As summer comes to a close here in the Northwest, I find myself already thinking about next summer. It’s not just that I didn’t get enough beach time this year. I am thinking about what Seattle-area students do in the summertime.
A recent TIME magazine article* addressing “summer learning loss” reported some very disturbing estimates about the extent of the problem. The article describes a Johns Hopkins University study that examined the cumulative effect of “the summer slide” and found that, “By ninth grade, summer learning loss could be blamed for roughly two-thirds of the achievement gap separating income groups.”
The TIME writer describes summers filled with enriching camps and family vacations for students from middle and upper income families, but weeks of severely limited stimulation for students from lower income families. The article also provides examples of innovative summer programs that successfully engage lower income students through everything from sports with a side helping of basic skills, to unique, academic and leadership programs.
Could the summer learning loss crisis become an opportunity for Seattle-area students? How about killing two birds with one sun-baked stone? We know that our students need a more global education, and now we know that they need summer enrichment as well. So, the question is . . . if you had the power to design a summer enrichment program with a global education theme, what would you dream up? Let your imagination take off, and send us your suggestions!
I’ll start us off with a few of my own visions for our summer global enrichment program . . .
- I picture students getting hooked on foreign language study with classes that include fun highlights such as culturally appropriate foods and outdoor games.
- I imagine students further developing basic skills such as reading, researching, writing, and speaking, as they prepare to engage in lively debates about current global issues.
- I see students applying math skills as they interpret statistical information to compare quality of life indicators in different countries.
- I envision students learning new technology skills as they articulate their ideas through multiple media, and learning to appreciate different perspectives as they contribute those pieces to international online learning forums.
Now it’s your turn. Share your summer global learning vision by adding a comment below. The summer sky’s the limit! Using this forum to bring our visions out into the sunlight is the first step toward making those dreams into realities for Seattle-area students.
*Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2005654,00.html#ixzz0zTUlrT9S