Should My Child Continue Tutoring Over the Summer?

A Note from Ellie at Homegrown Tutoring

As the school year winds down and summer break approaches, I often hear the same question from parents:
“Should we continue tutoring over the summer?”

It’s a great question and an important one.

Summer can be a much-needed time for rest, travel, and family fun. But for many students, it’s also a valuable opportunity to keep learning in a low-stress, personalized way that supports long-term academic growth.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding if summer tutoring is right for your child:

1. Avoiding the Summer Slide

Studies show that many students lose skills over the summer, especially in math and reading. Even just one hour a week of maintenance tutoring can help your child retain what they learned during the school year and start the next one feeling strong and confident.

2. Reinforcing Last Year’s Learning

If your child struggled during the school year, summer is the perfect time to review and reinforce foundational skills. Without this review, students can start the next grade already behind, which can make it even harder to reach grade-level expectations later on. Summer tutoring gives them the chance to revisit key concepts in a calm, encouraging setting so they can enter the new school year feeling ready and capable.

3. Focusing Without the Pressure

Without nightly homework or looming deadlines, summer is the perfect time to slow down and focus on skills that may have been rushed during the school year. Whether it’s long division, reading comprehension, or test prep, students can strengthen their foundation without the stress of juggling multiple assignments.

4. Getting Ahead

Summer tutoring is not just for reviewing past material. It can also be a chance to get a head start. We can preview next year’s content, build strong study habits, or work on executive functioning skills like time management and organization. These skills are especially helpful for students transitioning into middle school, high school, or more rigorous coursework.

5. Keeping a Routine

Kids thrive with structure, even in the summer. Having a weekly tutoring session gives them something consistent in their schedule while still leaving plenty of time for camps, vacations, and downtime.

Summer is also a great opportunity for students to build self-discipline in their academic habits. With gentle accountability and consistent expectations, they can develop the routines and mindset that will carry into a strong and focused start to the school year.

6. It’s Flexible

At Homegrown Tutoring, I work with families to create summer plans that fit their schedule and goals. Whether that means weekly sessions, a short-term boost in a specific subject, or ACT prep before senior year, we’ll make sure tutoring fits into your family’s summer in a way that works.

Summer tutoring doesn’t have to feel like school. It can feel like a fresh start and an investment in your child’s long-term success.

If you’re unsure whether your child would benefit from summer tutoring, let’s talk. I’m always happy to offer insight, make a personalized recommendation, or create a flexible plan that meets your child’s needs and respects your family’s summer rhythm.

You can reach out at homegrownstudents@gmail.com or fill out my contact form. I’d love to hear how your child is doing and how I can support them.

With gratitude,
Ellie
Founder, Homegrown Tutoring