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Should Schools Assign Summer Homework? Educators Weigh In

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School’s almost out for summer. Should students clear out their lockers and leave empty-handed—or laden down with stacks of math problems and required reading lists? Will teachers warn of repercussions for failing to turn in summer work assignments upon returning to school in the fall, or simply advise students to have fun and stay safe?

It depends on whom you ask.

It turns out that not all educators share the same perspective on whether to assign summer homework, who needs it most, what it should consist of, and how to make sure it gets done. Education Week put the question to state teachers of the year and representatives of statewide principals associations. Here’s what they had to say.

Play and pleasure reading prioritized by many educators

Play and pleasure reading topped the list of responses to the question: What summer homework should students be assigned? Teachers (of both young and older students) were more likely than the principals who responded to suggest that kids need a break in the summer.

“For young children, specifically pre-K to grade 3, I feel that over the summer children need to have their summer break and be provided with the opportunity to explore, get plenty of physical activity, and play. Children learn from play. Play teaches children about problem-solving and social interactions,” said Tara Hughes, a pre-K inclusion teacher at the Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe who was voted 2023 New Mexico State Teacher of the Year.

“Students should have no formal ‘homework'—worksheets or practice books,” said Lori Danz, who is Wisconsin’s 2023 State Teacher of the Year. She teaches high school biology and serves as a school forest coordinator, overseeing outdoor learning. in the Superior school district in the northern part of the state. “I think it’s good for students and families to get away from that, and learn in authentic ways: hiking, cooking, fixing things. So much learning happens that way. We forget that it’s learning.”

Danz acknowledged that not every family has the same amount of free time or resources available to them during the summer. But she added that many districts, including her own, offer free enrichment activities at local schools during the summer that provide activities such as sports, crafts, and physical fitness.

While “play” was a popular response to the question of what type of work kids should be assigned in the summer, some educators suggested that students of all ages read during break to stay sharp.

“Reading for pleasure authentically enhances many academic skills such as cultivating a love for reading, improves reading and writing skills, develops concentration, encourages creativity and imagination, and allows children to be more open to differences and perspectives,” said Krystal Colbert, a 2nd grade teacher at Mitchellville Elementary in Iowa’s Southeast Polk school district, and another Teacher of the Year.

One teacher took the reading directive a step further. Brian Skinner, a high school special education teacher with the Newton Unified school district 373 in Kansas and the state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, said he thinks students should spend time regularly writing and reading for pleasure. “Not only that, but I believe it is important to read from actual books versus phones or other technology,” Skinner said. It’s a belief shared by some literacy experts , too.

Which students most need summer work?

Educators offered a range of opinions when asked which students most need summer work. Principals interviewed for this article were more likely than teachers to feel students should be doing summer work.

“How good is a golfer that takes a three-month break with no practice? Even if you do not play nine or 18 holes regularly, you can go the range, you can chip, you can practice putting,” said Jerald A. Barris, a high school principal at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School in Midland, Pa., and a regional representative for the Pennsylvania Principals Association.

Ed Roth, the principal of Penncrest High School in Media, Pa., believes in math homework over the summer for high school students. “In mathematics, it is important for students to have some review and skills practice so that they do not need to spend the first marking period reviewing prior learning, therefore taking away their ability to cover all necessary content for their current course,” he said. Roth’s perspective, which suggests the loss of skills during summer break, has been well-documented in recent research .

But other educators favor a more tailored approach to summer work.

Danz, the Wisconsin high school biology teacher, said that she believes all students need a break from homework but added this caveat: “You can always find exceptions…students who may need remedial practice.”

Fabiana Parker, the 2023 Virginia Teacher of the Year, agreed. A teacher of English learners at Thornburg Middle School in Spotsylvania County, Va., Parker said “it is essential to take into account the unique needs of each student” when it comes to summer work. She elaborated with an account of her own children, recalling how she established a routine of daily math practice during the summer but only for her daughter who struggled with math and, in Parker’s assessment, needed the additional support.

Other educators said they are more likely to assign summer work to students on an accelerated track. Such is the case for Michael Ida, Hawaii’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. He teaches at Kalani High School in Honolulu. Ida said that, for most high school students, he recommends no summer work other than reading for pleasure. But he makes an exception for students who choose to enroll in more rigorous courses.

“I teach AP Calculus, and those students do have some required review work to complete over the summer,” Ida said. He gives them math problems that he has created—both routine review problems and more substantial problem solving exercises that emphasize logical thinking and communication.

A creative approach to summer work

Summer should be synonymous with creative learning, some educators emphasized. “Summer is a time to continue learning in the way that every child in every classroom should be taught, with a focus on each child’s passions and strengths and in the way that is most effective for them,” said Catherine Matthews, a pre-K special education teacher at Hyalite Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont., and the state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

“If a child is struggling with fractions but loves to cook, allow them to practice their math skills while doing something that they love. If they need to practice their reading fluency, allow them to choose books of personal interest,” Matthews added.

Second grade teacher Colbert expressed a desire for kids to experience the type of old-fashioned summer that, for countless students, no longer exists. “My wish is that all kids are outside exploring the beautiful world around them, interacting with their friends and family, growing their inquisitive minds, fostering their creativity, and limiting the use of technology,” she said.

Who’s responsible for making sure summer work gets done?

Assigning summer work is one thing; monitoring its completion is another.

Pennsylvania high school principal Barris said parents are ultimately responsible for making sure their kids do the work. “I believe it should fall on the parents for the most part with opportunities, suggestions, and strategies provided by the school in concert with the community where the child resides,” he said, while acknowledging this challenge. “That said,” he added, “getting my 11-year-old to read and practice his skills in the summer is easier said than done.”

A version of this article appeared in the June 14, 2023 edition of Education Week as Should Schools Assign Summer Homework? Educators Weigh In

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Should kids get summer homework?

by: Leslie Crawford | Updated: June 12, 2023

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Jill Notte’s daughter Sara is a straight-A student, and she’s taking five advanced-placement courses this fall. It’ll be her senior year.

This ambitious undertaking may prove Sara’s undoing — at least if the 17 year old wants to enjoy her summer vacation. Somewhere in between spending a week at a Girls State program, a month at the New Jersey Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology at Rutger’s University, and visiting a few potential colleges, Sara must complete the following workload before school starts:

• Read five novels for AP English • Read one book for AP History • Complete a packet of assignments and problems for AP Calculus • Complete a packet of assignments and problems for AP Chemistry • Write several summaries of scientific principles for Honors Physics

Oh, and her English teacher recommends that she attend Shakespeare performances at the local college to supplement the many plays she’s required to read as part of AP English. “I try to put a positive spin on it,” says Sara’s mother, Jill. “I told her, ‘Summertime’s a great time to read Shakespeare!'” But, admits Jill, it’s not so easy to put the same kind of “fun” spin on the stack of mind-numbing calculus and chemistry books hefty enough to take down a Yellowstone grizzly.

Forget languidly balmy weeks unwinding from the stress of an intensive school year. Goodbye, as well, to working her usual summer job as a lifeguard, which Sara unhappily has to forgo — along with the money she hoped to save for college. As her mother puts it, “Summer homework is a full-time job.”

A working vacation

Sara’s not alone. The oxymoronically named “vacation work” is on the rise. Sara’s older sister had only a few books to read over the summer when she was in high school — and that was just eight years ago. Jill, who like her daughters was a high achiever in the top five percent of her class, remembers completely homework-free summers.

Many parents remember their own childhood summers as true respites from school, devoid the rigor and rigidity of academic life. Summer was a sprawling mass of unstructured time that ranged from idyllic laziness to stupefying boredom to invigorating camps and family vacations, not scores of math worksheets, science packets, and lists of “good-for-you” classics that hardly qualify as light beach reads.

Harris Cooper, chairman of the department of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University and America’s leading homework scholar who co-authored the landmark meta-study on homework , says that while there exists no formal studies on the rise in summertime homework, he’s witnessed a particularly sharp increase over the past two years — probably a response “to high-stakes testing and accountability issues for schools.”

Just say no?

Some parents argue summer homework is nothing more than bland busywork that saps the joy and spontaneity from summer. So says Sara Bennett, founder of StopHomework.com . “Even if there is a summer slide, I don’t think homework is the solution,” Bennett says. “Kids don’t have enough downtime during the school year. I think they need that freshness during summer.”

Here’s a revolutionary approach for vacation purists who say kids deserve a good, old-fashioned summer free from intense brain-strain: Just say no. That’s what Bennett suggests a parent do in the fall if a child is averse to doing the packet. “I’d send it back and say, ‘I’m sorry, my child didn’t have a chance to do it.’ ” (A parental dispensation only possible for kids who haven’t entered the high-school pressure cooker where — as with Sara Notte — summer homework is graded and can directly affect a student’s chances to enter a top-tier university.)

