Continue Education During the Summer

"Nearly a month into the summer, workbooks, pencils and backpacks have been put away. But just because school buildings are closed and classes have ended doesn't mean children should stop learning, educators say.

For years, educators have warned parents about "summer slide," or the regression in learning that can happen to students. During the summer, students can lose about "two months of grade-level equivalency in mathematical computation skills," according to research conducted by the National Summer Learning Association, an organization that stemmed from a center at Johns Hopkins University.

"Summer slide is not, by any means, a myth," said Kimberly Wiggins, a former teacher and director of the Huntington Learning Center in Fort Collins, which provides tutoring opportunities for students.

Christine Hendricks, principal at Tavelli Elementary School in the Poudre School District and one of two principals for PSD's elementary summer schools, said teachers regularly see a decrease in children's learning when they return each fall.

"You can really see when a student hasn't been reading over the summer," she said.

Hendricks said, for her, reading is the foundation for all other subjects, so to continue reading 20 to 30 minutes a day during the summer can have a positive impact in other academics.

"I think it's an issue for all kids, and I've been on my own kids that they need to keep reading," she said.

But Rod Lucero, assistant director of the Colorado State University's School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation, said he doesn't believe in summer slide because "we don't forget what we learn."

"If we truly learn it, we don't forget it," he said. "It can often seem as though students have forgotten things because they can't automatically retrieve them when asked, he said, but that is because they are being asked school-related questions outside of their usual context.

Students who are asked to do algebra outside of school might struggle more to solve an equation because it's not in the context in which they learned it, Lucero said." ~ Coloradoan.com

For more information on summer education programs in Charlotte, specifically from reading & algebra tutors, please contact The Swan Learning Center.

Swan Reading Programs

The Swan Learning Center has a team of tutors for reading of all levels. Contact us today to register your child in our upcoming youth summer camp educational programs.

Reading Readiness
Prepares students for the Developmental Reading Program. Introduces reading skills with an emphasis on phonics, sight words and literature.

Emergent Reader
Prepares students for the Developmental Reading Program. Introduces reading skills with an emphasis on phonics, sight words and literature.

Developmental Reading
Teaches core comprehension skills and builds vocabulary. Students learn to be stronger readers.

Enrichment Reading
Designed for students on or above grade level. Builds on the Developmental Reading Program to enhance reading ability. Focuses on oral reading, reading rate, spelling, advanced comprehension and vocabulary skills. Turns a good reader into an excellent reader.

A Little Bit About Us...

Swan Learning Center began in response to the needs of children and families. Through the years, many families approached our Director, Jenny Beaumont, to ask for help with their children's education. Their needs ranged from help with math skills and reading comprehension to study skills classes for older students. Jenny also saw the need for enrichment programs designed to supplement a traditional education. Swan Learning Center was founded to meet the needs of students who would benefit from educational enrichment.

The environment at Swan Learning Center is open and friendly. We want each student to feel comfortable in the center and we actively create a positive atmosphere. The instructors are well trained in the Swan method and are chosen for their expertise and rapport with students.

Our students show excellent progress. On average, students grow at least a full grade level in only 40 hours of instruction. We are so confident of our programs we guarantee student growth.

Our first step with each new student is conducting a battery of diagnostic tests to identify skill gaps and we use that information to build personalized learning programs for each student.

Our dedicated team of specialists identifies skill gaps and teaches those skills to mastery. Each of our education teaching staff is certified. Our programs utilize a variety of teaching methods and materials designed to reach each student. In addition, we work with the school teacher or teachers to insure that progress at Swan transfers to the classroom. We offer programs in Emergent Reading, Developmental Reading, Foundation Math, Advance Math, Study Skills and Writing.