It’s no surprise that after months of learning, testing, and classroom routines, students have earned some time to relax and recharge over the summer. Breaks are important—but so is keeping their minds active. The skills children develop during the school year can quickly fade without regular practice, particularly in reading and math. This is especially true for elementary and middle school students, who can lose up to two months’ worth of progress over the summer. Over the years, these gaps can widen, making it harder for students to catch up and often leading to a slow and review-heavy start when school begins again in the fall.
When children participate in summer learning activities—whether through reading programs, hands-on STEM projects, or consistent writing and math practice—they reinforce the skills and knowledge they acquired during the school year. These experiences also help build confidence, which reduces anxiety and boosts readiness when they return to the classroom in September.
At Friends Academy, students are set up for success all year round, whether school is in session or not. Their carefully curated summer assignments for each grade level and multiple disciplines – fractions and geometry riddles in second grade, suggestions for summer science experiments in fourth grade, reading for joy and deeper themes in high school – ensure that students’ minds stay sharp all summer long and are well prepared for the new school year come September.
Friends Academy also offers parents guidance on supporting their children throughout the summer with ideas to keep them engaged, productive and learning every day. Their recommendations for students include the following:
- Reading Aloud: Read together daily—let the child read to you and vice versa.
- Play-Based Math: Practice math facts with board games, card games, or apps like Prodigy or IXL.
- Writing Practice: Keep a summer journal, write postcards, or create a short story book.
- Civic Learning: Visit museums, historical sites, or attend local government meetings to build social studies knowledge.
- STEM Projects: Introduce coding (Scratch, Splash Learn), robotics kits, or home science experiments.
- Online Courses: Use platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, or edX to explore new subjects or get ahead in AP classes.
- Volunteer or Intern: Real-world experience builds soft skills and enhances college applications.
- Explore nature! There’s no better time than the summer to get outdoors and learn about the world around us
- Project-Based Learning: Encourage them to explore a topic of interest (e.g., building a model, researching a career, or making a documentary).
Additionally, summer enrichment encourages the development of soft skills such as time management, goal setting, and critical thinking. These are especially valuable for middle and high school students preparing for more rigorous academic demands, standardized testing, or college readiness.
Friends Academy also provides a phenomenal Summer Program that supports healthy body and mind development. Their unique summer approach for campers provides access to not only the entire 65-acre campus, including an outside pool, but also classrooms with unique enrichment programs as well. Summer with Friends offers engaging and hands-on activities that give campers the opportunity to learn, socialize and have lots of fun, featuring four unique experiences for ages 3 up to 10th grade – Explorers, Pathfinders, Trailblazers, and their Junior Counselor Program.
A new Summer Scholars Program offers children in Pre-K through 6th grade the opportunity to receive tutoring in a small, supportive setting where they can work on pre-school readiness skills, math, summer reading assignments, and more. Find out more about their summer programs at friendsacademy.org/summer/summer-with-friends.
Friends Academy is located at 270 Duck Pond Road, Locust Valley in Long Island. For more information, call 516-676-0393 or go to friendsacademy.org.
SPONSORED CONTENT BY FRIENDS ACADEMY