Protecting young minds from melting

On the other side of the summer homework debate are the moms and dads who, when the school doors slam shut, ramp up the supplemental brain work, even if the teachers didn’t provide it themselves. Most parents, though, fall somewhere in the for-better-or-worse-summer-homework-is-here-to-stay camp.

So if the kids have to do it, can we at least be reassured that it’s a magic bullet to protect young minds from melting? “We can’t say that with any objective data,” Cooper says. “But we would make the assumption if students are continuing to flex their mental muscles over the summer, this would have a positive effect on how much material they retain when they return.”

No buy-in from the kids

“There definitely is a lag — I’m not denying that,” says Denise Pope, senior lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education and co-founder of Challenge Success , a research and student-intervention project. “I absolutely agree that three months is a long time to not do anything. That said, I’m not sure this idea of giving workbooks and pages and pages of handouts works.”

The reason it doesn’t work? “There’s not a buy-in from the [kids],” Pope argues. “In order for any learning to be retained, there has to be engagement on the part of the students.” Pope explains that students need the “ABCs of engagement,” which means they’re engaged affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively. “If they’re intrinsically motivated, then they’ll want to do it.”

“I know kids who get these huge 40-page math packets,” Pope says. “It’s because [teachers] want [kids], over time, to have systematic practice. The problem is that this requires an adult to monitor this kind of disciplined work. It’s not like a kid can do that on his own. So it puts a burden more on the parents.”

Year-round homework blues

So, alas, those nightly angst-ridden homework dramas that run from September through June now get year-round billing. The other problem, Pope says, is that summer homework packets (frequently put off until the last unhappy week before school begins), often seem to fall into an academic black hole once they’re turned in — with no feedback from teachers and no effect on kids’ grades.

As for the work that Pope’s three kids — ages 10, 12, and 15 — get handed at school’s end, she tells them, “‘I won’t bug you about this at all. I won’t be the police.’ We look at the assignments they get for the summer and I say, ‘How long do you think this will take? Do you want me to remind you to do it?’ ” But if they leave it until the tail end of the summer, Pope says, well, that’s their choice. It’s their vacation, after all.

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Summer Homework: A How-To Guide for Parents and Kids

It’s become a predictable yearly debate that rolls around every June:

Should my kids really be getting summer homework?

And if they do, how should we approach it so they actually learn something over the summer (rather than just doing busywork)?

Here’s the thing:

At some schools, kids are routinely overloaded with multiple books to read, and big math packets to complete.

At other schools? Nothing is assigned.

My personal opinion is that the right balance lies somewhere in the middle… Yes, we want kids to keep their minds sharp, but not at the expense of having fun over the summer.

So in this post I’ll cover:

• My opinion on the age-old summer homework debate (in the video below)
• How to handle the different types of work assigned to students over the summer
• Some specific recommendations for what you can do as a parent to keep your kids engaged in the process, including a recent interview I did with WTOP’s Every Day is Kid’s Day podcast on the topic

And you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to make the most out of homework (or lack thereof) this summer.

You can click one of the links below to jump to one of the sections of the guide:

How much is too much summer homework? How to tackle summer reading (The Amazon Method) How to handle math packets and workbooks Creative ways to make Summer Learning fun

Or jump right in with the video below.

How much is too much? What the research says…

When kids do nothing at all in math and reading, the research shows that they can lose two to three months of learning progress over the summer.

Just think: That’s almost as if they decided to end the school year in March!

And if left alone, those losses accumulate over time with respect to their peers.

A 2007 study out of John’s Hopkins University showed that while students (on average) make similar gains in reading comprehension throughout the year, students without access to learning opportunities make no progress over the summer, while students with access outpace them year after year.

Ultimately, by the time they reach 5th grade, disadvantaged students are the equivalent of 3 full grade levels behind their advantaged peers in reading ability!

But, this trend need not apply to your son or daughter…

Because studies also show that kids who read just four books over the summer are able to almost completely eliminate that summer learning slide.

So here’s my take:

If your son or daughter is being required to…

• Read three books, probably classics that they really don’t want to read
• Write multiple essays
• And complete stacks of math assignments

… that’s probably a bit overboard.

Yes, we want kids to keep their minds sharp, but not at the expense of having fun over the summer.

So my recommendation is to create a balance. Get your summer assignments done, but try to structure it in a way that makes learning fun.

Here’s how to do it…

Required vs. Recommended Summer Homework

First off, we can break down summer homework assignments in terms of required vs. recommended .

Most schools send out a recommended reading list, and sometimes subject review packets to their students to complete over the summer.

And some actually require that their students complete a certain amount of those assignments over the summer, which are included in their grade for the upcoming school year.

Now, it does make sense to prioritize required assignments over recommended assignments… especially if your school went overboard with what they handed out.

But as long as it’s not too much material, regardless of whether reading is assigned or not, I recommend working with your child to map out a plan of attack for the summer to get it done (on their terms – see below).

How to tackle summer reading (The Amazon Method)

By far, the most popular category of summer homework assigned are reading lists.

And although most schools have a recommended reading list, they tend to be very broad ( umm, should my 8-year-old really be reading MacBeth right now? )…

Specific reading requirements

Sometimes though, there are specific books that your student needs to read over the summer (see the “required” section above), especially high school students, and you’ll need to work with them to figure out a plan of attack.

Block off some time at the beginning of summer (don’t let it wait until July!) to sit down and ask them:

“You have these 3 books you have to read this summer. How would you like to tackle these?”

And then let them answer. Help them formulate a (realistic) plan with their input, and they’ll but much more likely to follow it… and not end up in the last-minute reading rush on August 30th trying to get their summer reading done!

Flexible reading requirements

But on the other hand, if you do have some flexibility in terms of what your student is assigned to read over the summer, what I like to do is create a reading list tailored specifically towards the age or interests of your student.

And one of the best ways to do this is: Amazon!

Step 1: Go to Amazon.com and type in “Books for… [insert description of your child]”

For example, if I had a 7th grader at home I would search: “Books for middle school”

Or if I was looking for something more girl-oriented for my daughter I would search: “Books for middle school girls”

It’s amazing what books will pop up on the top of the list for kids…

Step 2: Review the list and make sure that the results are relevant (sometimes they require a little tweaking), and pay attention to the options on the sidebar where you can filter by subject, age rage, etc.

Then run them by your child and ask: “Which one of these do you want to read this summer?”

Look over the summaries and let them pick the books they want to read.

Word of caution: It’s not your responsibility as a parent to pass judgment and say:

“You know what honey, this year you’re not reading a graphic novel. You can only read books with words, no pictures.

We don’t want to do that as parents. We really want to let our kids decide, because when they’re invested, they’re much more likely to meet that four book goal over the summer.

Step 3: Either order online or head out to the library…

Make sure to do this before July 4th so the summer doesn’t get away from you, and use your list of books that you picked out.

Then, when you get your books back home…

Step 4: Sit down with them and make a plan.

Don’t assume your child will gleefully run up to his room and begin flipping the pages. They’re much more likely to read consistently if you have “READING TIME” marked off on the calendar at a consistent time each day.

You can even make it a family routine! Having everyone in the house reading at the same time will help encourage your child to get their reading done, especially if they’re reluctant or easily distracted.

Now, many kids are reluctant readers and may need a parent to help them get started… And you need to be willing to make the time to lend a hand.

This can be in the form of “you read a page, he reads a page” or for a really reluctant reader, “you read two pages and he reads one,” until he’s into the story.

Make this a habit, and before long you’ll have a bookworm on your hands!

How to handle math packets and workbooks

The same principles hold true for other assigned work as well.

Don’t assume your child will be chipping away at those math packets one day at a time (and the thicker they are, the more daunting they’ll seem).

Truth be told: we get lots of calls from parents mid-August, panicked that their kid hasn’t read and annotated a three-hundred-page book and completed a bunch of review worksheets – even though the parent has reminded him at least ten times!

This situation isn’t unique.

The value to any summer learning is doing a little bit at a time over a long stretch. The brain retains information best in bit sized chunks, not by cramming.

And this is even more important for math because it’s a subject that continually builds on itself. So if you miss something early on, you’re probably going to have to back-track when you run into that same concept again in the future.

So just like with reading assignments, if your son or daughter are assigned a math packet (or any other type of subject packet) over the summer, make sure to site down and set the plan early.

Aside from your typical reading lists and workbooks though, you can also encourage learning in other (more fun!) ways this summer…

Creative ways to make Summer Learning fun

Below is a recent interview I did with WTOP’s Every Day is Kid’s Day podcast (interview starts at 0:53) on how to bring a fresh perspective to summer learning, and make things more fun and interesting for your son or daughter this year.

