How LCA Parents Can Keep Learning Alive All Summer Long
As summer break begins, the Saints of Lakewood Catholic Academy eagerly embrace the well-earned freedom of sunshine, sports, and slower schedules. But for our LCA parents, summer also brings an important question: How can we keep our children learning without sacrificing the joys of summer?
Enter the “summer slide” — a well-documented phenomenon where students can lose some of the academic progress made during the school year, especially in reading and math. The good news? It doesn’t take hours of daily worksheets or rigid schedules to keep your child engaged. With a little intentionality, summer can become a season of curiosity, creativity, and continued growth.
Here are a few ways LCA families can help their children avoid the summer slide — while still enjoying all that summer has to offer:
1. Make Reading a Daily Habit
Reading is one of the most powerful tools for preventing summer learning loss. Set aside just 15–30 minutes a day for independent reading, read-aloud time, or family read-ins. Visit your local library regularly, let your child choose books that interest them, and consider starting a mini “summer book club” with neighborhood friends. And don’t forget the LCA Summer Reading Assignment that can be found here: https://lakewoodcatholicacademy.com/academics/summer-assignments/
2. Keep Math in Motion
Math practice doesn’t have to be tedious. Encourage your child to use math in real-life situations — baking, budgeting for a lemonade stand, measuring for a backyard project, or tracking stats during a baseball game. Fun math games, puzzles, or apps like Khan Academy Kids or IXL can also make practice feel like play. Check out our LCA Recommendations: https://lakewoodcatholicacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Summer-Math-Enrichment-2025.pdf
3. Write with Purpose (and Personality!)
From writing postcards to grandparents to keeping a summer journal, giving children a chance to express themselves through writing builds vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. Encourage them to write stories, scripts, comic books, or even a “Saint of the Week” spotlight.
4. Learn Through Experience
Museums, nature centers, community service projects, and family trips are rich opportunities for hands-on learning. Ask questions, reflect together, and turn everyday experiences into moments of growth.
5. Keep It Light — and Keep It Joyful
Above all, remember that summer learning should feel different than the school year. This is a time to foster independence, discover new interests, and enjoy being a kid. The goal is progress, not perfection.
At Lakewood Catholic Academy, we believe that learning never stops — it just shifts gears. With the support of engaged parents, our student saints will return in the fall not just refreshed, but ready to grow even further in heart, mind, and spirit.
