Summer Tutoring

Research has shown that students do indeed experience learning loss when they are not in an educational setting so summer tutoring can be extremely beneficial. At the beginning of the school year, teachers spend 4-6 weeks re-teaching material from the previous year that students have forgotten.  So keeping student’s actively learning over the summer is crucial to their development and success in school.

Summer tutoring can be a chance to help the student who is weak in certain areas get a real leg up on their trouble spots before the upcoming school year. In this case, save the previous year's worksheets, tests and notes to show to a tutor so he/she can work on your child's problem areas.

Tutoring is also a great chance to work on summer projects or reading that required novel. Doing so with a teacher can keep your child on track. Often, reading lists are left for the last minute and students cram it in the night before school starts! Creating a reading and project schedule can make the summer a lot more anxiety-free.

Enrolling in SAT classes is a great thing to do! I know that may sound strange but studying for the SATs during the school year with all other demands on students like homework, sports, clubs, driver's ed etc. can really be overwhelming. Being able to dedicate time and focus on one test during the lazy days of summer can help children really zone in on such an important test. Plus, the more practice the better. So start early and be fully prepared by the time that test date rolls around.

To make instuction more fun, try gathering a group of your child's friends and ask for a tutor to conduct "group sessions". In this way, students are learning with their friends and sessions may feel more like a fun play date where learning just happens to be taking place.

Tutoring over the summer is certainly not for everybody but students should be engaged in some type of educational activities. Perhaps, a fun class at the local library or a summer camp program. Even creating your own reading schedule or working on some project you and your child came up with together, can keep children's minds engaged while they are enjoying their summer vacation.

Laura is a NYS Certified Teacher & Writing Professor. She owns Merrick Tutors and will be running SAT workshops this summer at Temple Israel of South Merrick. For more information e-mail or visit www.facebook.com/merricktutors