Don’t Let the Summer Slide Set Them Back: Dyslexia Support That Keeps Skills Sharp

By the end of the school year, some students—and teachers and staff and parents—are running on fumes. As you cross that academic finish line into the summer season, it is so tempting to be lured by lazy days by the pool, sunshine at the beach, adventures in travel, or just some time to unplug. And all of this is necessary, of course. The Latin root word for vacation is vacare, which translates to “to be empty, free, or at leisure.” For good balance in life, a little vacation is necessary. For students, another necessary goal for summer is to avoid the summer slide.

While they work hard all school year, it is important that students maintain momentum in reading. Studies have found that typical students can lose 20 to 30% of their reading gains during the summer break months. This is known as the summer slide, and it can have some detrimental effects when the school year comes back around. That summer slide not only affects academic skills; it can have an emotional impact on students as well, manifesting in a decrease in confidence or a reluctance to participate in class. It can even lead to anxiety as the school year begins. Read on to learn about some solutions for dyslexia support and stopping the summer slide. 

Dyslexia on Demand can help. The team at Dyslexia on Demand doesn’t want the summer slide to happen to your student. Our goal is to have students finish the school year strong and even make gains during the summer with support for students with dyslexia. During the summer time there’s a great opportunity for students to use their free time to improve their skills.

A structured literacy approach is key. Our programs at Dyslexia on Demand focus on a structured literacy approach, which really works well for dyslexic students when provided in a multisensory approach that is tailored to their brain-based needs. This kind of approach helps to rewire how a dyslexic reader’s brain processes language. We also focus on consistency so that we can help to prevent regression during the summer, while also building new skills for a new school year. 

Our Summer Reading Programs Can Make a Difference: Summer is a great time to invest in your child’s literacy journey. Whether you’re looking to reinforce existing skills or begin dyslexia support for the first time, our all-virtual summer reading programs are flexible, consistent, and effective.

• Start Therapy This Summer
  Many families use summer as a chance to begin therapy—and for good reason. Starting with our traditional, core dyslexia therapy approach over the summer allows students to build strong foundations with fewer academic distractions. Most families start here, and it’s often the best first step.
• Turbo Start: A Summer Boost for New Learners
  Turbo Start is an individualized dyslexia intervention program designed for students who may not have had any previous dyslexia support. It’s ideal for those needing a summer boost to build reading skills quickly and effectively.
  Led by our highly-trained Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs), Turbo Start runs for just 9 weeks. Your student will meet virtually with a CALT for four 1-hour sessions each week—all you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection. Although Turbo Start isn’t a replacement for long-term dyslexia therapy, it’s a fantastic way to “dip your toe” into the process. We often refer to it as an “on-ramp” to therapy—offering a meaningful, low-commitment way to explore if ongoing support is the right fit for your family.
• Literacy Lift: Strengthen Skills and Stay on Track
  For students who have already received dyslexia therapy, Literacy Lift is a great way to sharpen specific skills like spelling, writing, and comprehension. This program includes 14 targeted sessions with a CALT and is tailored to the areas your student needs most.
  Literacy Lift is also ideal for students who have summer reading assignments and want extra support to stay on top of their academic responsibilities.

For parents who want to do extra at home: At Dyslexia on Demand, we believe that some reading, writing, and spelling is better than none at all. In addition to our summer programs, you can help your student at home by incorporating literacy in different ways. Here are some examples: 

• Reading time: Set aside 20 minutes a day to read aloud, or let your student select some books from the library—any kind he or she is interested in—and read each day. You can do this at a park, at home, at the beach, at a coffee shop, or anywhere you’d like. 
• Learn something new: Students with dyslexia often have high intelligence in the area of how things work. Encourage your student to read instruction manuals for tools, toys, cars, or appliances, or have them read a guide book and maps for one of the destinations you’ll travel to this summer. 
• Co-reading and audiobooks count: Reading with your child or using audiobooks is not cheating—it’s still reading! Following along with the text while listening builds fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Whether you’re co-reading chapter books or listening to audiobooks in the car, it all supports literacy development.
• Listen up. Audio books can be great for hot summer days or long road trips. It’s just more exposure to literacy for your student. You can make text-to-world connections with your kiddo just by discussing what you’re listening to. 
• Make writing fun. You don’t have to assign your student essays and book reports all summer. Let them practice writing mechanics with things like sidewalk chalk, slime, summer picture journals, post cards, or packing lists. 

Let us get to know your student. At Dyslexia on Demand, we want to truly know your child, understand his or her academic needs, and personalize instruction to get the best results. Book a call with us so that we can figure out which of our programs would work the best for your student. Our summer reading camp starts June 1, and our Virtual Summer Reading Programs are now open for enrollment. Visit our website to learn more about our summer programs for dyslexia support.