For far too many young people, summer is a three-month vacation from learning. This often means trouble when young people return to school in the fall. Research consistently shows that when youth take a holiday from learning during the summer months, they lose valuable academic ground.
In addition to experiencing learning loss, students also lose valuable opportunities to continue their growth and development in other areas (social, emotional, physical, moral, vocational) when they are not engaged in constructive activities during the summer months. The developmental needs of children do not take a vacation during the summer months.
The Boys & Girls Club of Porter County plays a powerful role in making summer a time for learning and developmental gains for young people. Using the Project Learn strategy, we implement a summer program that gives young people meaningful opportunities to practice reading and mathematics skills on a daily basis. Project Learn is a research-based educational enhancement program developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The program has had documented success in improving academic performance and reducing school absenteeism among young people.
Club summer programs provide what researchers consistently identify as missing ingredients in many formal summer school programs: 1) educational activities that look and feel slightly different from the regular school day, 2) high levels of youth engagement and motivation and 3) a proactive, multi-year approach to summer learning.
Rather than emphasizing repetitive drills of basic skills, club programs offer enrichment activities that promote self-directed learning. Instead of replicating traditional teaching methods and content that students receive during the school year, club staff members offer programs and activities that increase members' long-term motivation for learning.
A centerpiece of the club's summer program involves implementing high-yield learning activities (HYLAs) throughout the club. HYLAs are fun club activities that help young people apply in a practical way what they learn in the classroom. Using HYLAs effectively converts the entire club into a "learning center" and gives every staff member an important role to play in the education of young people.
In addition, club staff members serve as positive adult mentors during the summer months by teaching productive problem-solving strategies, encouraging children to be self-directed learners and ensuring that youth have the resources they need to meet high expectations. Our club members often participate in our summer program for multiple years. Thus, we have an even greater opportunity to counteract the cumulative effects of summer learning loss by implementing educationally beneficial summer programs consistently over a period of years. This is particularly important for elementary school students who experience the largest amounts of loss.
For more information about Project Learn and other exciting Boys & Girls Club programs call (219) 464-7282.
The opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Jennifer Wright is the director of resource development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County.
