At ParentPowered, we’re committed to offering educators the tools they need to engage families in increasing student learning. Summer slide can increase learning gaps for the most vulnerable students, but families can make a real difference by supporting summer learning in small, everyday moments. With this in mind, we’ve curated content you can use to set students and their families up for success all summer long. Feel free to share and use in any way you find useful!
Top Read
English Learners Slide More During Summer
Language Magazine
It’s no surprise that English learners experience some of the greatest gaps from summer learning loss. And, it makes sense that high-quality summer programming can reverse this gap. Putting this into practice can take some work, and we want to make it easier with this article. Here, you’ll find a compilation of research on the opportunities and interventions that make a real difference.
Reads Worth Your Time
Can Schools Prevent Summer Learning Loss? A text messaging field experiment to promote literacy skills
Kraft MA, Monti-Nussbaum M. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 2017; 674(1) :85-112.
Researchers from Brown University explore the impact of text messaging on summer learning. They find that schools can use texts to partner with parents and boost students’ educational success. And, they show that text messaging is a cost-effective, low-lift way for schools to boost summer learning. If you are looking for ways to share the importance of digital family engagement with your colleagues, this article is a must-read.
Practicing Kindergarten: How a Summer Program Eases Kids Into Learning
By Lisa Stark, EdWeek
Portland’s school district offers a successful three-week summer learning program for incoming kindergartners. Kids learn that school is fun and a safe space. At the same time, parents connect with each other and learn their way around the school. This program inspired us because it bridges home and school, and helps ease the transition into kindergarten for students and their caregivers.
Set Your Families Up for Summer Success
View this complimentary webinar on summer learning success. You’ll learn practical tactics for inspiring learning during the summer. Discover which skills help maximize back-to-school success. And, receive resources to give families before this school year ends. View here.
Resources, Case Studies, Stories and Research
Summer Fun the ParentPowered Way
So much about summer—with its shift in routine away from school to less predictable schedules, demands an approach that is simple and doable. Here are some strategies to share with your families and teams to make their summer more joyful. Read on.
Insights: Preventing Summer Slide
As families enter the summer with limited options for childcare and engagement they will need continued support from the organizations that have already been supporting them the most. Here are some insights on how to keep kids’ brains engaged and in the routine of learning. Read on.
Partner Highlight
“It really changes the whole tone of the family, and the interactions of the family.”
— Executive Director Karen Pautz on ParentPowered, First Five Siskiyou
“Until we started using ParentPowered, I thought of family engagement as a face-to-face activity. But now I have a broader view of what we can do. It can be a struggle to get parents into school. Now that I’ve seen it in action, my idea of what family engagement means has gotten bigger.” Iris Estrada, Corpus Christi Independent School District.
