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Everyone remembers looking forward to summer break as a kid in school. Many of us have fond memories of spending time outside, hanging out with friends, swimming, or going on family vacations. Summer break was full of fun and relaxation! Because of this, we also remember how hard it was to go back to school in the fall and restart academic routines.
Research from the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) shows that most students lose two months of math skills over the summer if they are not actively engaged in learning activities. This loss of academic skills is infamously known as the “summer slide.” Students from low-income families experience even greater losses.
A well-designed summer math program for elementary students can prevent these learning losses by reinforcing foundational math skills in a low-pressure, engaging environment. In fact, a study by the RAND Corporation titled “Making Summer Count” suggests that consistent, high-quality summer learning programs can narrow achievement gaps between higher- and lower-performing students.
In this article, we’re sharing why summer learning programs are so important for student achievement and well-being. We’ll also explore how elementary school principals can structure, staff, evaluate, and continuously improve a summer math program. Finally, find out how kinesthetic learning with Math & Movement can keep kids happy, active, and engaged in learning!
Summer learning programs can make a big difference in students’ lives. An effective summer math program for elementary students prevents the “summer slide” and reinforces essential concepts. These programs are especially valuable for supporting students from low-income households and closing achievement gaps before they widen.
The “summer slide” refers to the loss of academic skills when students disengage from structured learning over the summer.
One 2020 study, published in the American Educational Research Journal, found that the average student lost between 25-34% of their school-year math progress during the following summer. Another study by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) revealed that students in grades 3-5 lose 27% of their school-year math gains during summer break as well.
These losses result in teachers spending valuable instructional time reviewing material rather than moving on to new content. The NSLA reported that nine in ten teachers spend at least three weeks re-teaching lessons at the start of the school year. That is a lot of repetitive instructional time.
By offering a targeted summer math program, schools can help students maintain or even gain ground in their math skills throughout the summer months. Students will not be as far behind when the new school year starts, and teachers can spend less time reviewing information and more time teaching new, higher-level concepts.
According to the same 2020 study in the American Educational Research Journal, over half of US students experienced summer learning loss five years in a row, between first grade and sixth grade.
A longitudinal study by John Hopkins University found that summer learning loss during elementary school accounts for two-thirds of the achievement gap in reading between low-income students and their middle-income peers by ninth grade.
The effects of learning loss accumulate as students enter new grades without mastery of foundational concepts from previous grades. By providing summer math programs for elementary students, we can prevent this achievement gap from developing and compounding.
Supporting this, a study by the RAND Corporation found that students who attended voluntary, district-led summer learning programs entered school in the fall with stronger math skills than those who did not attend the programs.
We know that the summer slide disproportionately affects low-income students. For many students, school provides a safe place, meals, educational materials (like books), and structured activities. When summer break comes, some children go without these resources.
According to the NSLA, by fifth grade, summer learning loss can leave low-income students two-and-a-half to three years behind their peers. Summer math programs can keep these students from falling behind while providing basic needs and enrichment.
Summer also presents an opportunity to reinforce fundamental math skills, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, in a low-pressure setting. Without the time constraints of a traditional classroom schedule, you can:
Related Reading: 7 Ways to Practice Math Over the Summer
Now that you have some insight on how effective and powerful summer math programs for elementary students can be, let’s start planning one for your own school!
A successful summer math program begins with a clear understanding of your students’ needs:
Districts cite cost as the main barrier to implementing summer math programs. To overcome this barrier, you can explore opportunities like:
A quality summer math program for elementary students relies on a dedicated team. Choose teachers with a passion for math and summer engagement to lead activities.
Other options include training paraprofessionals and volunteers to manage smaller groups of students. Or, invite college students in education or STEM fields to spend their summer working with your students.
Be sure to clearly define roles—assign someone to handle scheduling, another to manage curriculum or resources, and a team member to coordinate staff training.
With a clear picture of your school’s current needs and resources, you can now start deciding what students will do during your summer math program.