Give it a listen for some more tips on:

• Using the Amazon Method to make summer reading more fun
• Alternatives to summer workbooks that are actually fun and effective
• Whether you should spend the time to try and “preview” material they’re going to see in the coming year
• And a whole bunch of other useful ideas for staying engaged over the summer

Here are some of those great ways to get your child into learning, outside of school recommended assignments:

For writing: use a dialogue journal.

One of the best ways to get your child comfortable with writing on a regular basis is to make a game out of it.

So try designating a “special” notebook or journal that lives in your kid’s room that you can use to communicate with them through writing.

Then, simply leave them a note each day, that they read and respond to.

Maybe you say something like, “I noticed how you helped your brother pick up those puzzle pieces. What a nice idea. How did you know he needed your help?”

Leave the journal on his bed and allow him to write back that evening. The next day, you respond.

And be sure not to fix grammar or spelling, just let these be a carefree way to practice writing and even illustrations.

At the end of the summer, not only will they have improved their writing skills, but you’ll also have an amazing keepsake to look back on for years to come.

For reading: listen to audiobooks!

Don’t forget that audio books can be very helpful for developing comprehension and fluency.

Studies show that when kids want to read a book just above their level and listen to the book while following along with the lines, they improve their skills more than if they read independently.

So using a site like Audible.com or going to your local library website to download audio versions of the books your son or daughter has picked out (or has assigned) for the summer isn’t cheating, it’s just another way to “open the door” to getting them involved in reading.

Plus, it’s great for long summer road trips!

For math: play (math) games on the iPad.

For most of us, it’s a constant battle to keep our kids AWAY from the devices over the summer… but it need not be either or.

One of the best ways to “bridge the gap” is to give your child the opportunity to use educational apps or websites on their phone or iPad that will keep them learning, without feeling like math always has to involve drudgery.

Multiplication.com is great site for staying sharp on math facts. And pretty much every elementary schooler needs to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division over the summer to stay sharp.

Funbrain.com is also perfect for allowing a little screen time in-between reading or homework sessions, while still learning at the same time.

For learning that’s fun: find local adventures!

Yes, you could have your kids spend their summer doing workbooks and refresher material, and that would probably help them stay sharp… but most kids find that to be a drag on their motivation to learn.

Instead, find a local museum or science center and take field trip!

Use the outing to ask your kids to guide the learning session and pick out what they want to explore… and then tell you about it.

And then watch in amazement at how excited they are, not even realizing that they’re “learning,” but just enjoying the moment and experiencing something new.

Summer camps are great for this too, so do some Googling and find out what’s going on in your area.

Now let’s hear from you..

How have you handled the balance between required summer schoolwork and fun?

What have you done that’s helpful in your family to keep summer learning alive without going overboard?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Subscriber Only Resources

Access this article and hundreds more like it with a subscription to The New York TImes Upfront  magazine.

LESSON PLAN

Should schools give summer homework.

Analyzing Authors’ Claims

Read the Article

YES: Harris Cooper, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University NO: Nancy Kalish, co-author, The Case Against Homework

Analyze the debate.

1. Set Focus Frame the inquiry with this essential question: What factors should officials take into consideration when creating curriculum?

2. R ead and Discuss Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether schools should assign homework to students over the summer break.  The issue is timely because disruptions to education stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in significant learning loss for many students.)
• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Harris Cooper is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University. Nancy Kalish is the co-author of a book that argues against assigning homework.)  
• Analyze Cooper’s view. (Cooper argues in favor of schools assigning summer homework. He says that a long summer vacation without schoolwork leads to forgetting and results in teachers having to waste time reviewing old material in the fall. He says summer homework can minimize these negative results the way summer school has been proven to.)
• Analyze Kalish’s view. (Kalish argues against assigning homework over the summer. She says that doing so might result in more harm than good, such as by stealing time away from play and other forms of learning, reducing time spent on being physically active, and turning reading into a chore. She says students should start the year refreshed.)

Extend & Assess

4. Writing Prompt In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate Should schools give summer homework? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate. 

6. Vote Go online to vote in Upfront ’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.  

Download a PDF of this Lesson Plan

The Mayfield Crier

Summer Homework: Too much, too little, or just right?

Mia Maalouf , Opinion Co-Editor-In-Chief | September 14, 2020

Karissa Ho '21

Senior Karissa Ho’s desk space featuring a double monitor and an inspirational reminder to “Just Breathe.”

Summer homework: vacation busywork or imperative educational upkeep? Mayfield girls decide! Both teachers and students struggle to find that balance of summer homework that isn’t too overwhelming but also allows scholars to retain skills and to be well-prepared for the school year. However, sometimes this equilibrium is not reached and it becomes difficult to distinguish between summer and the regular school year. 

On one hand, summer work is beneficial as it allows students to keep their minds sharp and equipped. The amount of summer homework can also be associated with the difficulty of a specific course, as APs and honors classes will require more preparation to ensure success during the year. On the other hand, summer is supposed to be a break from constant school work and dedicating hours to assignments every month may not allow students to get the rest that they deserve. When is it necessary to draw the line? 

A survey at Mayfield Senior School was conducted to analyze the attitudes of under and upperclassmen concerning summer homework. There were a total of 141 participants, resulting in a variety of responses. Some students believed that the amount of work is justified while others feel overburdened and criticized the workload. On average, the participants of the survey had a moderate to slightly heavy class schedule for the coming school year and spent 4-9 hours a month on their summer assignments. Underclassmen who had lighter workloads spent less time on their summer homework while upperclassmen with heavier workloads spent an average of 15-20 hours a month on their assignments. 68% of the participants agreed that summer homework is useful as it prepares a student for the school year. The participants were almost evenly split on the issue of changing the workload with 49% of students suggesting that the amount of summer work should be maintained (they were neutral) while 48% believed that the amount of work should decrease. Why are some in favor of summer work while others strongly oppose it? 

“Summer assignments definitely help me see what Mayfield’s homework will look like and it’s also a really good refresher to have before the school year begins,” said Kayley Bao ‘24, an incoming freshman who highlights a popular belief among her fellow classmates. 

Some upperclassmen also appreciate the benefits of summer work as it is a widespread perspective that summer homework allows students to hone skills. Kerry Zhang ‘22 observed that, “ The amount of summer work is just right and it is beneficial because the math problems help me remember previously learned concepts.” 

Students are also self-aware and understand that the amount of homework among peers changes drastically due to the kinds of classes one chooses. Mia Pippert ‘21 believes that the summer homework, “Is a reasonable amount, for my classes at least. I think if it were any less, the beginning of the year would be difficult because my work stamina would be way too bad.”

On the opposing side, the addition of summer assignments during a time designated for relaxation can seem both daunting and unnecessary, especially to students who have a variety of extracurricular activities, elective summer courses, or college preparations to focus on.  

“ It should be taken into account that we have work from multiple other classes as well as wanting to enjoy our summer and have free time” said Elise Sigler ‘22 who believes that teachers can do a better job at balancing the amount of work given.  

Rising seniors expressed concern about not having enough time to focus on the college application process. “ This year, I am drowning in summer homework,” said Emma Anderson ‘21. 

“Especially as an incoming senior, I feel like I should be spending more time on my college applications and ACT/SAT prep rather than stressing about my summer homework,” said Anderson.  

Kathryn Parry ‘21 agrees with this sentiment, “We need more of a break before the homework is given. Honestly homework-wise there is no distinguishable boundary between school and summer.”

Overall, as Mayfield students get older, their summer workload increases which makes it more difficult for them to focus on various activities or responsibilities that also need an immense amount of attention. It is imperative for teachers and students to communicate in order to draft a balanced plan for summer work that both prepares the students for success during the year but also allows the girls to live out the definition of summer vacation: a time of relaxation that works to ensure that students do not burn out before September. A healthy portion of summer assignments will allow Mayfield students to maintain previously acquired skills and will help them reach their full potential.

• coronavirus
• Mayfield Senior School
• summerhomework

Mia Maalouf is a senior at Mayfield Senior School. She will serve as opinion Co-Editor-In-Chief this year on the Mayfield Crier. At Mayfield, she is the...

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new techniques for tackling homework

• Why Summer Homework is Vital to Students’ Success?

In the US and Canada, one of the special programs in schools is referred to as Advanced Placement (AP). The program was created to develop modalities for college-level education curricula and high school testing. What does this mean? It is a great way for students to prepare for college. But many have been asking the questions: “Is summer homework really important?” and “Is summer homework legal?” The answer is, “yes.” In this post, we will take a deeper look at summer homework, demonstrate its importance, and tell you why training during the holiday is important.

During holidays, especially during the summer vacation, most students want to enjoy the lovely outdoor environment. Therefore, they consider any additional engagement, such as summer assignments for students, a serious distraction. But you can still complete the assignment by seeking writing help. Our writing company comprises of professionals with years of academic writing and can help you write any type of assignment, essay, lab report, coursework, or thesis on your request.

