TeenLife 2024 Guide to Summer Programs

IMPORTANCE OF BRAIN-FRIENDLY
SUMMER PROGRAMS
for Middle School Students
BY MORGAN P. APPEL
MITIGATING LEARNING LOSS
Summer programs for middle school students—
especially those that deliver a mix of focused immersion
in content, hands-on engagement, and fun activities—can
help reduce the effects of summer learning
loss. In certain cases, what has been often referred to
as the ‘summer slip’ becomes a few weeks of unfinished
learning. In others, it can be months or more.
On top of that, studies show that middle school aged
students tend to prioritize social needs over academic
growth during the school year, leading to loss of motivation
and focus. Additionally, learning loss can vary
depending on age, subject, and geographic area.
This further emphasizes the need for individualized
programming to fit a variety of needs and interests.
THE MIDDLE YEARS: A LONG AND
WINDING ROAD
To say the least, the onset of puberty can prove to be
difficult for many reasons. Including navigating more
difficult subjects and social pressures; dealing with
self-esteem and emotional issues as a result of their
changing bodies, and managing intense feelings of
impulsivity and risk-taking.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Studies in developmental neuroscience show that in
early adolescence the brain is undergoing significant transformations
as people grow up. These changes include an
enhanced degree of flexibility, increased capacity for decision
making, regulation, and judgment,
making it ideal for both learning and risk-taking.
Supporting cognitive development during this period requires
that a summer program is interesting, flexible in
structure, and offers fail-safe learning methods. It must also
provide multiple opportunities for success to reinforce the
student’s sense of persistence. Capability and confidence go
hand in hand—especially for the growing adolescent brain.
It is similarly important that summer programs use multiple
approaches to education as well as build upon previous
lessons. This means meeting middle school students where
they are and building from that point. This is especially true
for summer offerings that tend to be shorter in length than
a traditional school year.
82 | 2024 TEENLIFE GUIDE TO SUMMER PROGRAMS