By Paul Stein, Executive Director
Recommending or assigning schoolwork over the summer is a balancing act. We want students to remain engaged in their learning, not stressed by it. Summer provides many opportunities for experiential learning. It also affords the time to engage in content area and reading assignments at a relaxed pace.
When summer learning is done right, students can emerge from their summer break with renewed enthusiasm for a new school year. When done wrong, homework weighs on students’ minds all summer with little academic growth to show for it.
Our individual schools and programs try to achieve this balance, which, of course, varies based on the needs of the populations they serve.
Here is some of the advice they offer caregivers and others who are supporting students in their summer learning: