Unit 1: What are summer learning programs?
Go to: Amanda's Personal Page or The Benefits of Summer Learning Programs
Learning Objective
- Students (Educators) will identify what a summer learning program is.
- Students (Educators) will discover examples of the parts and features of summer learning programs and the motive behind the implementation of summer learning programs.
- Students (Educators) will learn the history behind summer learning programs.
Unit Overview and Expectations
In this unit of the mini course, you will learn what a summer learning program is, you will discover how some summer learning programs are set up, you will learn some of the reasons of why summer learning programs are implemented and you will learn the history behind summer learning programs.
This unit will also include article readings, as well as videos to help you better learn and understand more about summer learning program.
It is very important as the learner, that you are taking the time to read, watch and learn more about summer programs before moving onto the rest of the mini course units. This unit will provide you with more knowledge that will help give you a better understanding before moving onto the rest of the units in this course.
Unit Content
What are summer learning programs?
Summer learning programs are designed to provide children with learning opportunities. Often people will mistake a summer learning program with summer camps or even summer school. Unlike summer camps, summer learning programs put a huge emphasis on academics. In these programs, you will see a large amount of the time with students being actively engaged in learning. Summer learning programs will often hire educated accredited teachers; whereas, a summer camp will often hire younger staff members or staff without a background in education to lead the children.
To learn more about summer learning programs, navigate through this webpage to find out in detail what a summer learning program really is: http://www.summerlearning.org/.
History behind summer learning programs
Summer learning programs have continued to change over the years. Please read page 33 in the following article on Summer Learning Programs, in order to better understand the history behind these educational programs: http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/summer-and-extended-learning-time/summer-learning/documents/building-quality-in-summer-learning-programs.pdf .
Learning Activities
- Activity 1
Please read all material for unit 1. After reading all material, please watch the following video that talks about a national summer learning program called Horizons: https://youtu.be/rQ78LBSk-AU.
- Activity 2
After reading all of the material and viewing the video included in this unit, write an entry in your learning journal about how your perspective and opinion about summer learning programs has changed or how it has stayed the same since you started this mini course.
- Activity 3
After viewing unit 1, you must also participate in an interactive group discussion. You will find the discussion tab at the top of unit 1. In this discussion, I would like for you to create two discussion posts. In the first post, tell me what you think a summer learning program must include in order to be considered a summer learning program. In the second post, you must compare and contrast summer learning programs with summer camps. How are these two type of programs alike and how are they different?
Click to view next unit: Unit 2: Why are summer learning programs so important to young learners?
Unit References
1. BUILDING QUALITY IN SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS: APPROACHES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Brenda McLaughlin and Sarah Pitcock, September 2009. http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/summer-and-extended-learning-time/summer-learning/documents/building-quality-in-summer-learning-programs.pdf.
2. National Summer Learning Association. http://www.summerlearning.org/.
3. Summer Matters. http://summermatters2you.net/why-summer-matters/.
4. Youtube. Horizons Program. https://youtu.be/rQ78LBSk-AU.
5. [Untitled Summer Learning Image]. Retrieved 14 May 2015 from: http://kindertimes.wikispaces.com/.