Preventing Learning Loss Over the Holidays

The holiday season is in full swing, and it is the time to relax and unwind. Students have earned it! However, for K-12 students, this can also be the time for learning loss. It is a fact that students can lose almost two months of academic progress over the holidays. This puts a strain on their education come January when they return to school. It certainly adds unnecessary stress to any student's learning journey. But learning loss is not inevitable. There are ways that students can prevent it over the holiday season. In this post, we will take a look at some tips and tricks K-12 students can use to prevent learning loss over the holidays.

Keep reading and writing

Reading and writing are excellent ways to keep your mind sharp and stopping learning loss. Encourage your child to read books of their choice daily, whether it be a novel, a magazine, or even a newspaper. Another beneficial activity is a journal. Assign your child a journal where they can write about their daily activities, opinions, thoughts, and ideas.

Practice math daily, even if it's just a little

Use everyday situations to practice math skills. For example, you can encourage simple budgeting decisions like Christmas gift shopping to help students practice their math. Additional essential math skills to practice over the holidays include multiplication and division, fractions, and word problems.

Encourage online learning (and logging in to courses where possible)

There are plenty of online materials, games, and apps that students can do over the holidays to keep their learning on track. Websites like Khan Academy, Duolingo, and Scholastic have fun and engaging activities that K-12 students can use to reduce learning loss. Encourage your child to spend a small amount of time each day on these sites. Method students can log in to their SmartFox or other online learning portals, or use subscriptions paid for by the school to keep learning active throughout the break. 

Plan educational outings

Scheduling activities such as visiting museums, science centers, historical sites, and libraries are good ways to keep your child learning while they're enjoying the holidays. And here in Southern California, there are TONS of options. Many even have free entrance days to take advantage of.  Educational outings will broaden their knowledge, and they will learn about different topics in a fun and engaging way. 

Give Back!

Encourage your child to give back to the community. Volunteering, charity work, or connecting with others in the community can help students gain new perspectives and skills, boost self-esteem, and improve their overall well-being. Our Method students, in particular, love service learning opportunities. Why not keep it going during the break?

Conclusion

Learning loss is a real problem, but it is preventable. There are many activities that K-12 students can use to keep their minds sharp and ready for the challenges that await them once back to school. So remember to encourage reading and writing, practice math, use online materials, plan educational outings, and give back to the community. Here's to happy, healthy, and educational holidays for students and families in our Southern California communities and beyond!