What is the importance of summer homework?

Today, the importance of summer vacation for students is very clear. After a lengthy learning session, the students can take a break from books and be with their families. Also, it is a great time to travel and explore nature. So why do teachers give summer homework? Here are some benefits that you should know:

• Summer homework is a perfect opportunity for students to learn how to work independently.
• The summer homework helps to prevent students from forgetting what they learned.
• Students are able to develop time management and problem-solving skills.
• A great opportunity to review and synthesize what was taught in class.
• Students learn how to set priorities and stay organized.
• Learners can easily identify their weak points and improve on them.
• A great way to get the parents involved more in a student’s education.

Tips for completing summer homework

Now that you know why summer vacation is important, the next question is, “how do you go about it?” Here are some great summer homework ideas that you can use. The first step is creating a schedule. This will give you a clear view of the time to use for vacation and doing homework. For example, you can designate several hours (one or two) every day or a few days of each week during the holiday. When you do your summer homework well, it could help you to get extra course credits. Here are other tips you can use for doing summer homework.

• Start your homework early. The worst thing that you can do with summer homework is procrastination. If you start late, the chances are that you could get stuck when trying to do the homework in a hurry and miss points. Therefore, try to start as early as possible.
• Reward yourself for progress achieved with homework. By rewarding yourself, you will be motivated to complete the assignment and practice various skills. You can reward yourself for various milestones such as completing a chapter of the assignment, collecting the right materials, and formatting the assignment. Good rewards can include your favorite movie or treat in the favorite restaurant.
• Literature.
• Mathematics.
• Use online libraries to access relevant materials.
• If you are far from your school premises where you can physically access the library, consider using online libraries. This will make it easy to read the latest journals and books, among other resources.

Combine summer homework with leisure

You know what? Your summer homework should not be a downer. Think of a unique way of doing homework. What about making it part of the holiday? If you have biology or geography summer homework, why not consider working on it when on holiday in a Miami hotel? After enjoying some great time with friends and dining with family, take two hours to do the assignment. So what do you need to achieve this?

• Use your tablet or laptop to access different materials that you need to do the homework online.
• If you are in a holiday hotel, relax in your room as you do your homework.
• If your summer holiday is outdoors, such as a campsite, look for a quiet point to do the homework.
• If you have a friend nearby, consider inviting him/her and do the homework together on your holiday destination.
• Ask one of the family members to join you when doing the homework. Because your dad did the same type of assignments, he could come in handy to help you solve some problems.

Summer homework made simpler

Should students have summer homework? Should schools give summer homework? The answer is, absolutely yes. The assignment experts may help students to start seeing their courses as part of career progression. This means that learning becomes part of you so that you will no longer have to worry about forgetting. For example, if you aspire becoming an engineer, calculus ceases being a tough subject but a crucial component that you strive to achieve to reach the ultimate goal. This implies that summer homework and other assignments can be simple and fun.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what can i do for fun the summer before starting college.

So next summer will be the summer before my freshman year of college, and I'm going to have a lot of free time. I'm wondering if anyone has any fun ideas for things to do to make the most of this time?

It's great you are already thinking ahead. This is such a great opportunity to both relax and prepare for your upcoming college life! Here are a few suggestions:

1. Explore a new hobby or interest: You can take up a new hobby or volunteer in an area that interests you. It can be something related to your intended major or something entirely different, like learning a musical instrument, painting, gardening, cooking, coding, or even something adventurous like hiking, photography, or swimming!

2. Read: It may sound old school, but reading for leisure is one of the best ways to pass the time, broaden your horizons, and reduce stress. You could explore various genres, from historical fiction to fantasy, biographies, science fiction, or even academic-related books to give you a head start on your college courses.

3. Plan your college life: Spend time researching your college, its culture, clubs, traditions, and surroundings. This will help lessen any feelings of uncertainty or worry about what's to come.

4. Start a personal project: This could be starting a blog or YouTube channel, a small business, a community initiative, or any other kind of project you're passionate about. This will not only keep you busy, but will also help you gain new skills and experiences that might be valuable in college.

5. Connect with future college mates: Many colleges have Facebook groups or other social media platforms where incoming students can connect. These can be great resources to make friends, find roommates, and learn more about your future school from people who are experiencing the same transition as you.

6. Travel: If it's within your means, travel, whether that be a road trip across your state or a trip abroad. Traveling can widen your perspective and is a great way to learn about different cultures and people.

7. Rest and Relax: At the end of the day, it's also important to rest and re-energize before college begins. So, don't forget to carve out time for just relaxing, watching movies, hanging out with friends and family, or simply doing nothing.

Remember, it's your summer, so go for whatever you think will make it enjoyable and fruitful for you. Happy summer!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Summer Activities for Students: 11 Ways to Improve Skills and Productivity

Katie June 3, 2024 career and internships , college tips , good habits

By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.

Most students have seven summers to prepare for life after college. And as you know, these 10-week summer breaks go by quickly.

Where do I get the number seven? There are three summer vacations between grades nine and 12 and four summer vacations between grade 12 and college graduation. 3+4=7.

While summer breaks are certainly a time to lower the academic intensity and enjoy what life has to offer outside the classroom (so much!), these 10 weeks are also the perfect time to develop some life-long skills. Yes, I’m aware of how cheesy that sounds, but I’m so serious.

In this blog post, I’m sharing a list of summer activities for students — specifically 11 ways to improve your skills and productivity — which will make you a better student. My goal is that you’ll consider the ideas and implement at least three or four of them into your summer plan. The payoff will be huge: trust me.

11 Summer Activities for Students That Will Improve Skills and Productivity

The ideas below will not only make you a better student, but they will eventually make you a better professional. Why? Skills. Each of the ideas below builds at least one core skill that will never expire. In other words, develop the skill over the summer and you’ll have it forever.

1. Stick to a Schedule .

Time can feel weird (slow? fast? both?) over summer break. And while the slower pace is enjoyable (and sometimes necessary), it’s never a good idea to abandon time management altogether.

Sticking to some kind of schedule over the summer can give your days structure and can prevent you from wasting time and regretting that you didn’t use it better.

Here are a few ideas to help you create and stick to a schedule:

• Use a calendar. Here’s my complete tutorial about how to use a calendar over the summer (and why you need to be doing that)
• Wake up at the same time most days, even if you have nowhere to be.
• If you have a summer job, track your time and hours in a calendar.
• Plan at least one key event every day. A key event can be anything from running errands, meeting a friend, working on a project, cleaning your room, etc. A key event is something specific that you say you will do each day – and you do it.

How time management makes you a better student: 

Practicing basic time management over the summer improves your ability to manage time during the school year. It helps you build the habit of thinking about time, using your calendar, and making time visible.

I understand that not everyone likes to read. You might hate it. But this is one of those things that you do anyway because the benefit is undeniable.

Reading not only makes you better at reading, which is obviously a core school skill, but it also makes you better at thinking, writing and processing information.

If you’re a non-reader, the trick is to find a book that is relevant. Relevance is the magic ingredient when we’re trying to get ourselves to do something that we normally don’t enjoy doing. Interested in business? Read Josh Kaufman’s The Personal MBA. Interested in finance? Read Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money or Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. If you’re into self-help books, I recommend Brianna Wiest’s 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think.

How reading makes you a better student:

I said this already, but it’s worth repeating: Reading makes us better at thinking, writing and processing information . If I were to name the top three skills required for learning, it would be those three.  

3. Get a Job.

Working over the summer can absolutely make you a better student. Whether you get a job in retail, at an ice cream shop, or in a laboratory, jobs of all kinds will help you in the long run.

There are so many benefits to having a summer job – beyond earning money. Jobs are excellent resume-builders, they provide opportunities to meet and network with people, and they develop a wide variety of skills. Speaking of resumes, here are 3 ways to boost your resume over the summer .

How having a summer job makes you a better student:

Working over the summer teaches some of the most critical skills you need for school and work: time management, communication, discipline, task initiation, and organization. If you have ADHD, here are 4 tips to make your summer job easier.

4. Volunteer Somewhere.

Volunteering in any capacity, even if it’s just a few days over the summer, is arguably one of the most meaningful experiences you can give yourself. You can volunteer at an elder-care home, youth program, town library, or non-profit organization like the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club. 

Where do you find volunteering opportunities? Google “where can I volunteer in [name of your town]” for ideas, or call your local town hall or library. Another idea is to call a company you would like to volunteer at and simply ask them if they have any community service opportunities.

How volunteering makes you a better student:

Adding volunteer experience to your student resume enhances your school or job application and makes it stand out from other applicants who don’t have volunteering experience. And beyond the resume, volunteering teaches you many of the same life skills as having a paying job does: time management, communication, discipline, task initiation, and organization.

