Worried About the Summer Slide? How to Keep Your Child Reading (without the battles)

If you've ever noticed your child struggling a little more with reading after summer break, you're not imagining it. The "Summer Slide" (also known as summer learning loss) is so real, especially for elementary students who are still building foundational reading skills. And for kids who already find learning to read tricky, a few months off can feel like starting over come August.

The good news? A little support over the summer can make a huge difference.

What is the Summer Slide and why does it matter, you ask?

The Summer Slide happens when kids lose some of the progress they made during the school year - especially in reading and writing.

For confident readers, a summer off may look like a small dip. But for struggling readers, it can mean:

• forgetting letter sounds

• losing confidence in reading

• increased anxiety and frustration when school starts again

Signs your child might need extra reading support this summer.

Tutoring can be a great tool to help families with academic concerns.

Here are a few signs to watch for:

• Your child avoids reading or says they "hate it."

• Reading feels slow, choppy, or frustrating

• They struggled with reading during the school year

• You're worried they're falling behind

• Homeschooling didn't go as smoothly as anticipated, and you want your child to stay on track

Why summer is the BEST time for reading growth.

This might surprise you, but summer can be one of the most effective times for reading intervention.

Why?

Because:

• There's no school day exhaustion

• Kids can receive the exact support they need; there's no hurry to get to the next topic

• Skills can be taught in a more relaxed, supportive way

• Confidence builds faster without classroom pressure

With the right support, many kids don't just "maintain", they actually catch up!

What does targeted reading support look like?

For struggling readers, a structured, multi-sensory approach can make all the difference.

This is where methods like Orton-Gillingham come in to help kids connect letters and patterns in a way that finally clicks. Instead of guessing or memorizing, kids learn how reading actually works. And even better? It can be engaging, movement-based, and confidence-building (no boring desk work required).

For local families:

If you're in the St. George, Utah area and want a little extra support this summer. I offer in-person reading tutoring designed specifically for elementary students and struggling readers.

Book a Session

Sessions are hands-on, encouraging, and tailored to your child. Whether they need to catch up, build confidence, or just take the pressure off the upcoming school year, we can help.

Summer spots are limited, but it's one of the best times to make real progress.

Summer doesn't have to mean falling behind.

With the right support, your child can head into the school year feeling more confident, capable, and ready to learn.

And that's a pretty great way to start.

Jamie