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Primary education

Summer learning loss

35 replies

SlowMoFuckingToes · 06/07/2019 15:40

Now that school has broken up for our DC I'm starting to think about what to do about summer learning loss and how much we should insist they do over the summer holidays. Anyone else have a plan?

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QueenMabby · 06/07/2019 16:47

How old are they? I do a little bit with mine but not much.
Need to sort SPAG with ds this summer - he’s 13 and his spelling is getting worse I’m sure! For him it’s more keeping up with the focus rather than the content.
DD is 10 but requires less input - with her it tends to be more games or mathletics type things.

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ValleyoftheHorses · 06/07/2019 16:51

School tend to send something home. We always read. This year I want to spend a little bit of time getting DS better on his times tables, I think he’s struggling with them a bit.

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Lwmommy · 06/07/2019 17:02

No formal learning time in my opinion,/they need the break to rest, have fun and take some time away from learning. We will just do the things DD enjoys like reading, and she has a homework project to fill a box with things she likes.

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Ihatesandwiches · 06/07/2019 17:06

We continue to read as it's part of the routine. DD WANTS to practise her times tables so we'll buy a work book or 2 from The Works or similar. That's about it here.

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CoconutMango · 06/07/2019 17:07

What age? Unless its GCSEs when revision is good Id onky really want to keep up reading. Maybe incidental maths shopping/baking etc.

Definitely not formal schoolwork!

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Apple23 · 06/07/2019 17:38

Reading, reading, more reading

Finding out and talking about about new things.

When they say they are bored, it means their brains are hungry to learn something new.

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Jaffacakebeast · 06/07/2019 17:58

None at all, summer holidays are for relaxing. Might watch a few documentaries, but that’s because my ds likes them, bonus if he learns and remembers something from them

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BackforGood · 06/07/2019 18:17

Would definitely help if you could let us know f talking about 5 yr olds or 15 yr olds.....

However, with Primary aged children, just keep reading to / with them. Take them out and about and talk to them / listen to them. Do things like cooking and shopping and letting them handle money at fetes / icecream shops etc. Play cards with them or board games to get the to understand counting on / addition / subtraction / number bonds

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Pipandmum · 06/07/2019 18:20

Nothing. My daughter is naturally curious so looks up stuff that interests her. My son couldn’t care less. Don’t think it’s affected either of them over the years.
I grew up in the USA and summer breaks are at least ten weeks and don’t remember anyone worrying about it.

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SlowMoFuckingToes · 06/07/2019 18:38

I think some posters have missed that I've posted in primary education so clearly not talking about GCSEs. DS is going into year 3 and I really noticed how much he went backwards after last summer in reading and maths. The data seems to bear out that our experience isn't uncommon so trying to find a way to counteract the slide.

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ritzbiscuits · 06/07/2019 18:46

My son is finishing reception. I plan to hear him read every day (same as term time), a bit of handwriting practice and maybe play with his numicon set a bit. We'll sign up to the libraries summer reading scheme as that gives him a reward chart and certificate at the end.

Otherwise, it's holiday clubs, tennis camp and some nice outdoor days out.

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TeenTimesTwo · 06/07/2019 18:51

Primary if no general issues:
Daily reading / Summer reading challenge
Summer diary
A bit of maths in the last week or so to get back up to speed

We often did regular maths throughout holidays, but that was more to catch up than to stop a slide.

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StrumpersPlunkett · 06/07/2019 18:59

Daily reading
Summer holiday pocket money budgeting
Helping with shopping
Keeping a daily number (could be how many days have there been or are left in the holiday)
Write letters and postcards to family and friends warn them and ask them to write back.
Scrap book / holiday journal.

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Geraniumpink · 06/07/2019 19:09

I would say reading and learning to tell the time, also to keep times tables ticking over if you can find a way to do it that he likes.

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brilliotic · 06/07/2019 20:43

Learning is supposed to be fun, so why should we stop in the holidays? We will do whatever the kids are keen on. That will most likely involve reading and maths - the kind of reading and maths that they enjoy, rather than the kind that they get at school.

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ElfrideSwancourt · 06/07/2019 20:48

Take part in the Summer Reading Challenge - free at your local library.

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JeniferJulia · 06/07/2019 22:00

Most organised summer activities are sports-related or crafts, but there is one 'summer school' hosted by Surrey Explorers in Putney taught by university students on outreach which is more academic-focussed. Kids can do one, two or three days over July and August. //www.facebook.com/pg/SurreyExplorers

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babysharkah · 06/07/2019 22:04

Just reading. They deserve downtime.

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itsaboojum · 07/07/2019 08:33

Summer learning loss?

Exposure to the real world isn’t a loss: it’s a massive learning opportunity.

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Soontobe60 · 07/07/2019 08:41

www.mathsisfun.com/games/

This is an excellent website with lots of maths activities for all ages and abilities. It's better than paper based off the shelf workbooks.

www.iseemaths.com/#
Reasoning is a biggie in maths now. This website is what lots of teachers use for resources, it again, if you buy the relevant ebook the activities you can print off are excellent to do with your child. Again, it's not a boring fillitin workbook, but gives lots of opportunity for discussion and explanations.

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SlowMoFuckingToes · 07/07/2019 10:01

Thanks @Soontobe60! Those are some good resources. Anyone know where to find appropriate spelling lists by year?

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Feenie · 07/07/2019 11:58
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PantsyMcPantsface · 07/07/2019 14:26

I refuse to worry about it - we bake, we get out on bikes and into the park, and I try to keep up on them reading to me at least 3-4 times a week... plus keeping on top of DD2's speech therapy homework. They're knackered and need the unwind time, and to be honest - mine need the unstructured time to work on occupying themselves really. There's some educational stuff on the house computer if they want to use it but I'm not going to force it too much - last summer in particular DD2 had a tonne of therapy appointments and didn't get much downtime as a result and she is really really flagging now as a result.

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Chilledout11 · 07/07/2019 14:40

Mine is finished reception. I do flashcards (sight words) 5 times per week and law patrol phonic readers and decodable books I downloaded. Will teach him some spellings. We also use an online reading programme.

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