Boost Summer Learning: Personalized Tutoring, Flexible Schedules

Give your student a fresh academic start this summer! The Student Connection offers individualized tutoring to target weak areas or preview next year’s concepts—all without the pressure of homework. Our flexible summer schedule works around your family’s fun!

Call us today at 248-326-6034 to schedule your summer tutor or for more information.

NEW! Explore Our Learning Podcasts & Educational Videos for Parents and Students

————-

What is Summer Slide and How Do I Prevent it from Happening to My Child?

The “summer slide” is learning loss experienced during the summer break, particularly in reading and math. Students who aren’t engaged in summer learning can lose some of what they learned from the year they just completed. It makes reengaging in the fall difficult, especially in subjects like math where skills build on previous segments. Before the year ends, get the summer reading list and next year’s syllabus if you can.

How Do I Help My Student Enjoy Summer Break But Still Keep Up With School Skills?

First: Take a break! Unplug from screens. Have fun as a family. Our favorites:

• Have an outdoor movie night and talk about it. Which character was your favorite and why? Name a theme or two from the movie.
• Take a road trip with designated screen-free time and listen to an audio book. Identify the voice, plot, themes, and character that most advanced the story.

Second: Get everyone a library card and let them check out books they want to read. If the book they read was made into a movie, take them to it or rent it. Afterwards talk about what was different between the book and movie.
Third: Let them create a snack list each week (or dinner depending on age) and give them a budget. Take them to the store and let them shop…but keep in budget!

My Child Needs a Break from Screen Time. What Are Some Alternatives to Having My Child on a Screen This Summer?

• Create a family calendar and fill it up! Even if it is putting “Family Pancake Breakfast” on Tuesday, your kids will look at the calendar to see what is next. They might actually want to plan something to put on the calendar too.
• Create something that builds motor skills – Get them something to build (Legos, beads, puzzles etc.).
• Try something new: redesign their room, try a new sport or hobby, find a family friendly TV series to watch together.
• Plant a garden together and include plants they choose and like to eat. They should be enlisted to weed, water and harvest.

My Child Is Starting a New School in the Fall. How Can I Prepare Them Over the Summer for This Transition?

Transitions can be a source of anxiety because there is much that is new and unknown. Help your child become familiar with the school.

• Take a tour of the school building more than once (if open) and play on the playground.
• Practice the walk or bike ride to school.
• Buy them school gear (a shirt or something else that has the school logo on it).
• If you can, get a syllabus or schedule for the year.
• Attend any Meet the Teacher or new student events.

We can also review their skills to identify if there are gaps that can be remedied before they start. It might be as simple as a few weeks of review. But they will be more confident and ready.

How Can We Stay Current with Summer Reading and Homework?

We can create a schedule for each week for your student. You can then check in with us throughout the summer or schedule times to come in each week. Scheduling a weekly session is best. Kids need structure and if you let them know that every Monday at 10am, for example, they are going to meet with a summer tutor, they will know how to plan and will want to get this done so they can get on with the week!

It’s your summer and we will work around your schedule.

Do you offer Drop In Times to help My Student Get Summer Assignments Done?

Yes! We understand that trying to get homework done over the summer is hard with all the “summer fun” distractions. Sometimes removing this task from the house is the best way to keep your student focused. At Drop In Tutoring Time we have tutors for all ages, grades and learning levels.

I have an Elementary School Student. How Do I Keep My Child on Track This Summer?

• Work on fine motor skills (color in the lines, trace from a book).
• Work on decoding and handwriting.
• Read and look for cause and effect to build comprehension.
• Learn more about additional Elementary School academic and tutoring programs.

I have a Middle School Student. How Do I Keep My Child on Track This Summer?

• Reading (again in addition to the reading list, let them choose what to read).
• Writing: a journal, book reports, letters, their own stories.
• Study skills and time management: we can help with these.
• Learn more about additional Middle School academic and tutoring programs.

I have a High School Student. How Do I Keep My Child on Track This Summer?

• Read, Read, Read- the reading list and whatever they like.
• SAT Test Prep and ACT Test Prep: Summer is the perfect time to prepare for the Michigan Fall test dates.
• College Essays.
• Build vocabulary and reading comprehension (they are related and we can help).
• Learn more about additional High School academic and tutoring programs.

My Student Just Graduated from High School. What Should We Be Doing this Summer to Prepare Them for College in the Fall?

• Get the school schedule and build a family calendar.
• Complete health physicals.
• Have them put you on forms for health services so you can access info and make decisions if needed (especially if they are over 18).
• Review the budget and what they are responsible for.
• Review laundry and other life skills.
• Learn more about additional College academic and tutoring programs.

What do you Recommend Our Students Read This Summer?

• First: Get your school’s reading lists.
• Second: Go to the library and get an appropriate age list.
• Third: Contact The Student Connection and we will create a reading list for your child.