It’s about that time when families may feel a bit on edge regarding how the school year will end. Will Claire pass Geometry? Will Luke turn in all of his homework for English? Will Noah grade any higher than a C across all of his courses? It’s these and similar questions that have parents planning for summer school, perhaps for the umpteenth time.

How can families escape the summer school cycle? The first step is to consider why  students need it in the first place…  

Lost in the Crowd 

Imagine 20-30 people—or even more—vying for the full attention of one. It sounds ridiculous, not to mention chaotic, but it’s the reality found in most school environments. Large class sizes mean students don’t get the undivided attention of their teachers—try as they might, teachers find it impossible to address all of the nuances and concerns presented by their students. 

In the end, many students get lost in the crowd, and summer school is the only known antidote that parents have heard anything about. However, truth be told, it’s an antidote that still fails to offer the very best solution: individualized instruction and care. 

Countless Distractions

With crowds come distractions of all kinds. There’s the obvious one: the antics of other students. But with more people also comes more clutter, sounds, smells, interruptions, etc. Though classroom walls may be emblazoned with inspirational quotes about focusing, concentrating, and keeping the end goal in mind, such encouragement—no matter where it comes from—proves pointless in an environment teeming with distractions.  

Upon closer look, we realize that summer school operates a lot like the regular school year when it comes to teaching strategies. Furthermore, distractions might become even more of a problem for students whose schools rely on online-only credit recovery. Left even more to their own devices (both literally and figuratively speaking), students’ heads simply aren’t in the game, and the itch to spend summertime months outside, with friends, and away from school takes over. The only answer is for academia to be hypervigilant in eliminating distractions every day, all year long, and to see that mission as a top priority. 

Learning Differences

The summer school cycle may also be a symptom of a learning difference such as ADHD, an executive-function disorder, or one of the “Four Ds”: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or dyspraxia. While all students may experience the negative impact of large class sizes and distractions, learning differences further amplify the challenges associated with such school environments. 

Take homework, for instance. Assignments generally account for 20-40 percent of grades, but students with ADHD often struggle with completing homework from start to finish, which entails simply turning it in. It sounds easy to most people, but for students with ADHD, it’s common for this critical final step to get missed—and for Fs to pile up.  

Left unaddressed, learning differences may lead not only to serious academic repercussions, but also to a whole host of social and emotional problems in and outside of school. Tension may build with friends, parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Self-confidence may wane as students experience an imbalance of failure compared to success. Students may react with anger, ambivalence, reclusivity, etc., and their anxiety might reach an all-time high, especially when it comes to test-taking. 

Needless to say, these problems can become life-altering, if not life-threatening, over time. That’s why it’s critical to intervene quickly. And that’s precisely why Brightmont Academy  exists… 

Credit Recovery at Brightmont

Brightmont is a private school with a unique one-to-one educational model. Because of this model, class size is a non-issue, distractions are kept in close check, and learning differences are addressed with customized learning plans and practices. Not only is Brightmont the best alternative for summer school—it also offers year-round options to help keep students on track and thriving in their studies. 

When it comes to credit recovery , Brightmont boasts an extensive catalog for grades 1-12. Core classes, as well as high-school electives, are among the 100-plus options. Furthermore, there’s no waiting for summer school to roll around in order for students to catch up; they may begin any class at any time of year, which is important in keeping content front of mind and achieving the desired end with greater ease.  

In addition, it’s not unusual for those enrolled in credit recovery to become full-time Brightmont students . And thus ends the summer school cycle once and for all! As students are given the attention they need without the distractions to which they fall prey, they are better able to overcome all of the universal and personal challenges related to their education. It results in academic mastery. It results in confidence and pride. And it results in a more positive cycle—a cycle in which families are relieved and pleased to take part!

Barbara Farland is an English & Social Studies instructor at Brightmont Academy in Plymouth, Minn. She holds a master’s degree in Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas and, prior to pursuing a second career in education, worked as an award-winning public relations and communications professional in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. As a “storyteller by nature and teacher at heart,” Barbara continues to contribute to various anthologies, among other writing projects.