5. Exercise.

Unless you are physically incapable of exercising, you need to be exercising regularly – not only over the summer but year-round. We’ve got to get past the “but it’s hard and I don’t like it” rhetoric, because that’s not really relevant when it comes to taking care of our bodies. (Can you tell I’m passionate about this?)

I’m not arguing that we all need to pay for gym memberships or run road races, but every physically capable body should be engaging in some kind of semi-robust physical movement on most days of the week. 

How exercise makes you a better student:

The science behind the cognitive benefits of exercise is massive. Exercise increases focus, cognitive performance, memory, mood, and emotional regulation. It also keeps your physical body healthy. And without physical or mental health, learning can’t happen.

Exercise also teaches discipline, which is a driving factor behind academic success.

6. Get Organized.

The summer is the perfect time to get organized and tackle some of the disorganized areas that are holding you back. Here are some ideas for how to get organized over the summer:

• Start with organizing these 4 critical areas before school starts
• Clean up your digital storage space (Google Drive, OneDrive, your downloads folder, your desktop, etc.)
• Clean and clear your workspace
• Declutter your school supplies
• Go through your school papers and declutter/organize them according to these tips
• Clear out your email inbox
• Clean your car
• Clean your room
• Clear and declutter your clothes

How getting organized makes you a better student:

When you’re disorganized in school, these 5 things become SO much harder than they need to be . On the other hand, when you’re organized in terms of your time, materials and tasks, you can focus on your most important job, which is learning. 

7. Master task management.

Task management refers to the system we use to keep track of all the things we need to do – whether those are assignments or things we want to do for ourselves.

During the school year, task management essentially involves using some kind of planner or app to track your homework assignments and academic tasks. Unless you’re taking a summer course, your tasks over the summer won’t be academic in nature, but they still need to be managed.

In one of my most popular episodes on my Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I teach students and professionals how to create the ultimate task management system. You can listen to that episode below.

The summer can be a great time to improve your task management skills by getting in the habit of creating some kind of intentional plan for each day. This is related to tip number one because I’m suggesting that you don’t just live out your summer days by the seat of your pants.

If you’re new to task management, you can start by writing out a simple to-do list each morning. On this list, you would write five things you want to accomplish that day.

If you’re not totally new to task management, and you want to take your task management skills up a level, the summer can be a great time to experiment with different kinds of planners and task management systems. I like this simple one here and this one here.

Task management is a habit. And like other habits, we build it by doing it on the days we don’t need to. In other words, even if there’s a day you have nothing going on, take out your piece of paper and write a to-do list. Building habits happens when we do things on the days we don’t need to.

How task management makes you a better student:

The most fundamental characteristic of a student is completing assignments on time. If you complete your assignments on time, you’re halfway to victory. Getting good at managing your tasks over the summer will make you better at managing them during the school year, which in the end will lower your stress and tendencies to procrastinate.

8. Take a Class.

The most obvious thing to do over the summer that will make you a better student is to take a class. Why? Because doing something is the best way to get better at it. So if you want to get better at school, do more school.

I’m not suggesting students take molecular biology over the summer – not at all. A summer course in knitting or marketing or personal finance is just as important to building your résumé and your skills as any academic class. ( Here are 4 tips for taking intensive summer courses .)

Speaking of skills, the most valuable course you could ever take as a student is SchoolHabits University . That’s a big claim, but sSchoolHabits University is the only course of its kind that teaches students how to learn.

How taking a class makes you better a better student:

Taking a summer course makes you a better student because it provides you the opportunity to practice the skills you need for school. Specifically, SchoolHabits University teaches you the exact skills that you need for school and work, including task management, time management, note-taking, annotating, study strategies and organization.

9. Figure Out What You Want.

I debated putting this on the list because it’s a big one, and it’s not something that can be done in a day or even in a 10-week summer break.

At some point in high school (or college at the latest), students need to do some thinking about what they want for the future.

You don’t need to have it all figured out, and decisions aren’t permanent, but considering your life is the most important thing you have and time is your most valuable resource, I argue we should spend some significant time thinking about what we want to do.

If you’re in high school, it’s time to start thinking about what you do and don’t want to study. When I coach my students on this process, I almost always have them start by identifying what they think they don’t want. This is often easier than answering the question what do you want to do with your life ?

 If you’re headed to college, you might start thinking about what programs you’re interested in, where you want to study and what majors you want to explore – and then start talking to people who might be able to give you more information.

If you’re in college, then you’re likely already Involved in a program of study, so the questions you need to ask yourself or more around employment. What are you going to do after college? What do you want to do after college? Who can you talk to to get some clarity? The sooner you figure out some answers to these questions, the sooner you can spend your summer break making choices that lead you in the right direction, such as internships and employment opportunities.

How figuring out what you want makes you better a better student:

When you take the time to figure out what you want or don’t want for the next phase of your life, you can start making decisions that will take you in the direction you want to go. And when you make decisions that are aligned with your future goals, you’ll be more motivated because those actions are relevant.

(The more relevant something is, the more motivation we feel to do it.)

10. Do Your Summer Work.

Many students have summer assignments, whether for AP courses or for a general summer reading program. I understand how these things are easy to put off, or in the case of summer reading, to ignore altogether. But if you’re serious about becoming a better student, you wouldn’t do that.

Doing the summer work that’s expected of you is literally the least you can do if you have any goals whatsoever. ( Here are 3 tips for getting your AP work done over the summer .)

You might not like your summer reading, you might prefer to do something else , and you may have gotten away with avoiding it in the past. But if your goal is to make a change and not waste your time, then do the work.

Summer assignments only become stressful if you wait until the last minute, so if you combine some of the tips from this list (create a task management system and manage your time in the calendar), you’ll have plenty of time to get your summer assignments done by early August without any stress. Here are 12 summer reading tips for high school and college students .

How doing your summer work makes you better a better student:

When my students resist their summary assignments, I usually remind them that the assignment itself is not the point. In fact, I often agree that some assignments can be kind of lame. But again, that’s not the point. The entire point of assignments is to give you the opportunity to practice doing something when you don’t want to do it. And the better we get at doing things when we don’t feel like doing them, the easier school becomes. We learn to ignore the resistance and do the thing anyway.

Also, doing your summer work makes you a better student because you’ll be starting off the school year not behind in your work . This benefit is so obvious that I almost didn’t include it here.

11. Do Something Different.

We grow as people (and students) when we experience new situations where we have to respond to new stimuli. Novelty is literally the perfect environment for growth.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot to reap the benefits of novelty. You don’t have to travel across the world or learn a new language to trigger your growth. Even just small daily interactions and moments that you haven’t encountered before are enough to expand your thinking patterns and skills.

Here are some ideas that could count as doing something different:

• Hang out with a group of people you don’t normally hang out with
• Say yes to opportunities and invitations that you’d usually say no to
• Do your summer reading or AP work in a public library a few towns over
• Try a new place for lunch
• Ask a parent if you can go to work with them for a day
• Get on a train and go somewhere for the day that you haven’t been to
• Read a book from a genre you usually avoid
• Rearrange your room

How doing something different makes you a better a better student:

The most successful students are those who take calculated academic risks. They challenge themselves with harder courses, they sign up for new and unfamiliar activities, and they say yes to opportunities just for the benefit of seeing what it’s like. The more comfortable you are with “the unknown,” the easier time you’ll have when things don’t go your way. If you get used to trying new things in the low-stakes environment of summer break, you’ll be more likely to take positive risks as a student, rather than stay complacent in your comfort zone.

More Resources for Students Who Want to Do Something Productive with Their Summer

• 5 summer reading tips for students (video)
• How to make a summer reading schedule (tutorial with free download)
• Are summer courses even worth it?
• Enroll in SchoolHabits University , my comprehensive online course teaching students how to study smarter, manage their time, and get organized so they can perform like a top student.

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Why Has My First-Year College Student Been Assigned Summer Reading?

Your soon-to-be college student may have received her first homework assignment well before she showed up on campus.  For many incoming freshman, their first assignment is a bit of summer reading. Your student may be asked to read an assigned book prior to Orientation , or she may be given the assignment at a Summer Orientation and asked to read the book before school begins in September.  At some schools students are given a copy of the book, while at other schools students are asked to purchase their own copy.

If your student was not expecting a summer assignment, he may be surprised — and even annoyed at having to do work over the summer.  As a parent, you may also be wondering why your student needs to get this ”head start” before the first semester even begins.  Colleges have many different reasons for assigning summer reading and different approaches for dealing with the book once the students arrive on campus.

Many summer reading programs for incoming freshmen have come about as an outgrowth of the One Book One Community program which was first piloted in Seattle in 1998.  One Book One Community programs suggest that an entire town or community read a particular book and then schedule events around the book and/or the theme.  Often the author of the book will make an appearance and speak or read.  The idea behind the One Book One Community programs is to foster a love of reading, but also to foster a greater sense of community through the shared experiences surrounding the book.

