Ways to prevent summer backslide

Parents concerned that their children will forget everything they learned in school during summer vacation may have every reason to worry, according to a study by Duke University.

The report states that long summer vacations "break the rhythm of instruction, lead to forgetting and require a significant amount of review when students return to school in the fall."

According to that study, students' overall achievement test scores drop by about one month, on average, over summer vacation. Skills in mathematics and spelling usually take the biggest hits, with math skills suffering almost a 2.6 month loss in achievement.

There are steps that parents can take to help their children learn and even get ahead over the summer months. Club Z!'s "Summer Educational Tips" can help turn the break from structured learning into an opportunity for students to sharpen their skills.

•Take frequent trips to the library and register your child with a library card. University of Florida's Richard Allington notes that the best predictor of summer reading loss is a lack of books at home and limited access to library books, so keep a selection of high interest, levelappropriate books around the house. Schedule a consistent reading time daily for your child.

•Attend thematic programs at the library. Libraries often host a variety of summer programs for children that celebrate reading.

•Talk to your child's teachers and ask them what your child will be learning next year at school. That way you can tie in family trips with next year's curriculum to create a hands-on experience. For example, if your child will be studying a unit on the Civil War, plan a visit to Gettysburg.

•Check out audio books from the library for your child to listen to in the car.

•Consider summer tutoring. Tutoring services can help children catch up or get ahead with one-on-one tutoring in the home. Take advantage of the summer months to remediate or accelerate your child in areas like reading comprehension, mathematics, writing or SAT/ ACT prep.

•Research has revealed a direct connection between learning to play a musical instrument and an increased aptitude in mathematics. Consider introducing your child to music lessons over the summer.