Everything’s Coming Up Summer!

Warm sunny days with bright blue skies, restaurants busy with in-person diners, beaches dotted with colorful umbrellas and happy surfers, and families and friends gathering for parties, get-togethers and reunions. After over a year of hunkering down in quarantine due to the pandemic, all of these scenes are welcoming signs of a new season – not just summer, but freedom from many of the restrictions we’ve all lived with for over a year! High levels of vaccinated adults and teens as well as significantly lower numbers of COVID-19 infections mean that the world is finally opening up, albeit somewhat cautiously. Still, many families are happily anticipating a far more normal summer than last year’s.

As always, kids thrive in the summer when they have a mixture of relaxation and down time as well as structured but fun activities. Many students spent a year or more doing virtual learning, causing some to fall behind academically where they would have been if they were in a traditional classroom setting. Summer is a great time to make sure your students are at the academic level they need to be in a variety of subjects or classes depending on their age.

There are a number of ways to help your kids learn over the summer without making them feel like it’s all academics and no fun.

Here are some other reasons to consider hiring a private college counselor:

• Summer Academic Programs: Consider enrolling your student in summer programs that focus on specific academic skills or subject areas by bringing together small groups of age-similar students. Synergy Academics is offering a flexible summer enrichment program for students of all ages. Families are able to register for a variety of courses with flexible scheduling that works around your family’s busy summer. This program feels more like a summer camp than academic tutoring since it is done in small groups, led by young, enthusiastic tutors who will ensure your students are having fun while also learning.
• Reading! Summer is a great time for kids to read books that pique their interest. Some students, particularly those in higher grades and AP courses, may have reading assignments over the summer. Whichever is the case, make sure they spend a certain amount of time each day reading. Engage them by asking questions about the book they are reading and ensure that they are comprehending the story as it goes. Family reading time each day or on certain days of the week is a great way to get the whole family to slow down and enjoy a book!

  

• Get Feedback and Materials From Teachers: If there is a subject(s) that your student is struggling with or behind in, ask his or her teacher for some learning material for the summer. This might include worksheets, practice exams or reading material. Set aside some time each day or a certain amount of time each week for your student to work on this material. Be available for assistance as necessary or consider hiring a private tutor to work with your students. Working steadily through the summer on these subject-specific worksheets or practice exams will help your student catch up as well as develop more self confidence and readiness for when the new school year starts.
• Standardized Tests for College Admission: Although some colleges and universities (including the University of California) are no longer requiring (or even considering) SAT/ACT scores in their admissions packets, there are some schools that do require that applicants submit SAT or ACT test scores, while others that don’t require them may consider them if they are included. Similarly, some schools may refer to them when making decisions on financial aid and scholarships. Summer is a good time to prepare for the SAT or ACT since students don’t have the daily pressure of school like they do during the academic year. Synergy Academics has a very effective standardized test prep package that involves working one-on-one with a tutor to (1) determine which test is best for the student (ACT or SAT), (2) prepare for the exam by working through practice problems and learning special techniques for successful test taking, and (3) take practice exams in real time to ensure the student is prepared for test day.

If there’s one thing we all know is true, it’s that summer flies by fast. Make sure you and your children have plenty of time for some R & R, but try to mix in some academics too so that they are ready to perform at their best ability when the school year starts again in the fall! Be sure to visit our website for more information on all of our summer and year-round programs!