Many colleges adopt summer reading programs for the same two reasons that made One Book One Community programs popular.  By assigning a shared reading experience for all incoming students, the college may hope to foster a greater sense of community as well as to set an appropriate ”academic” tone for the beginning of the school year.  When students arrive on campus — either for Orientation or for September classes — students will have a common experience around which they might begin conversations.  Students may even find that there are on-line discussions over the summer.

Different schools may choose the summer reading book in different ways.  Sometimes the choice may be made by the librarians, by faculty members, by first-year committees, by student activities personnel, or even by a committee of students.  Most often the choice of book will be something topical and current, rather than a classic.  However, there are no true rules or generalizations.

Colleges differ in how they handle the common reading once students arrive on campus.  At some schools the book may be the basis of discussion in one course or several courses.  The author may be invited to campus.  There may be related events or book club type gatherings.  Students may discuss shared ideas or values presented in the book.  Students may learn critical reading skills by hearing what others have to say about the same book.  Faculty and students may find common topics to discuss because they have read the same book.

Assigned summer reading for incoming students is increasing in popularity.  One source of national educational statistics has suggested that over 200 colleges may now require summer reading.  The program may not always be popular with students.  Some students have suggested that it may create a sense of community because students have something in common to complain about!

As a parent, you can encourage your student to do his summer reading assignment.  Try to help him understand the possible benefits of a shared reading experience.  Remind him that he will want to start his college career off on a good foot by arriving with his homework done.  There may be specific assignments based on the book, but even if there aren’t, he will not want to feel left out of some of the first discussions and/or events that may be based around the book.

As a parent, you may want to borrow your student’s copy of her summer reading and read it yourself.  It may give you both something to talk about, and you’ll have a better sense of your student’s first experiences on campus.  You and your student can enjoy some beach reading — and some good conversation — as you both prepare for the college experience.

Related Posts:

Why Summer Orientation Is Important for Your College Freshman

Summer Preparations for Your College Student’s Transition to Freshman Year

Should My College Student Consider a Learning Community

First Year Seminar: Your College Student’s First Step Into College

Why College Parents Might Be Interested in Student Engagement

College Parents Can Help Freshmen Understand the Differences Between High School and College

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How to Squeeze the Most Out of Summer Homework

We know it takes the adolescent brain a few weeks or more to get back up to speed after the long summer break. Many teachers, particularly in the high school grades, try to reduce their students’ brain power regression by trying to keep them busy over the vacation. How can summer homework, particularly reading, benefit students without seeming like a chore? The answer is complex, and it partly depends on how helpful you feel about homework in the first place.

Tips to Make Summer Homework Worthwhile

Just like classroom and home learning during the school year, if summer homework tasks are inauthentic (e.g., busy work), they will serve little to no purpose. But, the brain drain of the summer months is real. So, how do we ensure that our students are firing on all cylinders when they walk through our doors in the fall? Here are some things to keep in mind when assigning summer homework.

1. Make Sure the Tasks Count for Something

Nothing will generate ill will amongst students faster than telling them their summer work was all for naught, but you wouldn’t believe how many teachers forget their students even had anything assigned over the summer break.

Students have read your books or have done your homework in good faith. The summer homework needs to be included or even dominate your first unit of the new school year. Otherwise, you might have some trust issues to address.

2. Make Summer Work Tasks Authentic

Students, especially older ones, can quickly sniff out busy work; they are less likely to give their best effort when they sense it.

If it’s something you wouldn’t assign during class—but might give to a substitute if you’re out—don’t assign it over the summer break. The goal is to prepare students for their upcoming studies just as much as it is to keep them from forgetting what they learned in the previous school year. Find a mix of the new with the old, and make it as engaging as possible.

3. Allow Some Summer Homework to Be Self-Guided

It’s no secret that the more input the student has in the task, the more engaging the lesson becomes. Because you’re not necessarily worried about mastery of new material and aren’t focusing on academic standards, there’s no harm in letting the students choose from a list of possible projects or books to read. Try assigning a “ Passion Project ”, where students choose a topic of personal interest and create a project or presentation around it.

4. Utilize the Ultimate Flipped Learning Opportunity

Perhaps you’re a flipped learning veteran or may still be just dabbling. Either way, summer break is the perfect opportunity to assign some lesson videos from your own library or an online resource.

Have students watch some TED Talks or lectures from Coursera or instructional videos from Khan Academy . They might not come in with complete mastery of the assigned topics, but they will be much better prepared to begin learning the material than if they were just doing worksheets from last school year’s work.

5. Celebrate Achievements and Milestones

If you have the resources, include a voluntary option for students to track their achievements and milestones online. Doing so can help students stay accountable in completing assignments while giving teachers the opportunity to motivate their students to continue their learning journey. You can experiment with virtual awards ceremonies, certificates of achievement, or personalized feedback messages. Consider acknowledging everyone again in person at the beginning of the school year to include those who were unable to participate online.

6. Encourage Peer Collaboration and Support

Another option to consider is incorporating group projects, peer review activities, and collaborative discussions into summer homework assignments to encourage students to actively engage with course content and develop essential teamwork and communication skills. Peer collaboration also fosters a sense of camaraderie and accountability among students, as they work together to achieve common goals and support each other's learning journey. For example, try facilitating peer review sessions where students provide feedback and support to their peers on their homework assignments. Students can exchange drafts of their essays or presentations and provide constructive feedback on areas for improvement. Suggest using free online platforms like Google Docs or Padlet for peer collaboration.

Looking for other fun ideas to encourage learning over summer break? Check out Edmentum’s free 30-Day Summer Challenge . Our flyer includes creative ideas designed to keep students engaged in their learning. With 30 days’ worth of fun activities, facts, and resources, learners are bound to learn something new each day and make the most out of summer break.

This post was originally published in June 2013 and has been updated.

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Should Schools Give Summer Homework?

For most students, the school year is winding down. Many kids are looking forward to a couple of months off to swim, take family trips, or hang out at amusement parks. But some kids will need to take a break from the beach to do homework. At many schools across the country, the assignments don’t end when the school year does.  

Some educators who assign homework over the break say it helps kids practice the skills they learned all year so they don’t forget them over the summer. That way teachers won’t have to take time in the new school year to reteach lessons from the prior year. 

But others argue that kids deserve a break after working hard all year. Many families travel in the summer, and parents say it can be hard for kids to do homework while they are away. Plus, they point out, homework isn’t the only way to squeeze in summer learning. Kids can visit museums and historical sites during their time off. 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Doing homework over the summer helps kids continue to learn between school years. It can also help students feel more confident as they enter the next grade. They’ll be prepared and have the skills they need to understand assignments. 

Homework could be a better solution than summer school too. I went to summer school after first grade and thought it went too fast. I would have learned more by doing assignments over the course of the entire summer.

Over summer break, kids deserve time to just have fun with their families and friends. It is important for us to have downtime and relax so we’re refreshed when the new school year starts.

There are so many things I get to do over the summer because I don’t have to worry about homework. I go to camp, which gives me the opportunity to make new friends. I also go on trips with my family. If I had to find time to do homework, my summer would be stressful.

Should schools give summer homework?

¿Deberían las escuelas dar tareas de verano?

Para la mayoría de los estudiantes, el curso escolar llega a su fin. Muchos niños están deseando disfrutar de un par de meses de vacaciones para nadar, hacer viajes en familia o ir a parques de atracciones. Pero algunos tendrán que tomarse un descanso de la playa para hacer tareas escolares. En muchas escuelas del país, las tareas no terminan cuando termina el año escolar. 

Algunos educadores que asignan tareas durante las vacaciones dicen que sirve para que los niños practiquen las habilidades que han aprendido durante todo el año y no las olviden en verano. De este modo, los maestros no tendrán que dedicar tiempo en el nuevo curso a volver a enseñar las lecciones del año anterior.

Pero otros argumentan que los niños merecen un descanso tras trabajar duro todo el año.

Muchas familias viajan en verano, y los padres dicen que puede ser difícil para los niños hacer las tareas cuando salen. Además, señalan que las tareas no son la única forma de dedicar tiempo al aprendizaje en verano. Los niños pueden visitar museos y lugares históricos en su tiempo libre. 

Esto es lo que piensan dos de nuestros lectores:

Hacer tareas escolares en verano sirve para que los niños sigan con su aprendizaje de un año a otro. También da más seguridad a los alumnos al pasar de grado. Estarán preparados y tendrán las habilidades que necesitan para entender las tareas. 

Las tareas escolares también serían una mejor opción que la escuela de verano. Yo fui a la escuela de verano después de primer grado y me pareció que pasó demasiado rápido. Habría aprendido más haciendo las tareas durante todo el verano.

