Summer is built for breaks, for opportunities to relax and regroup, so learning opportunities do not need to be long. A short but engaging 15-20 minutes can reinforce skills and keep the interest and engagement of a child. In addition to making sure that summer gives children flexibility and freedom, real-world practice during everyday activities can still have a place during the summer. Even when helping with a simple task like folding laundry, the child can match the socks and identify colors. When helping to set the table, they can practice right and left, counting, etc. I believe that consistency over time is more important than intensity of learning.
There are a plethora of skills in addition to math and reading that are of immense value to children. Daily skills such as increasing independence in daily routines, self-advocacy skills, and increased participation in family activities or community outings are something to be celebrated.
Real life application of skills can reinforce everything your child’s teacher, therapists, and interventionists are working on. If your child has an educational program where community outings are part of the curriculum, you can continue to give your child additional practice by connecting with the school team to see which areas you can support at home. With skills being practiced at home and at school, your child will see learning as an everyday process instead of a school task.
Progress doesn’t have to be only tied to the classroom, but can be celebrated in the small gains made on a routine basis. The outcomes of these increased skills reflect meaningful development and should be recognized as important successes.
A Summer Learning Strategy : Adding Structured Resources
Families may also choose to supplement everyday activities with structured resources. Local libraries also provide access to books, programs, and community-based learning opportunities. The following tools can also support continued skill development:
Khan Academy - Free K–12 academic practice across subject areas
www.khanacademy.org
iPracticeMath - Targeted math practice for upper elementary and middle school students
https://ipracticemath.wordpress.com
Epic Digital library with books and videos (subscription-based)
www.getepic.com
Free Rice - Vocabulary practice paired with a global giving initiative
https://freerice.com
Summer learning does not need to be formal to be effective. By recognizing the educational value of everyday experiences, families can support continued growth in ways that are both practical and meaningful. When learning is embedded into daily life, it becomes more than a task. Learning becomes part of how children understand and engage with the world around them. They learn how to interact with the world around them outside of the classroom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christina Kreml (MA. Ed.) is a dedicated special education teacher with two advanced degrees and a passion for supporting children with disabilities. As a parent to a special needs daughter, Christina brings both professional expertise and personal experience into her advocacy work. She is committed to empowering families, championing the rights of children with disabilities, and helping parents navigate the journey of raising exceptional children. You can connect with her at www.iepclarity.com.
Read the article here.