Skip to main content

How to prepare your middle schooler for summer school

After a long school year, a middle schooler finding out they have to attend summer school can be devastating. Thoughts of summer plans and vacations being ruined can run rampant — for both the child and the parents — but remember, there’s a reason why your child needs summer school.

Summer school is recommended for a couple of reasons. The first is the student did not complete his or her academic requirements or received failing grades in one or more core subjects. The other main reason is typically that the student may not be ready to advance to the next grade in the fall without summer bridge classes.

While the news of summer school isn’t always well-received, the key to your child having a successful outcome starts with you. Here are some summer-school tips to help your child have a positive classroom experience.

Be positive

Of course, the news is upsetting, but try to be upbeat with your child about attending summer school. If you are negative about the prospect, you will certainly pass that sentiment along to your child without realizing it. Summer school shouldn’t be thought of as a punishment or an inconvenience. Instead, think of it as a way for your son or daughter to have a better academic year in the fall.

Mother and daughter talking about summer school
Syda Productions/Shutterstock

Identify the dates

Summer school will not last all summer long. Once you’ve found out your tween or teen needs to attend and why, nail down the dates. If the dates conflict with vacation plans, see if the getaway dates can be rescheduled or plan an alternate vacation before or after the summer-school session. No child wants to feel as if the family vacation got canceled because he or she failed in school.

Find the silver lining

Just as the saying goes with clouds, focusing on the pluses of attending summer school may encourage your child to change his or her outlook on the idea of having to take classes after the academic year concludes. Here are some upsides to summer school:

  • Meeting new people
  • Having a different teacher
  • Checking out another school
  • Having a shortened school day
middle school student being tutored in the library

Secure a tutor

If your child needs to attend summer school, it is because he or she is struggling academically. Middle school is when subjects become more difficult, and students are asked to do more work and to study independently. Study habits aren’t taught in elementary school. Since the work is more difficult, hiring a tutor may be extremely helpful in getting your child to catch up as well as build confidence. With high school looming in the future, you want your tween or teen to be ready for the academic challenges, and a tutor is a great way to do that.

Many teachers are off during the summer, but they still tutor students privately in your home or a nearby public library. Having a tutor work with your child on the subjects he or she is attending summer school for is a proactive way to get your child back on track academically. Private tutors have differing rates, with most charging by the hour.

Word of mouth is one way to find a tutor, or you can ask your child’s teacher for a recommendation before the last day of school. Be sure to choose a tutor your middle schooler likes and has a rapport with because both will help the sessions be more productive.

If the summer tutoring goes well, consider keeping it going during the school year. Oftentimes, having a tutoring session once or twice a week during the academic year prevents the need for summer school down the road.

Create incentives

While summer school isn’t a punishment, your middle schooler is not going to be excited about the prospect of going to school when most kids aren’t. He or she may recognize why summer school is necessary, but they still don’t want to go. If that’s the case, try and set up incentives to help keep your middle schooler motivated.

Avoid using cash or food as a reward. Instead, think of what motivates your tween or teen. Small accomplishments like completing homework before dinner garner a small reward like extra video game or phone time. For bigger accomplishments, such as a good grade on a quiz or test, you might celebrate with an outing or by giving him or her the weekend off from chores.

No two middle schoolers are alike, and what motivates one won’t work for another. Only you can know what the best incentive is to keep your middle schooler motivated to work hard in summer school.

Like you, your middle schooler is undoubtedly upset about attending summer school. It’s important to rebuild his or her confidence and be positive. It is a setback, not a catastrophe. Remind your child that you love them, and just because they are struggling doesn’t mean they aren’t smart or incapable of learning.

Approach summer school as a fresh start with different classmates and a new teacher. It’s an opportunity to start over and to learn troublesome concepts in a different way. Summer school, along with a tutor, can help your middle schooler feel more confident about the upcoming academic year.

Editors' Recommendations

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
Your favorite childhood movies will be your kid’s favorite, too
Want to rewatch your beloved childhood movies? Grab your kid and revisit these nostalgic films
A family watches TV on a couch

We all have a soft spot in our hearts for the movies we were raised on. We grew up on those films and they helped shape the adult version of ourselves more than we might want to admit. These are the childhood movies that you have to watch with your little human that will show them the value of family and friendship and that kindness is always the right choice.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Read more
The best chores for kindergartners: Teach responsibility in an age-appropriate way
Kindergarteners aren't too young for chores — give them responsibility with these tasks
Kindergarten boy watering plants in the garden

Are kindergarteners too young for chores? Absolutely not. If you haven't already started giving your 5-year-old simple chores around the house, now is the perfect time to start. Having chores for kids to do is more than just giving busy parents a hand.

Chores go a long way toward teaching children important life skills. Doing chores actually has a lot of benefits for kids. These household chores teach children responsibility and give them a sense of belonging. Helping with simple tasks around the house also works to improve a child's confidence and self-esteem. Getting kids used to completing those everyday tasks like making the bed and doing laundry will most certainly be prudent when they're ready to head off to college or get out on their own. So, what are the best chores for kindergarteners and young children?
Chores for kindergarteners
Kindergarten is a wonderfully fun age. At the ages of 4, 5, and 6, kids are curious about everything and love to spend time with their parents. Kindergarteners also want to do the things they see their parents doing, which is why it's the ideal time to introduce them to chores.

Read more
10 treats for your toddler’s Easter eggs that aren’t candy
Fill your child's Easter eggs with these alternatives to sweets
A boy and girl having fun during an Easter egg hunt

Before you know it, the Easter Bunny will be hopping down the bunny trail, much to the excitement of toddlers far and near. That means it's time to get those Easter baskets and plastic eggs ready because it’s egg hunt time. Whether the egg hunt is in the backyard, park, or at school, little kids love participating in the fun activity. Parents, however, could do without the sugar rush that comes with all those chocolaty treats.

The good news is that Easter egg fillers for toddlers don’t always have to be chocolate and candy. There are a lot of fun alternatives to those sweet treats that make great surprises for your kids. Here are 10 treats for your toddler's Easter eggs that aren’t candy.

Read more