We are approaching the summer holidays; a long period of rest in which both students and teachers abandon our usual routine, to return with renewed energies next year.

But should summer vacation be a synonym of doing absolutely nothing? Or is it convenient to maintain a minimum study habit, so that the shock is not too great when you return in September? It depends on each student and their circumstances. Let’s see it:

Students with pending subjects

It is clear that those students who have gone through greater difficulties during the school year, and have finished the year with some pending subjects, must roll up their sleeves and improve their academic performance, regardless of whether they have to be examined in September or not.

To study in summer, the student must have:

  • A regular schedule: without being as strict or intense as the school year, the student must reserve at least 2 hours a day for studying. It’s better that they take place early in the morning – without having to get up very early – so that the child can leave their homework done, and spend the rest of the day doing whatever they want.
  • A list of everything that needs to be reviewed: in which parts of the subject has the student stuck most? In what areas may it be necessary to ask for help from an adult? Beginning the summer analyzing all the content of the course, and establishing learning objectives, will help the student to be more motivated.
  • Rewards for the effort: if the student complies with the plan and progresses properly in their studies, they should be receiving small rewards for it: let them play video games, go with a friend, etc.

Students without pending subjects

Those who have successfully passed the course must get their reward, in the form of more free time. However, we should encourage our children to continue learning, even in ways that they do not feel they are studying, such as:

  • Reading: it’s an essential habit that we must instill in our children. Summer is an ideal time for them to catch up with the novels, graphic novels or comics that they like the most. Besides, a study conducted at Rutgers University in New Jersey showed that spending time in summer to read improved the performance of students with poor academic performance.
  • Going on field trips: whether to the countryside, to the city, or to any destination, traveling is always a source of learning and culture. It does not have to be an expensive trip: any excursion you can take to a nearby town can be an enriching experience..
  • Carrying out projects: encourage your child to take advantage of their free time in the summer to create a blog, learn to cook, build an airplane model or paint their room: any project that may interest them, that they can plan and execute from beginning to end. When they finish it, they will have learned a lot and will be proud of their work.