Summertime Plan, Don’t Let Their Skills Cool Off!
By Guest Blogger Michaela Greene, MS, CCC-SLP
Another school year is reaching its end! This working mom of two elementary school age kids is super excited for a break and ready for summer time! We are preparing for EOG testing and I’ve finished up my parent-teacher conferences. Next year, my daughter will be entering fifth grade, her final year of elementary school (Wow! Where did the time go?). My son will be a second grader, which is also a big milestone.
The Summer Slide
Last week my son’s teacher mentioned the summer slide to me. And yes, she had to clarify to me that she wasn’t talking about a cool water slide.
The summer slide, summer learning loss, or summer setback—is the loss of learning that kids experience when school is not in session. Which means many kids will be starting the next school year at lower academic levels than where they were at the beginning of summer. I am a speech-language pathologist at the Winston Salem based clinic of Speechcenter, Inc., so I know about the regression of skills. When you don’t use it, you lose it!
What is a Mom to do?
So, I am stepping up my game. We worked hard to get where we are. There’s no way we’re sliding backwards this summer! While I’m setting up a summer nanny and fun summer camps, I am also developing a summer reading list for both my kids to keep the progress moving forward.
When I started, I wasn’t sure how to approach my son’s reading list. He is a good reader, and I think this is the time he transitions from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. But, I just wasn’t sure and needed some guidance. Do you know how sometimes the stars align and you find exactly what you need?
My “Speechcenter stars” and my “Mommy stars” aligned because May is Better Hearing & Speech Month. This month we are promoting speech and language screenings, providing developmental information, and talking to families about summer speech therapy services.
A Great Resource for Parents
I was asked to review a resource from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and share it with others. What I found was an easy to use, clear, and concise list of both reading and writing skills for kids Kindergarten through 5th grade. THIS was the guidance I needed to make my son’s reading list! I am so happy to have the opportunity to write this blog and share this literacy resource with you.
Does Your Child Receive Speech Therapy in School?
If your child is receiving speech therapy in school it’s vital to continue therapy during the summer so that your child’s speech and language skills continue to develop. The summer slide is also true for children who are working on developing their speech skills to say /r/ correctly or who are working to better verbally express themselves or comprehend language. Very few children receive extended school year speech therapy services. You can contact Speechcenter, Inc. to continue necessary speech-language services throughout the summer.
In an even greater effort to provide “Communication for All,” Speechcenter, Inc. is offering FREE in-office speech & language screenings if you have concerns or questions about your child’s ability to hear, speak, or understand. Screenings are available by appointment, last approximately 15 minutes and are available in English and Spanish.
Cheers to the end of the school year, a summer full of fun, and no “summer slide”!
Call 1-800-323-3123 and use the code: TRIADMOMS to schedule your FREE screening today or visit our website to learn more.
*Sponsored by Speechcenter, Inc.