En las vacaciones de verano, los niños se merecen tiempo para divertirse con sus familias y amigos. Es importante que tengamos tiempo libre y nos relajemos para estar renovados al comienzo del nuevo curso escolar. Hay muchísimas cosas que puedo hacer en verano porque no tengo que preocuparme de las tareas escolares. Voy al campamento, lo que me da la oportunidad de hacer nuevos amigos. También voy de viaje con mi familia. Si tuviera que encontrar tiempo para hacer las tareas, mi verano sería estresante.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

Your Guide to Conquering College Coursework

Getting good grades in college can be a lot tougher than in high school. For many students, it requires building new skills and establishing new habits. Learning those skills now—before starting college—will help make your transition as easy and as successful as possible.

Mary Sharp Emerson

The transition from high school to college is a big one. Meeting new friends, living on your own, and creating your own schedule are just some of the new, exciting challenges that await you.   

In the excitement of starting a new life on campus, college coursework can sometimes become a second priority.

However, adjusting to college coursework is often the biggest challenge of all. Even the best students may be surprised at how difficult college courses are. The subject matter is more complex. The workload is larger. And instructors’ standards are higher.

Mastering college-level courses requires a new level of independence, advocacy, engagement, and time management.

You can prepare yourself to succeed before you even get to campus. Identifying the skills you need, and building those skills into established habits, will help make your transition to college academics, and college life, easier, less stressful, and more successful.

Be engaged in your college coursework

College courses require your full attention and active participation.

And the more you engage with your teachers, teaching assistants, and classmates both in and out of the classroom, the easier it will be for you to succeed in that class.

The importance of active listening

Active listening is one of the most critical parts of engaging in a course, according to Gina Neugebauer, assistant director of Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program.

“Professors and teaching assistants can tell if you’re actively listening. They notice if you’re taking notes and making eye contact. They also notice if you’re distracted by your phone or computer,” notes Neugebauer.

Active listening means not checking your social media accounts or texting friends during class.

It also means really giving the instructor and your classmates your full attention.

It sounds easy in theory but it takes practice. It can be tough to not think about all the work you have or your next party. But the more you work on actively listening, the easier it will be to not get distracted and miss important information in class.

Different ways to actively participate

Beyond active listening, there are many ways to participate in a course. And you can tailor your level of engagement to your personality and comfort level.

“It’s all about gauging what you’re comfortable with,” says Neugebauer.

“You may not be the person who raises their hand all the time but you actively respond to online discussion posts, for example. You may not feel comfortable talking in front of hundreds of students in a large lecture hall but you take advantage of TA office hours and email the instructor with questions.”

But don’t be afraid to push yourself if you aren’t someone who usually speaks up in class.

It’s ok to start small. Work on raising your hand in small seminars or discussion sections. As you gain confidence, you’ll find it gets easier to answer questions and share your opinions.

Build independence and advocate for yourself

In college, you are responsible for your own success. You will need to advocate for yourself and know when—and how—to ask for help. That requires a level of independence that you may not have needed in high school.

The good news is that instructors and teaching assistants want to help you.

“Instructors, on the whole, enjoy hearing from you. And they’d rather hear from you right from the start, rather than have you struggle on your own for three weeks,” says Neugebauer.

If you have a question about an assignment, send your instructor an email. Are you upset about a grade you got on a recent test? Visit your instructor or TA during office hours to discuss what went wrong and how you can improve.

But remember, says Neugebauer, professors are busy and you are only one of many students.

“Your email should include your full name, what course you’re taking, and a brief description of your question or concern. And you cannot expect an answer at 2 a.m. because that’s when you’re studying. When you reach out to an instructor, give them 24-48 hours to respond.”

And remember, always be respectful and non-confrontational.

Challenge yourself in a college course. Get a sneak peak at college life.

Explore summer programs for high school students.

Don’t be afraid to seek help

If you have excelled in high school without extra help, you might be tempted to persevere on your own.

In college, Neugebauer points out, asking for help is the norm.

“Once you get into your undergraduate program, you’ll find that almost everyone has, at some point, asked a TA for extra tutoring, gone to a tutoring center, or a writing or math center for extra help. It’s part of the learning process of an undergraduate program,” Neugebauer says.

Colleges have a variety of support systems in place to help you succeed.

TA office hours are a great place to start if you find yourself struggling with a specific concept or assignment. Peer tutoring programs enable you to learn from students who have been through the course themselves. Academic coaches can help with more general study tips or exam-related stress.

The key is seeking out help proactively, before you get too far behind. As the courses become more difficult, catching up becomes increasingly difficult.

Build time management techniques

Balancing everything that comes with life on a college campus can be difficult for many incoming college students.

“The biggest challenge we see facing high school students who are trying to adapt to college life is overcommitment. Students want to engage in every activity, a full course load, and even sometimes a part-time job. They don’t schedule enough time for self-care, quiet time, doing laundry, and plenty of study time. All those things take time,” Neugebauer says.

Good study habits and time management are key to avoiding the stress that comes from getting overcommitted.

Neugebauer recommends getting into the habit of keeping an accurate and up-to-date calendar.

“The best thing I can recommend is a calendar, such as Google Calendar. Use it to schedule everything: your class, your lunch time, time at the gym. It may seem counterintuitive, but work on scheduling literally everything, even sleep.”

Be sure to include assignments, tests, and other deadlines, as well as office hours for your instructors, TAs, and academic coaches.

Use your calendar to block off dedicated study time. And once you schedule it, stick to it! Avoid the temptation to procrastinate or use that time to hang out, play video games, or scroll on your phone.

Your calendar should also include dedicated time for self-care.

Regular mealtimes, good exercise habits, and a full night’s sleep are not only critical for your physical and mental health. You’ll also be surprised at how much they contribute to your academic success.

Challenge yourself as you engage in college coursework

Getting outside your comfort zone is a critical part of preparing yourself for the exciting challenges that await you in college.

“Being uncomfortable allows for growth. It means saying to yourself, ‘this is new. I want to try it. I want to see how it feels.’ This is all about adapting to a new environment but also examining yourself as a person,” says Neugebauer.

Taking on a new challenge—regardless of the ultimate outcome—builds resilience, mental toughness, and confidence, all of which you will need to succeed in your college courses.

But, warns Neugebauer, it’s also important to know your limitations.

“That uncomfortable feeling should be manageable. It should be a challenge but not so challenging that you feel panicked and wake up in cold sweats every night. It should be something that gets you a little nervous but also excited about what you’re involved in every day.”

However you decide to challenge yourself, it’s never too early to start if college is in your future. The sooner you start identifying and mastering the skills you need in college, the better prepared you’ll be to succeed right from day one.

Spend your summer at Harvard!

About the Author

Digital Content Producer

Emerson is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard DCE. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Yale University and started her career as an international affairs analyst. She is an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman triathlons, as well as the Boston Marathon.

8 Reasons Why Harvard Summer School Isn’t a Summer Camp — It’s So Much More!

Learn more about how a summer at Harvard offers so much more than your traditional summer camp experience.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

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How To Finish Summer Homework Assignments: 14 Tips To Save Your Child’s Summer

• July 19, 2018

Many schools assign homework for students to complete before they return to class in September. This results in both parents and students having to learn how to finish summer reading and homework while balancing fun summer activities.

This summer, school is out and homework is in.

If your child has been putting off a pile of summer homework and reading assignments—he or she is not alone.

Reading books and writing assignments during the summer may not sound appealing to many students—or parents. Students can also get UK homework help if they need the some help with completing their assignment! But summer assignments are a great way to combat the effects of Summer Learning Loss and keep your child’s brain active over the break.

The Facts On Summer Learning Loss

Six weeks in the fall are spent re-learning old material Two months of reading skills are lost over the summer One month of overall learning is lost after summer vacation

With the right mindset, goals, and structure, you’ll have no problem finishing summer reading and homework between BBQ’s, ball games, and beach trips.

Follow these 14 steps to learn how to complete summer homework—without sacrificing summer fun.

14 Tips For Finishing Your Summer Homework Assignments

Make a game plan, tip 1: take a (quick) break.

It’s hard to go from a full year of schoolwork to tackling summer homework right off the bat. Let your child take a week off of homework at the start of the summer. This will give his or her brain a chance to relax and reset, and enjoy taking part in fun summer activities like sports.

Tip 2: Review Project Requirements

Don’t have your child dive head-first into his or her homework assignments. Review the expectations of each project with your child and discuss how much time he or she will need to complete them.

It would be a shame to waste time redoing a project because your child didn’t understand it initially. Reviewing all requirements is an important first step to starting off on the right foot.

Tip 3: Break Down Each Project Into A Series of Goals

Think about which assignments will take the longest and what your child will need to complete them during the summer. Break these larger assignments into a series of goals that need to be met to complete the project.

Examples of goals include “read 2 chapters per week” or “write essay introduction by July 15th”.

