Unit 2: Why are summer learning programs so important to young learners?
Go to: Amanda's Personal Page or The Benefits of Summer Learning Programs
Learning Objective
- Students (Educators) will understand the importance of learners attending summer learning programs through this unit.
- Students (Educators) will recall, recognize, and identify the pros and cons of summer learning.
- Students (Educators) will describe, explain, and restate the purpose for summer learning programs.
- Students (Educators) will justify whether or not summer learning programs are beneficial to their students and school.
Unit Overview and Expectations
In this unit of the mini course, you will learn and begin to understand the importance of learners attending a summer learning program. In addition to this, you will also begin to notice the pros and cons of summer learning programs and the purpose of these programs.
This unit will also include article readings, as well as videos to continue 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 last unit in this course. This unit will provide you with more knowledge that will help give you a better understanding before moving onto the final unit.
Unit Content
Summer Learning Programs are of great value to students. They are very important and essential in closing up gaps. With the help of these summer learning programs, they have lowered student achievement gaps. These programs often support learning with a hands on learning approach. Most of the time students are engaged in the learning and are ready to come to these programs to learn.
There are several pros to these programs. As with anything, people may find cons with these programs as well. Go to the following webpage to find more information about summer learning programs: http://www.horizonsnational.org/inspire. This webpage will help you to be successful with Activity 1, 2 and 3 in this unit.
Learning Activities
- Activity 1
Please read all material for unit 2. After reading all material, please watch the following video that talks about the pros and cons of summer learning programs: http://video.pbs.org/video/2270790202/. After reading all of the material and viewing the video included in this unit, you must create a T Chart. On your T Chart, create a list of both the pros and the cons of summer learning programs.
- Activity 2
After reading all of the material and viewing the video included in this unit, write an entry in your learning journal describing and explaining what you feel the purpose of summer learning programs are.
- Activity 3
After viewing unit 2, you must also participate in an interactive group discussion. Just like in unit 1, you will find the discussion tab at the top of the unit page. In this discussion, I would like for you to post one discussion post. In this post, I want you to discuss, describe and justify whether or not you think summer learning programs would be beneficial to your students or your school.
Go back to Unit 1: Unit 1: What are summer learning programs? or click to view next unit: Unit 3: What benefits do summer programs have to offer for schools and their learners?
Unit References
1. Can Summer School Close the Achievement Gap? Video. Retrieved 15 May 2015 from: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/daily_videos/can-summer-school-close-the-achievement-gap/ and http://video.pbs.org/video/2270790202/.
2. [Untitled Summer Fun Image]. Retrieved 14 May 2015 from: http://lsdcommunityresourcelibrary.wikispaces.com/Special+Education+Information.
3. Horizons National Webpage. 2015. http://www.horizonsnational.org/inspire.