Published: June 10, 2025
Summer is here! These lazy days bring a sense of calm and a much-needed respite from the busy school year. For some, the break also brings a certain level of learning loss, referred to as the dreaded “summer slide.” Research varies on summer learning loss and whether the summer slide affects all students and to what degree. However, research consistently finds that summer days away from school are a golden opportunity for struggling students who need to catch up.
The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), in partnership with the US Department of Education, works to combat summer learning loss and promote continuous learning. The NSLA promotes an annual celebration called National Summer Learning Week. This year, National Summer Learning Week is July 14th to 18th, 2025. This celebration raises awareness and elevates the importance of summer learning. Each year, the NSLA highlights five summer learning themes with great activities and educational recommendations for each theme. The NSLA further provides many excellent community resources for authentic summer learning experiences. Learn more at summerlearning.org
Prep Academy Tutors is proud to celebrate National Summer Learning Week and promote authentic summer learning experiences for all our students. We encourage our students to use summer downtime to polish academic skills and prepare for next year, with a good balance of summer fun, too! Summer is an opportune time for low-pressure learning as these months fall outside the constraints of the school day and the jam-packed extracurricular schedule.
Here are the top benefits of summer learning for all ages:
- Close learning gaps by practicing and reinforcing content from the previous year.
- Get a head start for September through enrichment and previewing key topics for next year.
- Practice and fine-tune essential executive functioning skills such as backward planning, note-taking, and organization.
- Explore subject areas of interest and engage in project-based and outdoor learning.
- Create some structure and add a routine to your summer plans.
- Get one-on-one attention to boost individual skills, fill in learning gaps, and regain academic motivation and confidence.
Summer Learning for Elementary & Middle School Students:
- Summer literacy:
- Specialized reading remediation with an Orton-Gillingham reading method teacher.
- One-on-one tutoring with a certified teacher or reading specialist to remediate, maintain, or enrich literacy skills.
- Small groups to promote summer reading and writing
- Kindergarten readiness with a certified early childhood educator.
- Summer language enrichment in French, Spanish, Latin, and Italian.
- ISEE, SSAT and TACHS private school admissions exam preparation.
- Algebra 1 preview for rising 8th and 9th grade students.
- Math enrichment to remediate and prepare for next year’s math course.
- Executive functioning: Hands-on practice and improvement of essential executive functioning skills to support a transition to the next grade or from elementary to middle to high school.
Summer Learning for High School Students:
- Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students can complete summer assignments and preview topics for AP and other advanced classes, including high school math.
- Rising juniors can (should!) prepare for and take the SAT or ACT. This is important for students preparing for the intensity of junior year. Summer SAT and ACT preparation is a game-changer!
- Rising seniors must write their college essays.
Prep Academy Tutors can support all of these summer learning endeavors. For more information about summer learning, contact Vanessa O’Friel and Sarah Loader at (914) 303-7661.