Set Aside The Right Amount Of Time

Tip 4: plan a weekly summer homework schedule.

This should be similar to a school year homework schedule, but altered for the summer. T he ideal amount of time to spend doing summer homework per week is 2-3 hours , so figure out where that time fits into your child’s average summer week.

Tip 5: Make A List Of Supplies & Resources

Your summer adventures could take you and your child to a wide variety of places. Make sure you both know what to bring with you so your child can tackle homework when not at home.

Examples of supplies include:

• Textbooks or Assigned Novels

Tip 6: Choose Assignment Topics Based On Interest, Not Length

Sometimes students are given options when it comes to topics to research or books to read over the summer. Encourage your child to make these decisions based on the topics that interests him or her most—not which is “easiest”. This will result in your child enjoying his or her work, and allow him to benefit more from it.

Help Your Child Do Work On-The-Go

Tip 7: adjust your homework schedule for trips & vacations.

Exploring new places is an amazing learning experience, so don’t feel like you should sacrifice them for more homework time. Instead, plan your child’s homework schedule around these day trips and vacations.

If you know your child won’t have time to complete work while you’re away on a longer trip, make up those hours in the weeks before and after your trip.

Tip 8: Tackle The Work Your Child Can Do On-The-Go

While writing an essay is a project to save for when you return home, there are assignments that your child can tackle from just about anywhere. Options for homework to do on vacation include projects that are doable in small chunks—like reading a book or completing a math worksheet.

Tip 9: Bring Your Child’s Supplies With You

Remember that supplies list you created? Make sure you pack that backpack and bring it with you on your trip! It’d be a waste to find a spare hour to finish that math assignment, only to realize your child left his or her calculator at home.

Tip 10: Capitalize On The Quiet Times

Even the busiest trips include some quiet time. If you’re early for a dinner reservation, have your child complete a chapter of reading while you wait. Or, encourage your child to wake up 20 minutes early to answer some math questions without disruption.

Build A Support Team For Your Child

Tip 11: schedule a weekly workdate for your child & a friend.

There’s no reason your child has to work through summer homework alone. Make a weekly work date with a friend where they can tackle summer assignments together. If that friend is in the same class as your child, they can even discuss questions and challenges together. Build A Support Team For Your Child

Tip 12: Review Your Child’s Progress Every Week

Each week, speak with your child about the work he or she accomplished, and what is planned for the week ahead. If you know your child will be busy soon, work together to reorganize his or her homework schedule.

Tip 13: Touch Base With a Tutor (Or Enrol In Summer Learning Program)

A new set of eyes can make all the difference in making sure your child gets his or her summer assignments done efficiently and effectively. Your child’s tutor will be able to give constructive feedback and turn this feedback into goals for the upcoming school year.

If you want an extra head start for your child this school year, enroll him or her in a Summer Learning tutoring program to get started on the right track.

And Most Importantly…

Tip 14: reward your child with summer fun.

While schoolwork is important during the summer, it doesn’t have to come at the sacrifice of having fun. Whenever your child completes a new project or achieves a goal, reward him or her with a treat or fun summer activity.

Work Hard—And Play Hard—This Summer

Summer might seem like it will last forever, but the school year will be here before you know it. Don’t let your child fall into the habit of procrastination—instead, make a plan together and stick to it.

If you follow these tips, your child will finish summer homework and summer reading in no time…and develop great learning and study habits that will already be in place for next year!

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How to Make the Most of Your Summer as a High Schooler

If you’re a high schooler, summer is likely a time for beach days, family vacations, sleeping in and generally enjoying a well-deserved break from the chaos of school. But while all that free time is perfect for relaxation, it’s also a smart idea to use at least some of your extra hours to prepare for your next phase of life: college.

There are many things high school students need to do before even beginning their college applications, and summer provides the time and space to cross those off the list! Here’s how you can best take advantage of your summer to get ready for college, whether you’re a freshman, sophomore or junior.

Attend a Pre-College Program

One of the best ways to prepare for college is to attend one — just for a few weeks, that is.

A pre-college program is a way to explore university life and see if a school is the right fit for you. While such programs vary in length and focus, most pre-college programs allow students to live on campus, attend classes and meet peers. They also help you understand whether or not you should pursue a specific major.

USC offers both online and in-person pre-college programs during the summer. Attendees can explore diverse areas of academic focus, including film directing, digital marketing, engineering, business, cybersecurity and more.

Take Other Summer Classes

If a pre-college program doesn’t fit your budget or timeline, you can still devote some of your summer to higher education. Maybe your community college offers a class you can take for dual enrollment or extra college credits — or you can sign up for an online course in a subject that interests you.

If you want to take the time to gain a new skill or dive deep into a possible major, summer is a great time to do that! This can only boost your college application.

Research Schools

You can’t apply to college if you don’t know where you want to go in the first place. Summer is a great time to leaf through college brochures, check out university websites and seek out testimonials from past students.

While you don’t need to narrow it down to your top choice, you can compile a list of the colleges you’re most interested in and get a head start on working toward their application requirements.

Research Financial Aid Options, Too

Determining how to pay for school is almost as important as deciding what university you want to attend. There are countless scholarship options out there — including scholarships from the schools themselves, as well as those from external businesses and organizations.

Summer offers you the hours needed to research all the potential scholarship opportunities and fill out those applications. It’s a good time to start educating yourself on your loan options, too.

Visit Campuses

It can be hard to squeeze time in during the school year to do an in-person college visit, especially if you’re considering an out-of-state university. However, you can use your summers to travel around and tour your dream schools .

While you can learn a lot from a school’s online presence, actually walking through the campus, checking out the facilities and meeting fellow students gives you a deeper understanding of what a school offers.

Study for Exams

Poring over textbooks is not most people’s definition of summer fun. But getting a leg up on studying now may free you up during the school year, when you’ll be much busier.

Your SAT or ACT score can have a real impact on where you attend college, so you want to make sure you’re fully prepared for these exams, whether you’re taking them in the fall, winter or spring. Use this time to work with a tutor or conduct your own self-guided study sessions.

Draft Your College Applications

If you’re getting ready for sophomore or junior year, the time to apply for colleges is still far away.

But if you’re heading into your senior year, the fall and winter deadlines for college applications are just around the corner. Why not get ahead of the game by drafting your applications now? You can begin collecting materials like letters of recommendation and even writing your college essay, giving yourself plenty of time to get feedback on multiple drafts. Your future self will thank you!

Search for Jobs and Internships

The college admissions office won’t just be looking at your academic work. They want to have well-rounded students at their schools who have more to offer than just good grades. Luckily, part-time jobs aren’t just a way to make extra cash. Job experience can also help you demonstrate your strengths to a school.

Whether you’re scooping ice cream, delivering pizza, stocking shelves or babysitting, you’re showing off your reliability, independence and work ethic. While any job will boost your college application, you can also seek out an internship related to your desired field of study, so you can begin accumulating experience and show schools you have a passion for the subject.

Volunteer in Your Community

Volunteer work is another way to give the admissions office a better idea of who you are as a person. Plus, you get to make a positive impact on your community!

There are many different ways to volunteer, too. Consider which causes mean the most to you and how your skills can best benefit your community. Whatever you choose, whether making meals for unhoused people, cleaning your local rivers or mentoring children, you’re putting your summer to great use by giving back.

Explore Your Hobbies and Interests

You don’t even need to know your major when you begin your first year of college, but it is helpful to have an idea of what you would like to study. This may impact where you ultimately decide to go if, for example, you know a specific school has a top-rated program related to your dream job.

The best way to determine your career path is by exploring various hobbies and subjects that spark your interest. You can explore via internet deep dives, reading books, joining clubs and teams or taking up new solo pursuits.

Besides, summer is still a time for enjoying yourself, and there’s nothing more enjoyable than discovering a new passion!

Connect with Mentors

Going off to college can be daunting. It’s even more nerve-racking when you have questions and don’t know who to ask. During your time in high school, it’s a good idea to seek out mentors who can advise you as you prepare for this major transition.

Mentors can be teachers, coaches or school counselors. You can find these people outside of high school, too. Maybe you have a trusted neighbor or family friend you can turn to for guidance.

You can also consider connecting with people you haven’t met yet. You can find college alumni through LinkedIn who might be able to answer some of your questions about a given school, or you can email leaders who work with the subjects you’re passionate about. Devote some of your summer to expanding your network!

Yes, summer is the perfect time to prepare for college. And while you should be setting aside time for study sessions, campus visits, pre-college programs, work and personal development, you should also be devoting days to fun with your friends and family.

Summers only get busier once you get into college, and after that, they usually become part of your work year. Take the time to enjoy yourself — you’ve earned it.

Learn more about USC Summer and Online Pre-College Programs today.

Author: Becca van Sambeck