Hi, I’m Jessica Menkhus, a premium-level tutor here at Revolution Prep with over 17 years of experience teaching kids to thrive academically. In this blog post we’re talking about the Summer Slide and how to avoid learning loss during the months between each school year. It’s not hard, but it does take a small amount of preparation! Whether your child is in kindergarten, prepping for college, or any grade in-between, the right summer strategy can make all the difference to their confidence (and grades) heading into the fall term.
Keep reading to learn all about the Summer Slide and how to create your own Summer Slide Strategy (hint – it starts with a FREE 30-minute strategy session with our expert academic advisors ➡️ Book yours here).
What we cover in this article:
The “summer slide” refers to the learning loss many kids experience during those school-free months between school years. While your kids are enjoying sunny days, and have no homework, if you are not careful, they can go backward in terms of academic understanding and confidence. Studies show that students can lose two months of math skills and up to a month of reading skills over the summer (Brookings Institution). But do not panic! With a bit of planning, you can keep your kids learning, engaged, and give them a head start for the next school year.
Summer learning is crucial because it stops kids from forgetting what they learned during the school year and helps them maintain their academic progress. Research consistently shows that keeping kids academically engaged over summer helps them retain skills and build confidence for the year ahead (NWEA).
Without consistent engagements, kids can forget knowledge and skills, leading to a gap in learning that can set them behind peers who do engage in strategies to combat learning loss.
Combatting the Summer Slide is critical for all ages from kindergarten all the way through college. While it’s tempting to think of the Summer Slide as “just a problem for older students”, or those prepping for college exams, parents need to be aware of the research. Studies show that:
In short, every summer is important and it’s never too late to start!
March is a wonderful time to start thinking about summer activities that can decrease the impact of the summer slide (though it’s never too late to plan!). Whenever you’re actively thinking about your summer plans is the right time to lock in a learning strategy for your kids too.
Get your personalized plan for any age, in just 30 minutes. Book your free consult with a Revolution Prep academic advisor. Book here.
The number of hours that your child should be engaged in academic activities during the summer break depends on their age. While each child is different, here is a guide:
Why start with Revolution Prep?
Revolution Prep’s data-driven approach ensures students not only stay on track but also build new skills that last a lifetime. Here’s your ultimate guide to making summer learning manageable and even fun for all ages!
For juniors and seniors, summer isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about stepping up. From college essays to final test prep, this is the home stretch.
Want a competitive edge? Use the summer to get ahead in tough AP courses like AP Calculus, AP Literature, or AP Chemistry (or any other AP/Honors course for that matter!). Strengthening these subjects now means walking into the fall with confidence—especially for students looking to boost their GPA and college applications.
Revolution Prep offers a range of summer programs and tutoring to keep your child’s GPA, test scores and confidence high.
Four essential summer programs/activities for high school juniors and seniors:
Real-World Readiness: Revolution Prep advisors and tutors help students develop essential life skills such as time management, organization, and self-discipline—key for thriving in college and beyond. They also provide guidance on balancing summer jobs or internships with academic goals, helping students build confidence and enhance their resumes.
Prioritize tasks like test prep and essays early in the summer to leave time for refinement and reduce last-minute stress. Revolution Prep’s team of advisors and tutors help ensure students have the grades, confidence, test scores, and personal essays they need to be successful in the college admission process.
During the first two years of high school students are juggling more than ever before, from academics to social lives, and busy schedules, but summer is prime time to help them prepare for what’s next—without feeling like they’re missing out on fun.
This is also the best time to build a strong foundation and get ahead in core subjects like Algebra II, Geometry, or Honors English. A summer of steady progress can set students up for higher-level coursework, AP classes, and stronger academic performance in later years.
Breaking big tasks into small, manageable chunks keeps teens motivated while avoiding burnout. Revolution Prep’s goal-oriented programs ensure high schoolers stay on track and make meaningful progress.
Ready to get started? Book your free consult here.
Middle school is the age of growth spurts, eye rolls, and figuring out who they are. Summer is the perfect time to build confidence and get a head start for high school.
Middle school success builds high school success! Getting ahead in pre-algebra, essay writing, or science concepts now makes advanced high school courses far easier down the line. Revolution Prep’s middle school tutoring helps students strengthen their academic foundation before high school starts.
Activities and Programs:
Use summer to help your middle schooler develop a growth mindset, where challenges are seen as opportunities for learning. Revolution Prep’s middle school programs focus on strengthening math and reading/writing skills while nurturing curiosity and confidence.
If you want to beat the Summer Slide for your child who is in grades Kindergarten through grade 5, then the number one thing you should do is: make learning feel like play.
The elementary years are all about building foundational skills while exploring and having fun. Three of the best ways that you can do this is through Library Adventures, Math in Action, and STEM explorations.
Strong early skills lead to stronger academic success later. Strengthening reading fluency, early writing, and math problem-solving over the summer ensures students stay ahead of grade-level expectations and enter the fall prepared for more advanced concepts.
Keep learning sessions short (around 30-60 minutes) to match young attention spans and ensure they stay excited about learning. Revolution Prep’s personalized tutoring is designed to make foundational skills stick while keeping the experience enjoyable.
The only thing that every parent needs to do to stop the summer slide is land on a plan that’s right for their child. In this article we’ve given you tips on activities and programs that your child can do during the summer, but each child is different and it’s important that they get a personalized approach. That’s why we offer a free consult with an academic advisor. Whether your child is mastering multiplication, exploring careers, or writing college essays, summer learning can be both effective and enjoyable. We can help you craft a personalized program for every age and stage to keep your child learning and thriving, on a budget that works for you.
The best way to beat the summer slide? Turn summer into a season of getting ahead! Whether your child needs to build core skills, prep for a challenging course, or boost their GPA, a personalized summer plan can make all the difference.
Book a free consultation with a Revolution Prep advisor today. Together, we can make this summer a season of growth, discovery, and maybe even a little laughter!