SUMMER BRAIN GAIN: REIMAGINING SUMMER LEARNING

What is the problem?

There is no other time of year when inequalities are greater in the United States than during the summer months.

Why Summer Matters

Why Summer Matters

In the summer, 43 million kids (3 out of 4) do not have access to critical summer learning programs.

More than 75% of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.

The Achievement Gap

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Low-income students lose an average of more than two months in reading achievement in summer.

1st 2nd

3rd 4th

5th

By the end of fifth grade, disadvantaged children are nearly 3 GRADE EQUIVALENTS BEHIND their more affluent peers in reading.

Studies show 6-week summer learning programs can produce statistically significant gains in reading performance.

The Achievement Gap

Key Strategies for Success

• Community-wide messaging to raise awareness about the importance of summer learning; to encourage parents, caregivers and community leaders to take advantage of existing programs and services; and to support families in reading to and with children over the summer months

• Practices, programs, and policies that expand access to books and integrate literacy skills development in order to help children continue reading and learning over the summer months

• Expanding access to summer meals, physical activity, and health and nutrition information in a variety of settings and programs over the summer months

• Cross-sector coordination and partnerships around data sharing, collection and analysis that result in joint commitment and accountability for making measurable progress on student outcomes

SUMMER BRAIN GAIN

Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Response:

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Mission

To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

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Two Approaches, Two Goals 13

Marzano’s High Yield Strategies; proven to result in percentile gains on standardized tests.

Weeks of integrated themed content allowing youth to make real-world connections while developing 21st Century skills.

Boys & Girls Club of America project- based Learning Practices (Engage, Express, Evaluate, Exhibit) supported by Common Core aligned learning modules.

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3 HRS Reading Math 21st Century Skills

1.5 HRS Vocabulary Reading Comprehension

Summer Brain Gain Outcomes 14

Significant gains in reading skills for 5th and 8th graders

Significant gains in math skills for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders

Significant positive growth for 6th grade in 21st Century skills

MATH

READING

Elementary 15

The Power of Collaboration Hooray for Heroes! One Bright Idea After Another Making Global Connections Fit 4 Life Race to the Future

Dino Fantastic Fun! Magnificent Mammals Are We! Animal Babies! Wild Cats Our Fine Feathered Friends Plenty of Precarious Pets

Summer Brain Gain

Summer Brain Gain: READ!

Middle 16

Under the Sea Eww, Gross! Bio Motion DIT – Do-It-Together Bug Off! Dino Detectives

The House on Mango Street Freak the Mighty American Born Chinese Number the Stars Screaming at the Ump Ties That Bind

Summer Brain Gain

Summer Brain Gain: READ!

High 17

S.T.E.M. Effective Decision Making Building Positive Relationships Teen Things The ABCs to College Degrees Employability Skills

Summer Brain Gain

Summer Brain Gain: READ!

Character Education Positive Law Enforcement Interaction Social Media Shakedown

Summer Brain Gain Bonus STEM! 18

Elementary

Middle

High

Space Radiation Space Artists

Space Community Space Technology and the Innovators

Our Solar System Life on the International Space Station

A Week in the Life of Summer Brain Gain 19

Monday: discuss similarities and differences between a book and a film Tuesday: construct three questions they would like answered about heroes Wednesday: explain how to solve a number pattern and write speeches about their heroes Thursday: express their heroic characteristics by designing their own costumes Friday: express one interesting fact about their heroes in the Hero costume fashion show