Free Math and ELA Spiral Reviews: Stop the Summer Slide

Ah, the lazy days of summer – we all love them. But for kids, it often means a worrying dip in their educational retention, a phenomenon famously dubbed the “summer slide.” Parents and educators alike are on a mission to make summers not only fun but educational, too. Here are seven strategies to keep those young synapses firing and summer stress at bay!

What is the Summer Slide?

The summer slide isn’t a playground apparatus – it’s the tendency for students to lose the academic gains they made during the school year. One study by the NWEA found that students lose on average a month of school-year learning during the summer. The ‘slide’ impacts reading and math skills, making it crucial to find ways to keep kids engaged.

7 Ways to Halt The Dreaded ‘Summer Slide’ in Kids

Entertaining Educational Apps

It’s a digital era, and apps can make learning fun. For math, consider Prodigy, which gamifies concepts, and for reading, books on apps like Epic! can instill a love for literature with their rich library. Remember, moderation is key, so set time limits for screen use.

Create a Home Library

Reading is the most effective way to fight summer slide. Set up a cozy reading corner at home and stock it up with books. Library book clubs or summer reading challenges can also provide a social and gamified element to the reading experience.

Regular Writing Practice

Encouraging kids to keep a journal can improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Set aside time each day for writing, whether it’s journaling about a fun day or penning letters to faraway friends and family.

Math In Daily Life

Math shouldn’t take a vacation either. Incorporate daily math activities, like cooking (which requires measuring and sometimes doubling recipes), or even tracking sports statistics. Interactive games like Sudoku or chess could also stimulate their math brain without feeling like homework.

Fun Science Experiments

What can float in a bowl of water? Why does an ice pop melt? Simple experiments at home can engage kids in scientific reasoning. Websites like Science Buddies or the Exploratorium offer great summer project ideas that are easy to do with household materials.

Bilingual Learning

For non-native English speakers, maintaining language skills might be key. Use bilingual books or apps to keep language skills sharp. And for English learners, practice every day with fun word games, flashcards, and watching kids’ shows in English.

Community Educational Programs

Community resources can be a goldmine for educational opportunities. Look for local museums, nature reserves, and community centers that offer summer workshops or classes. These can provide hands-on learning experiences and often, lots of fun.

Spiral Reviews Can Help Bridge the Summer Gap

Practicing reading or math skills at level and being introduced to content slightly above level is a great way to keep kids engaged and learning.

The best thing I ever did in my classroom was to show each of my students where they were scoring on their MAPs tests and then help them set a goal for what they wanted to score. Knowing that they were challenging themselves made them more committed to their daily learning.

Below are free worksheets and free task cards that you can use to help stop the summer slide. Each one is created as a spiral review at a specific RIT Band level. They include on level questions as well as content that is meant to be a little harder and push them to the next NWEA RIT Band.

Worksheets and Task Cards for Math

Worksheets and Task Cards for Language Arts

Stop the Summer Slide with More Lessons

The lessons that help the most with stopping the summer slide and increasing test scores are the RIT bundles for worksheets and task cards.

Teachers tell me all the time how much their kiddos love these activities and I experience the same thing with my own students. These are always their favorite lessons.

Kindergarten Practice Worksheets to Stop Summer Slide