Ridge School may be out, but learning for our students is still IN! That means that just because the school year is ending doesn't mean the learning has to stop. In fact, research shows that kids typically lose 2 months of academic progress over a typical summer. Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills while those who don't often experience learning losses. Students who don't have educationally rich summers will be nearly three years behind their peers by the time they reach the end of the 5^th grade. Much like we would expect a musician's or an athlete's performance to suffer if they didn't practice regularly, the same thing is true for our students! Think about it? Is there anything that anyone practices that they get worse at? Of course not!

How can we prevent our children from backsliding in their reading? We know from many research studies that without continued reading they will fall back...but the latest research shows students who read at least 5 books over the summer maintain their skills. Students who read more can even increase their skills.

In Summary: Experts agree that what is often referred to as the "summer slide" can harm your child's educational progress. Reading is a skill for life, and, as with any skill, practice is key. Studies have shown that children who read over the summer months often gain, rather than lose, important skills. When children become better readers, reading becomes a more enjoyable experience, and they want to read more. Reading over the summer will keep reading enjoyable and skills sharp. It's our hope that you will be our partners in this very worthwhile project!