Many parents worry that summer tutoring will cause their struggling students to burn out on academics. But psychology has proven that learning must be continuous to be effective, and that those who are successful in school tend to enjoy it the most!

Scientific studies have shown that over a period of a few months, students will retain only about 20% of what they learned in school. This number increases significantly with repetition. Even if parents focus on review rather than new knowledge over the summer, they will see improvement in their child's performance. In addition, the child will gain confidence after spending an extended period of time on familiar material. By the time school starts again, he or she will feel calm and relaxed (relatively speaking!)

In early childhood, the most important skill for a student to develop is reading proficiency. This does not even require formal lessons! If the parent is willing to spend a bit of time each day reading with their child, they will see results quickly. Also, children with well-developed reading skills tend to score significantly better on standardized tests-including the SAT.

In Jr. High, math becomes increasingly important as the child is introduced for the first time to algebraic concepts. Continue encouraging your child to read, but now might be the right time to hire a math tutor. Don't worry about subject training until high school when your teenager is introduced to specialized science and social-studies classes. If you can help your child develop basic math and literature skills, you will notice improvement in all fields of academic performance.

Learn more about this author, Sara Harper.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Summer tutoring: A leg up for the struggling student?
We want to hear your view. Write now!