(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jessica Zubik for the information in this story.)
Did you know that students can lose up to two months’ worth of learning over the summer months?
To help parents combat the summer learning loss, the fourth and final program of the 2016-17 Parent Education Series will examine ways to keep your child learning and engaged during the summer months. The program is scheduled for Sunday, April 23 in the McKune Room at the Chelsea District Library from 3-4 p.m. and is free and open to all.
Presenters Tracy Heydlauff and Jeanne Caselli, both teachers at South Meadows Elementary School, will share fun ways to stop summer learning loss. Heydlauff and Caselli have been teaching in the Chelsea School District for a combined 50 years and both are witness to the student learning dip from summer vacation over their years in the classroom.
Some parents turn to summer camps and other enrichment programs, but these can be expensive and cost prohibitive for many families. Heydlauff and Caselli will explore resources already available at home and in your local community to help keep your child’s learning alive.
The hour-long program will involve an interactive look at some online resources. If possible, it is recommended that participants bring a laptop, tablet, or other device to follow along with the program.
Summer learning loss, or “summer slide,” is a “phenomenon where young people lose academic skills over the summer,” according to the National Summer Learning Association. While students from lower socioeconomic households are at the greatest risk, this issue is something all parents should be aware of.
As a result of “summer slide,” teachers often spend the first part of each school year helping students “catch up” before forging ahead into new concepts.
Childcare is available at the Chelsea First United Methodist Church. To register for childcare, visit www.chelseaumc.org and select the adults/special events tab.
The Parent Education Series is a series of programs on relevant parenting issues, presented by the Chelsea District Library, the Chelsea First United Methodist Church, and the Chelsea School District. Experts are brought in to speak on various subjects with the expectation of educating, supporting, energizing, and inspiring parents.
