More on Summer Learning Loss

There is an interesting article in the Washington Post today about summer learning loss. I have been following the discussion, both here and on teacher blogs and have some concern that this notion will get misconstrued to mean more homework assignments for children during the summer.

Dr. Kenneth Goldberg is a clinical psychologist with 35 years of professional experience in dealing with many different psychological issues. He is the author of The Homework Trap: How to Save the Sanity of Parents, Students and Teachers and currently works in his own private practice.

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Summer learning loss

I just saw this posting, about summer learning loss, in Edutopia and felt compelled to offer the following response, which I thought I would share with my followers:

I think the key regarding summer learning loss, as it is in most areas of life, is to accept the realities as they are. I wouldn't recommend "combating" summer learning loss. Rather, I recommend making plans based on the assumption that there will be some learning loss so you simply pick up where you think the student will be. It is really no different from my position on dealing with parents who seem problematic because they do not support homework the way in which teachers think they should. People are different. Parents take different attitudes about school. Once you accept that reality, you can go on and devise strategies based on what is real, not on the way you wish things would be. The necessary conclusion for that issue is to diminish reliance on homework and reduce penalties for work that may not get done.

Dr. Kenneth Goldberg is a clinical psychologist with 35 years of professional experience in dealing with many different psychological issues. He is the author of The Homework Trap: How to Save the Sanity of Parents, Students and Teachers and currently works in his own private practice.

Visit the website
Read book reviews of The Homework Trap
What is The Homework Trap?
A Roadmap to Success
504 plans

Summer Homework

Edutopia is conducting a poll on the issue of assigning summer homework. The choices are yes, maybe, no, and none of the above. I chose none of the above and left a comment on edutopia. I share my thoughts in this video.



Dr. Kenneth Goldberg is a clinical psychologist with 35 years of professional experience in dealing with many different psychological issues. He is the author of The Homework Trap: How to Save the Sanity of Parents, Students and Teachers and currently works in his own private practice.

Visit the website
Read book reviews of The Homework Trap
What is The Homework Trap?
A Roadmap to Success
504 plans