For most kids on summer break, the lazy days of June and July include the absence of teachers, classrooms and planned learning. Research shows that a summer with “no more pencils, no more books” can have a powerful negative effect on some students. This is referred to as the “summer slide,” where students lose ground on what they learned the previous school year.  

“We have data that suggests that 80% of the achievement gap occurs during the summer period – with some students losing as much as two months of grade level math skills and reading achievement,” said Patti Turner, Learning Services Director for Littleton Public Schools. “If we can have kids maintain where they are during the summer, we won’t have them struggle when they return to school in the fall.”

To offset this “summer slide” of knowledge loss, LPS is currently offering a free K-2 Summer School at Field Elementary School for students entering Grades 1 through 3. The curriculum provides students with an opportunity to shore up their skills in math and literacy from the grade they just finished, before entering the next grade in the fall. 

In its second year, the K-2 program runs for six weeks - Monday through Thursday - from June 5th to July 20th. Enrollment costs are covered by the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, which provides state funds for K-3 literacy, assessment and individual plans for striving readers.

Summer school looks and sounds like any school day at Field. The typical day starts with math and literacy work (reading and writing) in the mornings, while the afternoon session includes physical education, a unit on music and drama, and a unit on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) - and occasional work in the school garden. Kids who attend for the full day are provided with a free lunch through a federal summer meal program, served by LPS Nutrition Services. For the full day schedule, district bus transportation is available to and from Field, from four LPS schools.

Many students in the K-2 program also have the opportunity to take home a Chromebook to use throughout the summer, allowing for additional online learning, practice and support in literacy and math. The device will be returned to the student’s home school on the first day of the new school year.

Teacher Kelci Taylor is improving her students’ math skills using Dominos – these students just finished second grade and will be entering third grade in the fall. “I find it rejuvenating, knowing we can make a big difference for them as they move ahead to their next grade,” said Taylor. Her student Breck, a second grader from Moody, enjoyed being able to switch rooms for math and reading “like the big kids do,” and likes reading with friends and writing fun stories.

“As a teacher, I’m always asking, ‘What can I do to make this summer school experience special for these students?’” said Taylor. “‘What do we really need to focus on?’ And then create lessons to improve those skills. I remind myself it’s summer and they should be having fun, too – so we incorporate lots of games to keep them engaged and learning.”

In Mindy Allen’s second grade class, her student Leonardo, 7, was eager to talk about his summer school experience at Field – which is also his regular school. “We get to have fun and have recess and play domino topic [a math skill game] – I’m good at it. Miss Allen helps me with math and we get to do fun activities, and my new friends are nice to me.”

Students are selected for summer school by invitation. The process begins with district screening data to determine where kids are in their learning. Along with teacher recommendations for students that would most benefit from summer school, families then receive invitations to enroll in the summer program.

“The goal of our K-2 Summer School is ‘no more summer loss.’ Our program invites kids to take advantage of ‘real school’ during the summer months, so they can keep learning and hone their skills for the coming school year,” said Kathleen Ambron, Director of Elementary Education for LPS. “With 178 kids enrolled – 117 attending full time and 61 part time – this is truly an extension of the school year. We ask the parents and the students to commit to being here for the whole summer session, and that’s a big piece of making it work.”

With a strong system in place, the K-2 program is getting better each year. “Summer school is all about future success for these kids. We understand that school and learning can be hard at any time of year, so my favorite thing to talk about with a kiddo is reminding them ‘hard work pays off’ and you are here at summer school so some things won’t be as hard later on,” said Nicolette Vander Velde, the Assistant Principal for Summer School. “Our goal is to help students build a strong foundation so every kid will be successful.”

Story and photographs courtesy of Bill Youmans