Advice for Running the Best Summer School In Your Area

Everyone is excited to follow summer school classes because they are a great source of memories. They are the perfect setting for enrichment because students are learning a new skill, explore a certain subject or engage in certain pursuits. The concept behind summer schools is to allow people to improve their knowledge in certain subjects.

Many years, the phrase summer school had a negative connotation, but nowadays it gets increased attention and people find it an essential step in completing studies. Research has concluded that during summer many people are experiencing learning loss. The RAND Corporation conducted a study and found out that on average when the students get back to school they are academically one month behind where they were when the vacation started. Learning loss affects all students, and if it accumulates every year, it can pose graduation problems. The same research has shown that the students who enrol in summer school can stop learning loss and even improve their knowledge. https://www.immerse.education/ has come up with some guidelines on how to run a summer school to get the best results in your area.

Formative assessment is essential​

All types of school focus on personalised learning, but summer schools consider it a priority because they have to help students acquire vast knowledge in a short period. For the students who have issues in learning in traditional circumstances, the summer school is the best alternative to get their knowledge to the same academic level as their colleagues.

However, in order for teachers to adopt a personalised approach, they have to first conduct a formative assessment to find out what the level of learning of students is. The formative assessment can be administered before the start of the school, or at the beginning of the program. It will help teachers understand how they have to customise the content to help their students improve their skills and knowledge.

Small classes guarantee success​

Summer schools are different from traditional studying because they enhance learning through small class sizes. They prefer these classes because they allow the teacher to offer the same amount of attention to all students. Everyone knows that large class sizes are one of the greatest impediments in customised instruction because teachers find difficult to assist all the students in the classroom the same way. During a single class, the time prevents them from discussing with each student at least once.

When running a summer school it’s important to keep the class size as small as possible because it will facilitate the one-to-one time between the students and instructors. Teachers have no problems in getting to know their pupils, and they can understand their learning loss and help them improve their knowledge. A small class size boosts relationships and motivates students to learn better.

The best summer schools promote extracurricular classes​

The main goal summer schools have is to enhance their students’ academic skills, but they do more than this. A great summer school offers its students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and to explore a wider range of subjects than the one they have to improve. Students can engage in activities and subjects they are passionate about, and work on their personal skills.

When running a summer school, it’s advisable to offer CTE classes in numerous topics, from leadership to technology, even if the focus of the school is to help students enhance their maths’ skills, for example.

It’s also advisable to allow your students to get involved in community service because it will allow them to explore career paths they’ve not even considered. Working with older students will help them stay motivated. To facilitate their access to community service you can collaborate with community leaders who can guide them in choosing a college and a career. Education experts recommend keeping some of the lessons out of the school, in parks and museums, it will boost their attention and it will help them incorporate in their life physical activities.

Keep in mind that you are running a summer school, so you should not keep your students confined in the classroom, they should also enjoy the beauty of summer.

Partners can help you deliver high-quality services​

Running a summer school is a business similar to any another, so you should have partners whom you can count on. The power of community should never be underestimated, it can bring your institution more advantages than you imagine. You should connect with as many community partners as possible, from athletic institutions and organisations, to businesses and other groups that can help your students reach their goal. If an organisation intends to collaborate with students or to engage them in their business processes, then you should be open to partnerships.

Teaming up with community leaders allows you to offer your students numerous opportunities and the possibility to experience a real-world activity that will help them overcome their struggle in learning. Students have difficulties in maintaining their interest in a certain subject or following the content delivered during traditional classes, but community engagement can help them acquire information more efficiently.

Partnerships are also a great way to work with small budgets because let’s face it not all institutions have enough funds to run on their own.

You should always be open to new things​

When you are running a summer school, you have the perfect opportunity to try new things you think that could work to help students improve their knowledge. You can change the schedule, use tech tools to deliver information, customise the curriculum, and even adopt a different grading model than traditional schools.

Whatever ideas you may have to revolutionise and change the way summer schools are performing, you can apply to your program. You should use your creativity to design new practices and if they prove effective, they ensure success. Keep in mind that the summer is the time when students have fun, and if you can make learning a pleasant process, you can transform your venture into a prosperous one.

What type of summer school do you want to manage? If you answer this question, you will find the key to run a successful institution.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

You've outlined an excellent and comprehensive approach to running a successful summer school, emphasizing student enrichment and personalized learning. It's clear that the perception of summer school has evolved from a remedial burden to a valuable opportunity for growth.

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Beyond Remedial: Crafting a Successful Summer School Experience​

Summer school has shed its once-negative connotation, transforming into a vibrant and essential pathway for academic enrichment and personal development. Research, such as the RAND Corporation study, has consistently highlighted the phenomenon of "learning loss" during extended summer breaks, where students can fall a month or more behind academically. Summer schools effectively counter this, not only preventing regression but actively fostering intellectual growth. The key to successful summer programs lies in thoughtful design and execution, as outlined by guidelines from institutions like Immerse Education.

1. Formative Assessment: The Cornerstone of Personalized Learning​

In summer school, where the goal is to impart significant knowledge in a compressed timeframe, personalized learning is paramount. This is especially true for students who may struggle in traditional academic settings. To truly tailor instruction, a formative assessment is indispensable. Administered either before or at the very beginning of the program, this assessment helps teachers gauge students' existing knowledge levels, allowing them to customize content and teaching methods to address specific learning gaps and accelerate skill development.

2. Small Classes: Guaranteeing Individual Attention​

One of the most significant advantages of summer schools over conventional education is their ability to leverage small class sizes. This intimate setting allows teachers to dedicate ample, individualized attention to each student—a luxury often not afforded in larger traditional classrooms. In a small class, teachers can easily get to know their pupils, understand their specific learning needs, and provide targeted support to overcome learning loss. This enhanced one-to-one interaction fosters stronger relationships and significantly boosts student motivation and learning outcomes.

3. Promoting Extracurricular and Real-World Engagement​

While academic skill enhancement remains the primary objective, the best summer schools expand beyond core subjects. They embrace a holistic approach by offering extracurricular activities and Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes in diverse areas like leadership or technology, even if the main academic focus is, for instance, mathematics.

Furthermore, integrating community service allows students to explore potential career paths and stay motivated, especially older students. Collaborating with community leaders can provide invaluable guidance for college and career choices. It's also highly recommended to take some lessons outside the classroom—to parks and museums, for example. This not only boosts attention and engagement but also incorporates physical activity, reminding everyone that it's still summer and learning can be enjoyable and unbound by classroom walls.

4. Strategic Partnerships: Elevating Service Quality​

Operating a successful summer school, like any venture, benefits immensely from community partnerships. Collaborating with athletic institutions, other organizations, and local businesses can provide numerous advantages. Being open to organizations that wish to engage with students or involve them in business processes offers invaluable real-world experiences. These partnerships can help students overcome learning struggles by making information acquisition more efficient and engaging through practical application. Moreover, partnerships can be a lifeline for institutions operating on limited budgets, allowing them to deliver high-quality services that might otherwise be unaffordable.

5. Embrace Innovation and Flexibility​

Summer school provides a unique sandbox for educational innovation. It's the perfect environment to try new approaches—whether it's altering schedules, integrating cutting-edge tech tools for information delivery, customizing curricula, or even experimenting with different grading models than those used in traditional schools.

Utilize your creativity to design novel practices. If these prove effective, they lay the groundwork for long-term success. The overarching principle is to make learning a pleasant process, ensuring students enjoy their summer while simultaneously enhancing their knowledge. By answering the fundamental question of "What type of summer school do you want to manage?", you unlock the key to building a thriving and impactful educational institution.