Spring Break
Summer is where education goes to die
Students lose large of amount of spring, fall knowledge over summer
Joe Luther
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Opinion
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An average student can plan on losing anywhere from 1-3 months of learning over the course of one summer. This number increases especially for math skills, where the average student can lose upwards of 2.6 months of math knowledge.
Students have a lot of learning to hang on to after exams are over and many of us don't realize how much we will lose over the summer. Professor Harris Cooper of Duke University has long studied the effects of summer learning loss and the as you can see results are astounding.
Summer classes are by far the best option that Professor Cooper suggests, but many students are away from school or simply do not have the time to take a summer course. What can us as students do to combat this learning loss, besides taking additional classes? There are many ways to retain the skills we've learned without going back over our books and re-reading everything we've learned.
The key to retaining the knowledge we've learned is to keep the mind sharp. Any small mind exercises can work to benefit a student tremendously, and allow them to hit their stride as soon as they get back from summer break. There are many pen and paper games that can keep the mind razor sharp.
Crossword and Sudoku puzzles keep the brain active and help you store and retrieve information more easily according to the Mayo Clinic. The basis of retaining and storing new information is to continuously learn new things and to never keep the mind stagnant. This can be anything from learning to play an instrument or learning a new language. Start a new hobby or volunteer to stay active and learn new things.
One of the best ways to learn new things and to retain information is to read. Read anything, a magazine, newspaper, book, or even a manual. Reading keeps the mind sharp and helps expand vocabulary. Reading a news website or newspaper can keep you informed on current events which are also a big step in keeping the mind agile. Take a book outside with you, reading doesn't have to be just an indoors activity.
Keeping your body agile is also a big step in keeping your mind agile. The Mayo Clinic has linked physical inactivity with mental decline. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of your body, including the brain, which could promote cell growth there. Pick anything you enjoy doing, and try to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise in a day.
Retaining knowledge doesn't have to be boring, we can do all the things we love to do and build brainpower at the same time. We can do all of our favorite activities and take up new ones without sacrificing any of our summer fun. Go outside enjoy the summer, and take these few tips with you.
Combating summer learning loss is a big step in helping students to get back on track quickly after returning for another year of school. Remember to keep the brain active and in a constant learning mode. Even the smallest mind exercises can result in big differences for your mind over the summer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Howard Ross
posted 5/15/08 @ 6:34 AM CST
You can always use the summer to read books. Catch up on great literature. I am amazed at the number of students in my classes who have not read any of the classics. (Continued…)
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