“Summer slide” is the term used to explain how a student can lose skills they learned during the school year over the summer months.  Doesn’t sound as fun as you expected right?  

Multiple researchers have studied this phenomenon and have found that students can lose 20-30% of school year gains over summer vacation AND that this can have a “snowball effect” so that these loses build on each other every year.

So what can you do?  

Keep kids learning over the summer!  Try a combination of structured and unstructured learning activities.  Structured activities can include reading books, working through math problems, online learning games, or direct tutoring instruction.  Unstructured activities could include cooking (reading recipes and measuring ingredients), going on a nature walk (take notes, describe and count objects), or playing a game that promotes language, math, and/or reading skills (Scattergories, Cribbage, Shut the Box).

The key is to keep kids learning, imagining, and playing.  By finding the balance your child can avoid riding the summer slide!  Let us know if we can help!

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Making the decision to hire a tutor is not an easy one.  As a parent, you want to ensure that your child has time to play sports, socialize, take dance class, and enjoy some R&R.  

On the flip side, you also want your child to learn the academic skills necessary to live a happy and successful life.  You likely could be tired of seeing the struggles, lack of engagement, and signs of anxiety and decreased confidence.
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Let's start by looking at 5 red flags that may indicate your child would benefit from tutoring.

Now that you have been on the look-out for red flags and asked yourself some questions go ahead and click the button below to schedule a free initial consultation.  We can help you move forward in the decision-making process and see if our tutors might be a good match for your family!

Parent interactions can have a HUGE impact on a child's speech and language skills.  By taking a small amount of time each day to do one (or more!) of these things you can make a difference!

1.  Listen.  Being available to listen gives your child the opportunity to communicate thoughts, feelings and events.  Knowing you are there to hear them makes children feel supported and can help with emotional and behavioral regulation.  Let your child know he or she is being heard by summarizing and repeating back the message that was shared.

2.  Talk to your child about feelings and events, both past and future.  Exposing your child to hearing these types of conversation introduces them to the language they will need to understand stories, make connections in the classroom, and become good writers.  

3.  Read books together.  You have heard it a million times but it is so very important to read with your child.  Talk about the pictures using language that describes.  Ask deep questions that go beyond the words on the page.  Make personal connections to the story.

4.  Play games.  Play games that encourage language use and description.  Rhyming games, category games (see how many items in a given category you can name), "simon says", "telephone" and "I spy" are all wonderful choices and a good use of car time!

5.  Ask open-ended questions.  These types of questions require more than a one-word response.  Question starters include "What would you do if.....", "Where would you go if....", "Tell me what could happen if...."  ​

Do you think your child is struggling with speech-language skills please give us a call or send an e-mail, we will be happy to help!  Also, please share this video or post with anyone you feel would find it helpful!