LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Now that kids are out of school for the summer, researchers and educators are warning against what’s called the “summer slide”, or seasonal learning loss.
According to the American Educational Research Journal, the average student loses 17-34% of what they learned the previous year in school over the summer.
“When students go back to school in the fall it’s very easy to tell who spent the summer reading and who didn’t,” said Tori Fleming, a librarian.
Students who experience the summer slide once are more likely to have a hard time adjusting to the new school year and may find themselves struggling for many more to come.
Julie Laughlin, the executive director of Literacy Lubbock, said most of the adults she works with struggle because of a lack of continued education in childhood.
“Your brain is pretty much done with who you are at six years old so you need to enjoy reading, be a reader,” Laughlin said. “You need to mimic your parents and your parents need to read. It’s important that every generation is improved by reading.”
Literacy Lubbock currently serves around 500 adults. Laughlin says 19% of adults are illiterate across the United States.
54% can only read at or below a 6th grade level, according to the National Literacy Institute.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to confront the problem before it starts. The Lubbock Public Library is offering its annual Summer Reading Program from June 1-July 31 in hopes of making literacy fun.
“A lot of kids are behind in reading and so helping to build that positive association with books and build that desire to read makes it so much easier when kids are going back to school in the fall and are having to read books for classes,” Fleming said.
This year’s theme is “Unearth A Story” and will explore the world of dinosaurs, archaeology and geology. The program will have free activities for all ages, including petting zoos, gatherings at City of Lubbock Parks, hands-on archaeology activities, laser tag, musicians, magicians and animal shows.
“Reading needs to be something that’s exciting, something that’s fun, not something that is forced or ‘work,’” Fleming said. “Finding stories they’re excited about will help long term with their literacy development and will translate to the rest of their academics as well.”
The program is curated for adults, too, includes a reading challenge where participants can win prizes just for reading.
To participate, visit lubbock.readsquared.com or download the READsquared App. A library card is not required to participate. Registration on READsquared will open on May 29, which is when the Summer Reading Kickoff Party will take place at Patterson Branch Library.
The City of Lubbock said kids can expect to take part in dino-themed activities, play games and read books.
Laughlin says it’s important to make reading and literacy a family activity, as children learn from their parents.
“I think they model parents. If a parent values education then they’re going to encourage them – whether they actually finished school or not,” Laughlin said. “If they value education they’re going to push the kid harder than a parent who might not understand how important it is.”
For a full schedule and details of free activities, visit mylubbock.us/summer-reading.
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