Your curriculum should align with state standards and, if applicable, the Common Core Mathematics Standards. For math, consider prioritizing:
High-quality, often free or low-cost resources include:
To help students see math in real-world contexts, integrate reading, writing, and discussion:
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) notes that math requires specialized literacy strategies for students to be able to comprehend and communicate about concepts.
Student engagement soars when math is hands-on and active. Consider incorporating:
Movement-based learning activities are a great way to keep students engaged in math. They are inherently fun and play-like – two qualities children want in their summer break activities!
The Math & Movement program uses a multi-sensory approach to math with an emphasis on physical activity. We create kinesthetic educational products, including heavy-duty floor mats and stickers, that kids can move on during lessons. By engaging students visually, audibly, and kinesthetically, our products and activities help them better comprehend and recall math concepts.
Kinesthetic activities allow children to release pent-up energy instead of fighting against it while sitting at a desk. By integrating movement-based lessons, students can focus better and feel confident navigating math with their whole bodies.
We offer three Summer Learning Kit options designed specifically for K-5 students in summer math programs. Our large, colorful mats allow students to step, hop, or skip through math. Plus, our materials align with state standards and are easy to incorporate into any program.
Our kits include access to our online activity database, which features hundreds of activities for our materials. Teachers, paraprofessionals, and volunteers can follow our step-by-step instructions to use the mats without extensive training. Simply choose an activity for the mat that you’re using that matches your students’ grade level.
Now it’s time to outline what a day in your summer math program will look like for participating students and staff.
Deciding how to structure your day will depend on staff availability, funding, space, and student needs:
According to John Hattie’s Visible Learning, small-group instruction can have a strong impact on achievement:
Summer programs often have a compressed timeline, so staff must be well-prepared.
Consider offering training on best practices for summer math instruction. Student Achievement Partners and Learning Forward provide resources on instructional strategies aligned with standards.
Have educators participate in a Math & Movement workshop to learn practical movement-based learning strategies to implement during the summer math program. A workshop or webinar will ensure that staff know how to effectively use our materials. Plus, our workshops and webinars count as professional development hours!
It’s also a good idea to provide paraprofessionals and volunteers with some basic training in behavior management, positive reinforcement, and teaching strategies. Pair paraprofessionals and volunteers with veteran teachers for consistent support and mentorship.
Finally, as a school leader, it is important for you to maintain open lines of communication with your summer staff. Schedule calls to check in, address issues, and celebrate successes. Remember to encourage staff to share resources like lesson plans, assessment tools, and success stories.
After all this planning, you’ll want to know if your summer math program was successful or not! Here are some ways to measure your program’s effectiveness.
Start with a quick pre-test to gauge your students’ needs. This can be done with a short quiz to identify strengths and weaknesses in core math skills.
Next, implement frequent checkpoints throughout your summer math program. Weekly mini-quizzes or performance tasks aligned with your current math material can help staff see where instruction should be adjusted.
End-of-program evaluations can include:
Finally, share the improvements students made (percentage gains in math fluency, problem-solving abilities, etc.) with stakeholders, like school boards, district leaders, and families. Ask staff what went well and what could be improved in the future. This will give you a good starting point for next summer!
A thoughtful, well-designed summer math program for elementary students can dramatically reduce learning loss, build stronger math foundations, and boost student confidence. By planning thoroughly, leveraging movement-based and hands-on materials like Math & Movement’s Summer Learning Kits, training staff, and consistently assessing progress, elementary school principals can create a transformative learning experience that sets students up for success year-round.
Explore Math & Movement’s Summer Learning Kit options, which combine fun, physical activity with essential math practice. With a fun, active summer math program, you’ll not only prevent the summer slide but foster a positive attitude toward math all year long.
Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, has spent over 25 years helping students achieve academic success. She has created over 200 kinesthetic teaching tools adopted by schools nationwide and has authored over 20 books. As a sought-after national presenter, Suzy shares how movement can transform the way students learn.
Movement isn't just for recess
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