S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program for Children with Learning Differences

A summer program for children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities

Key Takeaways:

• The summer slide can result in learning losses of up to 20% in reading; 27% in math
• The S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literary Program is designed for children who are 1+ years behind in reading and/or writing
• Six-week intensive reading program for children with Dyslexia and/or other Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs)
• Uses S.M.A.R.T. Goals and the F.I.T.T. Principle 
• Incorporates well-known scientific reading methods

It’s hard to believe summer is almost here. No doubt, your family has faced many challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. While many industries have been impacted by COVID restrictions and safety measures, perhaps none has been disrupted more than education.

Whether your child has been attending virtual or in-person school, no doubt he or she is looking forward to a break. However, you must be mindful that while summer is a time for relaxation and fun, it can also be a time marked by learning losses. Students who struggle with reading challenges due to dyslexia or other learning disabilities may experience even more learning losses.

This phenomenon is known as the summer slide, which has been compounded by the COVID slide. What can you do to ensure your child maintains academic momentum and escapes the summer and COVID slides? The S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program at The Learning Lab can help.

A sliding scale of loss: summer slide and COVID slide

The summer slide is a term used to describe learning losses that can occur during the long summer break. Several well-known studies have looked at the impact of summer on academic achievement. One such study found that reading and math losses over the summer were significant. A later study went even further, finding that students in 3^rd – 5^th grades lost around 20% of gains in reading and 27% of gains in math. 

The COVID slide is very similar in nature to the summer slide. However, the effects of long-term school closures and the remote education model are even more pronounced when it comes to academic momentum. A study by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) estimated that COVID-19 led to learning losses of up to 30% in reading and up to 50% in math.  

If your child has suffered learning losses due to COVID-19 or he or she simply struggles with reading or writing because of challenges such as dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning disability, the S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program can help.

The S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program explained

Our S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program is an intensive, six-week program designed for “smart” students who are one or more years behind in reading and/or writing.

The following students may benefit from this program:

• At risk or already diagnosed with dyslexia
• Suspected or diagnosed with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• Diagnosed with a Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
• Significant struggles with phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency
• Significant struggles with reading comprehension, working memory, and critical thinking
• Significant struggles with grammar, sentence structure, and essay or other long-form writing

Our program incorporates two main methods of education: S.M.A.R.T. Goals and the F.I.T.T. Principle.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

• Specific – Relates to reading goals that are specific to each student, which will increase proficiency and confidence.
• Measurable – Using metrics to track progress and measure daily results and growth.
• Attainable – This means we set smaller goals that are more likely to be achieved rather than big goals that can lead to frustration.
• Relevant – Ensure that each child will be presented with personalized reading goals to create a unique reading journey.
• Time-bound – Incorporating the F.I.T.T. Principle to bring about change during the program’s six-week period.

F.I.T.T. Principle:

• Frequency – five days/week for six weeks
• Intensity – Daily 1 on 1, individualized instruction
• Time – 90 hours of language, literacy, and learning remediation
• Type – Relationship-based, personalized, adaptive, and FUN

Reading Programs

The S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program incorporates a number of scientific teaching methods based on what we understand about neuroscience and how it relates to reading. These programs are all part of our I3 Lab.

Programs include:

• Barton Reading and Spelling System
• Foundation in Sounds
• Visualizing and Verbalizing
• Reading Assistant
• DreamBox Math
• TouchMath
• Fast ForWord
• Just Words
• Multi-Sensory Writing Instruction

The S.M.A.R.T. Summer Literacy Program starts the week of June 14^th and runs through the Week of July 26^th (closed July 6^th – 10^th). We meet Monday – Friday from 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. The dates for placement screening and enrollment have been extended so there’s still time to enroll. 

Get started by printing and filling out the 2021 Registration Form.  

Find Summer Learning Support for Your Child

If your child needs extra help, The Learning Lab is here. We offer in-person tutoring and virtual learning tools to help children avoid learning loss or catch up if they’ve fallen behind.

The Learning Lab recently expanded to our Davie location in order to better serve the Broward community. We offer summer learning support to children throughout Davie, Cooper City, Plantation, and Fort Lauderdale.

Contact us today for more information.