13 Mar Preventing the Break Slide: Strategies to Keep Students Learning During School Breaks

Written by Analiese White, Co-Written by Christina Merchant | Edited by Cara Catalano

As school breaks approach, educators and school district leaders face the challenge of keeping students engaged in learning while allowing them time to rest and recharge. While breaks offer a well-deserved pause, they can also lead to an “academic slide,” where students lose progress due to a lack of consistent engagement. This issue affects learners across all grade levels and subjects, with reading and math being especially vulnerable.

By addressing this challenge proactively, we can help students maintain academic progress, foster lifelong learning habits, and reduce educational inequities. Below, we explore research-backed strategies that educators and parents can use to ensure students remain engaged and on track during school breaks.

Why Sustained Learning During Breaks Matters

Research confirms that students often experience learning loss, particularly in math and reading, during extended breaks like summer vacation. This phenomenon, known as the “summer slide,” can cause students to lose one to two months of academic progress.

A 2020 study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that summer learning loss significantly contributes to achievement gaps between students of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Reading disparities between low- and middle-income students in ninth grade, for example, can often be traced back to differences in summer learning opportunities as early as first grade. Additionally, math skills tend to erode more uniformly across all demographics during breaks.

Structured learning activities—such as access to books, educational programs, and enrichment activities—can help prevent these losses and promote continued academic growth.

Key Benefits of Continued Learning During Breaks

✅ Prevents Skill Regression
Students can lose several months of learning, particularly in key subjects like math and reading. Those without access to educational resources or enrichment activities are most at risk.

✅ Reduces the Need for Remediation
Many teachers spend the first few weeks after a break reviewing previously covered material to help students regain lost skills. Engaging in learning activities during breaks can significantly reduce the need for this review, allowing for a smoother transition and more impactful teaching.

✅ Supports At-Risk Students
Learning loss is most pronounced among students from underserved communities, widening educational disparities. Providing structured learning opportunities during breaks can help bridge this gap.

✅ Encourages Lifelong Learning Habits
Keeping students engaged during breaks nurtures curiosity and helps develop a lasting love for learning, making education an enjoyable, continuous journey.

✅ Reinforces Retention
Consistent academic engagement solidifies knowledge and skills, ensuring students are prepared for new challenges when they return to school.

Strategies to Prevent Learning Loss

Encourage Daily Reading
Promote access to books and set achievable daily reading goals. Programs, like library summer reading challenges, can motivate students while strengthening their literacy skills.

Integrate Fun and Learning
Blend play with education by incorporating activities like puzzles, educational games, and science fair experiments. These activities make learning enjoyable and interactive.

Leverage Online Resources
Introduce students to educational apps and websites offering engaging lessons in various subjects. Platforms, like Duolingo for languages, or Prodigy for math, provide valuable practice opportunities.

Promote Writing Activities
Encourage journaling, creative writing, or comic creation to maintain literacy skills. Writing can also be a creative outlet for students.

Provide Real-Life Learning Opportunities
Suggest activities that apply learning to real-life contexts, such as cooking to teach fractions, museum visits, or nature walks to encourage hands-on learning. Provide families with ready-to-use guides that facilitate these activities.

Encourage Parental Involvement
Share tools and resources with parents to help them create a supportive learning environment. Simple activities like family reading time or discussing current events can enhance learning at home.

Support Structured Programs
Advocate for summer school programs, academic camps, or community learning initiatives. These programs provide structured environments for enrichment.

The Role of Educators and Parents

Educators’ Role

• Communication: Emphasize the importance of sustained learning to families.
• Resources: Provide learning packets, book lists, or digital tool recommendations before breaks.
• Community Partnerships: Collaborate with libraries or local organizations to create accessible educational opportunities.

Parents’ Role

• Reinforce Learning at Home: Engage in activities that support classroom lessons, like reading or practicing math.
• Encourage Persistence: Celebrate small successes and guide children through challenges.
• Promote Balance: Ensure a healthy mix of study, play, and rest to keep children motivated.

As educators and school districts prepare for upcoming school breaks, implementing these strategies can help mitigate learning loss and ensure students remain engaged. By promoting daily reading, integrating fun with learning, leveraging digital resources, and encouraging real-life applications, we can support students in maintaining their academic skills.

Additionally, structured programs and parental involvement play a crucial role in creating an educational ecosystem that benefits all students. By committing to these practices, we can not only prevent academic regression but also inspire a love of learning that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Let’s turn school breaks into opportunities for growth, exploration, and curiosity—ensuring that learning never stops, no matter the season.

Works Cited

American Educational Research Association. (2020, July 9). Summer learning shortfall: Why 

poor students fall behind, researchers say. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 11, 2024, 

from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200709135545.htm

Credits:

Main Writer: Analiese White

Co-Writer: Christina Merchant

Editor: Cara Catalano