Summer time benefits students and teachers. It is a time for relaxation and recharge of energy. With the worry of reinforcing learned content and skills, the summer break is still necessary. A vacation provides students and teachers with rest and refreshments. It is important to the health and well-being of everyone.
Research shows that taking a break reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. A break when school is out is important for students with behavioral problems or intellectual disabilities. The day-to-day classroom demand can be too much for special needs students. Thus, summer gives a student time to relax and reflect. Also, students have time to develop needed social skills. Many learning experiences happen in parks and recreational areas.
Summer Time for Older Students
Older students benefit from the break in the school year. Exploring various jobs helps teens explore, socialize, and experience different areas of employment. Young students can work at swimming pools, parks, grocery stores, and offices to give them the working habits for the future. Work experiences equip young students to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Younger students enjoy small jobs such as walking dogs or caring for other household animals.
For many young adults, summer jobs help to build a resume. Young adults can also log hours volunteering during the summer. While working or volunteering in the summer, students develop maturity and independence. They also help students build communication skills with people that are not their peers. Summer also gives students a chance to learn money management through small jobs.
Shorten the Summer Break
Many parents think the summer vacation is too long. Students returning to school give relief to many parents. Parents feel it takes too long for students to return to the routine of going to school. They feel it takes about two or three weeks.
Teachers believe shorter summers with more breaks during the school year benefit students. Some feel that a shorter summer break will increase student achievement. However, many schools have tried a year-round approach. Their research did not prove to raise academic achievement. Results proved to inconvenience working parents.
Students need to use the break in the summer to engage in activities that help their overall well-being. Therefore, the break may improve their academic performance when school starts again.
