LAUREL TUTORS: PREVENTING THE SUMMER SLIDE

After a long school year filled with hectic schedules, assignments, projects, and extracurricular

activities, the summer break is something students(and parents) look forward to. As the school

year draws to an end, the notion of less rushed, lazy days makes summer even more appealing.

My favorite memories from childhood were summers home from boarding school.

The only problem with summer fun is the resulting summer learning loss also known as the

summer slide. Research spanning a hundred years shows that learning and reading

deteriorates over the summer. Students were shown to score lower on standardized tests at the

end of summer vacation than they did on the same tests at the beginning of the summer. More

specifically, studies show that most students lose approximately two and a half months of grade

level equivalency in mathematical computational skills during the summer.

Here are a few tips from Laurel Tutors that can help prevent summer slide:


1) Sign up for fun academic activities in your community. Organizations like Reading is

Fundamental(RIF) have programs geared towards reducing summer learning loss.


2) Coordinate field trips with family friends or peer whom your children enjoy spending time

with. This is a great way to keep them engaged in learning while maintaining a relaxed

playful disposition.


3) Stock up on learning materials such as books, films, flashcards, or apps related to

subjects or hobbies that your child has natural interest in.



4) Learn a new language together or plan a cultural integration trip(real or virtual). Below

are a few pictures from an event coordinated by the World Affairs Council of Houston

where some of our students got to learn more about continent of Africa.

5) Enroll in a summer tutoring program. At Laurel Tutors we provide personalized tutoring

services right in the comfort of your home. Our tutors are passionate educators

dedicated to transforming academic weaknesses into strengths. Our summer programs

focus on 3 things: eliminating any achievement gaps from the previous year thereby

rebuilding confidence; keeping students ahead of the learning curve by preparing them

for the academic year ahead; and eliminating the typical learning loss. Click here to request more information.

Bay Area Performing Arts Co-op

We at Bay Area Performing Arts believe, as do all who classically study, that it is imperative in education to train the whole child – body, mind, spirit. This is not a new philosophy. It is, in fact, ancient. The cultures of ancient Greece and Rome certainly knew this and early American culture also trained students extensively in, not only the core subjects of knowledge and physical exercise, but also made room for fine arts – music, art, drama, dance. Research now confirms that all areas of the brain need to be accessed and challenged in order to thoroughly and successfully train young minds. So often, what our modern education philosophy has omitted is the arts. Just look at what some research has found.

1. In a 2000 survey, 73 percent of respondents agree that teens who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems.
- Americans Love Making Music – And Value Music Education More Highly Than Ever, American Music Conference, 2000.

2. Students who can perform complex rhythms can also make faster and more precise corrections in many academic and physical situations, according to the Center for Timing, Coordination, and Motor Skills.
- Rhythm seen as key to music’s evolutionary role in human intellectual development, Center for Timing, Coordination, and Motor Skills, 2000.

3. A ten-year study indicates that students who study music achieve higher test scores, regardless of socioeconomic background.
- Dr. James Catterall, UCLA.

4. A 1997 study of elementary students in an arts-based program concluded that students’ math test scores rose as their time in arts education classes increased.
- “Arts Exposure and Class Performance,” Phi Delta Kappan, October, 1998.

5. According to a 1991 study, students in schools with arts-focused curriculums reported significantly more positive perceptions about their academic abilities than students in a comparison group.
- Pamela Aschbacher and Joan Herman, The Humanitas Program Evaluation, 1991.

6. Students who are rhythmically skilled also tend to better plan, sequence, and coordinate actions in their daily lives.
- “Cassily Column,” TCAMS Professional Resource Center, 2000.

7. In a 1999 Columbia University study, students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident, and better able to express their ideas. These benefits exist across socioeconomic levels.
- The Arts Education Partnership, 1999.

8. College admissions officers continue to cite participation in music as an important factor in making admissions decisions. They claim that music participation demonstrates time management, creativity, expression, and open-mindedness.
- Carl Hartman, “Arts May Improve Students’ Grades,” The Associated Press,Oct. 1999.

Nina Kraus, the Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology, Physiology and Communication Sciences at Northwestern states following her extensive research: “ Based on what we already know about the ways that music helps shape the brain, the study suggests that short-term music lessons may enhance lifelong listening and learning. Since many children engage in group or private music instruction, yet, few continue with formal music classes beyond middle or high school, we help address a question on every parent's mind: 'Will my child benefit if she plays music for a short while but then quits training?' “ Kraus says the results of her studies indicate the answer is yes. “Thus, musical training as children makes better listeners later in life.”

(Source : “Practicing music for only few years in childhood helps improve adult brain: research." August 21, 2012, Journal of Neuroscience.)

Come join us at BAPAC! We offer quality and affordable fine art experiences. Better listeners make better students, both of academia and of life. And isn't that what we are really trying to prepare our children for? LIFE!

The Tutoring Center Leage City

How to Create a Great Summer for your Children 

Lemonade stands, flip-flops and pools; these are some signs that summer is here. It also means that your children get to take a break from their school demands. There are so many amazing activities for them to do in the summer; it would be a shame if they spent those days in front of the TV or computer screen. Want to make those summer months more productive? The Tutoring Center League City has a few ideas that will help you create a great summer for your children.

Read!

This is a great activity that will boost the imagination of your children and help to improve their reading comprehension. There are many different ways to motivate your children to read.
1. Visit your local library often. Many of them have their own summer reading programs that will reward your children for reading!
2. Make a reward system at home. Set goals for them to reach, such as a certain number of books for younger students or chapters for older ones. When they reach this goal take them somewhere fun, like a movie or the beach. Don’t forget that your children should choose their own reading material.
3. Read in front of them! There’s no better way to help your child learn that reading can be fun than to show them that you love it.

Exercise

There are many outdoor activities that you and your children can do together; going for a bike ride, visiting the park, or taking your dog for a walk are quick and easy ways to keep your family active. Your children will stay fit, plus exercise enhances their well-being and happiness. Remember to apply sunscreen to protect your children from sunburns!

Cook!

The kitchen is a great place to help your child retain and practice their math skills. A recipe is the perfect chance to apply math skills to a real life situation. Have your child help you calculate measurements for a double or triple recipe. It’s also a great way to bond with your children!

Tutoring

Summer tutoring is a great opportunity for your children to practice their school material and to “get ahead” for next school year. Remember that summer learning loss is often due to a lack of academic activities. Plus, tutors can provide tips to stay organized in school and other strategies for great academic achievement.
We hope that these tips help you to create a memorable summer! Remember that The Tutoring Center League City has academic programs that will provide your children with the academic abilities for a solid foundation. Consider us next time you are looking for tutoring in League City.
To learn more about our programs, please call (281) 337-2800