Summer is just around the corner. If your child with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or an IEP struggled during the school year, you're likely concerned about summer learning loss. Many parents often wonder how to balance tutoring to prevent the 'summer slide' with fun summer activities.
Parents often ask themselves:
● "Should we focus on summer tutoring to catch up?"
● "Is a fun camp experience what my child needs most?"
● "How do we balance academics and fun without overwhelming my child?"
As a learning specialist with Progressive Tutoring, I've worked with families who have asked these same questions. I’ll share some insights I've gathered from the parents and students I've worked with.
Will Your Child Fall Behind This Summer? What Every Parent Should Know
Many children lose about 2-3 months of reading and math skills during summer break. Educators call this the "summer slide," and this loss can be even more significant for children with learning differences. If your child has dyslexia, ADHD, or is on an IEP or 504 plan, those skills they worked so hard to gain throughout the school year might vanish faster without regular practice and reinforcement.
I understand the appeal of traditional summer camps during the break–they offer wonderful social experiences and create lasting memories! Unfortunately, many of the math and reading skills your child spent so much time and energy learning are fading. By August, many children with learning differences will start the new school year behind where they finished in May. And that means spending precious weeks or months of the new school year just catching up.
The good news? This summer slide is avoidable. There's a simple solution that allows your child to enjoy summer fun while building on their academic progress - adding on summer tutoring.
Not every child needs the same approach, so finding the right balance is key to a successful summer strategy that works for your entire family. Before finalizing your summer plans, assess your child's unique situation.
How do you know if summer tutoring is right for your child? 3 Key Questions to Ask
You can assess your child's specific situation and determine if summer tutoring is necessary with
these three critical questions:
● Is my child at risk of starting next school year even further behind?
If your child struggles to keep up with grade-level work, summer without reading or math tutoring virtually guarantees they'll fall further behind. Summer tutoring allows them to close these gaps without the pressure of daily homework and new classroom content. Our students learn several concepts in just 8 weeks of targeted summer tutoring.
● Will another frustrating school year affect my child's confidence and love of learning?
Many children with learning differences associate school with frustration and failure. The right summer tutoring approach builds confidence through learning success and can transform your child's attitude about learning. Parents often tell us their children look forward to returning to school after experiencing success in our summer program.
● How can we balance learning AND fun this summer?
You don't have to choose between academics and enjoyment. Families who work with us find that just 2-3 engaging weekly tutoring sessions paired with camp or family activities create the perfect balance. Our students progress significantly while still having plenty of time for swimming, friendships, and making more of those long-lasting summer memories.
Pairing one-on-one tutoring with fun activities this summer means your child can start the next school year with confidence instead of confusion.
Our Summer Boost!℠ Program has helped hundreds of students transform their reading, math, and comprehension skills. Here's what one Fayetteville parent experienced:
From Fs to As: One Fayetteville Family's Summer Tutoring Success Story
"We enrolled Bobbie in Progressive Tutoring during the summer to get her to grade level. By the start
of the school year, it was clear the difference Progressive Tutoring had made in my little girl's life. She
has gone from Fs in 5th grade to As and Bs in 6th grade."
‒ Mr. Moye, Fayetteville, father of reading and math tutoring student
The Progressive Tutoring Difference: How Our Summer Boost!℠ Program Works
Our students follow a balanced summer approach that maximizes both learning gains and summer
enjoyment:
Our Flexible Approach
● Flexible Scheduling: Most families choose either morning sessions (leaving afternoons free for activities) or alternate-day tutoring that works around camps and family trips. We understand summer schedules can be unpredictable!
● Effective Scheduling: Many parents opt for reading, math, and comprehension tutoring with a short break before school begins. This schedule prevents summer slide while giving kids that "summer feeling."
Personalized for Results
● Personalized Learning: Unlike traditional summer school, we design custom learning plans based on your child's academic needs. Our evidence-based methods are tailored to how YOUR child learns best.
● Engaging Sessions: Our tutors make learning feel different from school. Sessions are interactive, encouraging, and fun! Typically, 2-4 weekly sessions provide focused instruction without overwhelming your child.
● Measurable Results: We regularly assess progress so you can see your child's improvement. Students learn many concepts and skills in just 8 weeks of consistent summer sessions.
This balanced approach lets your child maintain or advance their academic skills while enjoying their summer break.
When Will You See the Results?
Your child will learn new skills right from their very first tutoring session. Additionally, many parents see noticeable improvements within 4-5 weeks of consistent summer tutoring. By dedicating 8 weeks to focused learning, your child can master several new concepts in reading, math, or comprehension, turning what could have been a potential summer regression into significant progress.
But how will you know it's working? Look for these clear signs that your investment is paying off.
Signs Your Child Is Making Progress
✅Your child doesn’t make excuses when they have to read or practice math.
✅You notice them applying new skills in everyday life—sounding out menu words, reading signs, or confidently answering math questions.
✅They show curiosity about learning rather than avoiding academic topics.
✅They are no longer frustrated during practice sessions.
✅They proudly share specific strategies they're using ("I break big words into chunks" or "I can draw pictures to solve word problems").
The right summer program doesn't just improve reading, math, or comprehension skills—it transforms attitudes and mindsets toward learning.
Many Progressive Tutoring parents tell us the most remarkable change is seeing their child shift from dreading school to looking forward to showing their peers and teachers how much they've learned over the summer.
With just 8 weeks of summer tutoring, your child can return to school in the fall with stronger skills, greater confidence, and a positive attitude about learning that could change their academic journey.
Give Your Child the Summer Tutoring Advantage: Book Your Free 15-Minute Discovery Chat Now
Summer is short, and spots in our proven Summer Boost!℠ Programs fill up quickly. Our free 15-minute Summer Planning Call is your first step toward turning summer into a season of academic growth.
We'll discuss your child's specific learning needs and design a personalized summer learning plan that balances academic growth with summer fun.
Book your free consultation today at www.sparkthinking.net or call 770-716-0224.
About the Author: Sylvia is a learning specialist with over 26 years of experience teaching and tutoring and is the director of Progressive Tutoring. She has helped hundreds of children in the Fayetteville area and online overcome reading and comprehension struggles and math difficulties using the Orton-
Gillingham approach that makes learning click. Her students don't just improve academically—they rediscover the joy of learning.
