A Simple Strategy to Prevent the Summer Slide

As the school year winds down, teachers often worry about the “summer slide,” the well-documented phenomenon where students lose academic skills over the summer break (Cooper, Nye, Charlton, Lindsay, & Greathouse, 1996). For early elementary students—particularly those in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade—the summer slide can be especially challenging, leading to a loss of foundational skills in reading, math, and critical thinking. But there’s a simple, effective solution that can empower parents to keep their children learning: sending home learning choice boards.

Click Here to Grab Your FREE Canva Templates for K, 1, 2

What are Learning Choice Boards?

Learning choice boards are a collection of fun, engaging activities that students can choose from, designed to reinforce skills they’ve learned in class. These boards can be focused on reading, math, science, or a combination of subjects, and they require little to no technology. For younger students, choice boards can turn learning into a fun adventure, making it feel more like play than work.

​Why Choice Boards Are Effective

Research shows that student choice is a powerful motivator (Deci & Ryan, 2000). When students get to choose activities that interest them, they are more likely to engage deeply and enjoy the learning process. With a choice board, even the most reluctant learners can find activities that excite them. Additionally, choice boards are:

• Flexible: They can be used at home, at a summer daycare, or even on family vacations.
  
• Parent-Friendly: Simple instructions make it easy for parents to support their child's learning without requiring any teaching experience.
  
• Skill-Focused: Each activity reinforces key skills, from counting objects and reading stories to sorting and measuring.
  

Sample Choice Boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade

To make it even easier for teachers, we are providing free, ready-to-use choice boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade. These boards are designed to reinforce foundational skills in fun, meaningful ways. Teachers can simply print them and send them home with their students.

• Kindergarten Choice Board: Focuses on letter recognition, counting, storytelling, and simple science observations.
  
• 1st Grade Choice Board: Builds on sight words, counting and adding, pattern recognition, and nature exploration.
  
• 2nd Grade Choice Board: Reinforces reading comprehension, basic math facts, creative writing, and science experiments.
  

​How to Share Choice Boards with Families

• Send Home with End-of-Year Packets: Print and include the choice boards with students’ end-of-year materials.
  
• Post on Class Websites or Parent Portals: Make them easily accessible for parents to download.
  
• Provide a Quick Parent Guide: Include a note with tips on how to use the choice board and encourage family participation.
  

Kindergaten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

​Supporting Parents and Students

By sending home choice boards, you are empowering parents to support their child’s learning in a fun, stress-free way. Parents appreciate having clear, engaging activities, and students benefit from continued practice in critical skills.

​Want to Get Started?

Access free, printable summer learning choice boards for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade below, and help your students stay sharp, engaged, and ready for the next school year!
Need More Options? If you would like to see a sample Summer Choice Board for another grade level or subject, just leave a comment below. We’re happy to add more options to this blog post for you to download!

Interested in More?

If you would like to learn more about our Student Engagement Workshops that lead to high student achievement and growth, visit BlendedLearningPD.com.

​References

• Cooper, H., Nye, B., Charlton, K., Lindsay, J., & Greathouse, S. (1996). The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review. Review of Educational Research, 66(3), 227–268.
  
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.")}