A Holistic Approach to Summer Learning

Bringing the Magic of Summer into the School Year

As summer winds down and the start of a new school year dawns, it’s a good time to reflect on what makes summer learning special and how we can incorporate some of that summer magic into the school day. 

Now, some of what makes summer special – the long hours of sunlight, the warm weather, the lack of a bell schedule – can’t just be replicated in January (though I wish it were so!). But, if we begin to think about summer learning as part of a holistic, 12-month plan for learning to accelerate priorities around student and teacher success, then maybe we can infuse more of summer throughout the year.  

The Power of Summer Learning

Bring back the fun and joy to learning, get outside and move, and find ways to incorporate youth interests into the classroom. 

Engagement Strategies for the School Year

According to the latest research from Gallup, just more than half of U.S. children participated in summer learning in 2023 with similar numbers expected for 2024.

These parent and youth motivators point us toward strategies to engage learners from early grades all the way through high school during the school year: bring back the fun and joy to learning, get outside and move (classes like science, social studies, English, math – all can benefit from an observation walk outside) and find ways to incorporate youth interests like music, art, and technology into the pedagogy or student presentations.

Looking Ahead: Planning for Summer 2025

The Wallace Foundation has created some wonderful resources for schools and providers to get ready for summer 2025. You can find planning calendars, tips on funding and sustainability, and great success stories from districts that are innovating and succeeding in summer. Districts like Alabama’s Tuscaloosa City Schools and New Jersey’s Newark Public Schools have completely re-imagined their summer learning programs to help students learn and build new interests and skills. We know that quality summer learning can bolster academic knowledge and skills and connect young people to engaging and enriching learning experiences. In the wake of the pandemic, high-quality summer learning programming has become an essential part of children’s learning recovery and well-being.

Bring more summer to your school day and planning for next summer starts NOW!