Avoiding the summer slide: How reading programs aim to keep kids on track

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and while many kids are buzzing with excitement, educators worry about the risk of the “summer slide.”

The summer slide is a common phenomenon, referring to the distinct learning loss that students face while out of school for long periods at a time, such as summer break.

“There are certain expectations for each grade for the students,” Kristen Potts, CEO of SLD Read, said. “When they experience that slide, obviously, they’re taking steps back.”

Math and reading are common subject areas for learning loss to occur, especially for elementary students who haven’t quite mastered those skills or for students who might’ve been below grade-level standards to begin with, according to Potts.

Not only does an educational loss put students behind, but it disrupts the classroom flow, Pott said.

“It does require the student to do some catch up in the fall,” she said. “It requires teachers to have to review things that were already taught to the students in the previous year, so it’s time consuming.”

The risk is also widespread.

Only about 30% of 4th graders across the state are currently proficient in reading, according to Potts.

So, when using that statistic, about 70% of all Michigan students are at risk of being impacted by the summer slide at the start of next year.

“Everyone thinks, ‘oh, summer break, it’s time to take a rest,’” Potts said. “But really, summer is not the time to make that happen. Really we have to continue those habits of reading daily.”

One way to keep growing reading habits over break is through summer programs.

For the first time, SLD Read is offering a middle school reading program, which will host students who were in early elementary grades during the Covid-19 pandemic and are still seeing those effects today.

“What we’re seeing is that our middle school students are still very behind in those foundational skills,” Potts said. “Just really trying to keep those students engaged and keep that habit of being exposed to literature everyday.”

Potts said their new program was well received throughout the community and is already at full capacity, but there are many other options across different subjects within the community.

To view other program options, go here.