By: Shasta Smith, Communications Manager, Florida Virtual School

Summer reading time helps students keep their skills strong and prevents learning loss.

For Florida Virtual School (FLVS) families, summer brings flexibility, freedom, and a well-deserved break from the school-year routine. It can also be a time when students lose some of the academic progress they worked hard to build, often referred to as the “summer slide.”

Research shows that students may lose ground during the summer months, particularly in reading and mathematics, when key skills are not practiced consistently. Younger students are often the most affected, though learning loss can happen at any grade level.

The good news is that staying engaged does not require a strict schedule or long study sessions. Small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference.

“Summer does not have to feel like an extension of the school year,” said Latasha Ferguson, Director of Instruction. “Simple, everyday activities can help students stay engaged and maintain the progress they’ve made while still enjoying their time off.”

Maintaining Academic Skills

Setting aside 20 to 30 minutes each day for reading is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help students maintain their skills. Letting students choose books that match their interests, including audiobooks or graphic novels, can help keep them motivated.

Math skills can also be reinforced through everyday routines. Activities like cooking, budgeting during shopping trips, and playing games can help students practice problem-solving and numerical reasoning in practical ways.

Families can also incorporate learning into daily moments, whether measuring ingredients, comparing prices at the store, or encouraging creative projects and outdoor exploration.

Staying Connected

Summer is also an opportunity for students to stay connected and explore new interests. Maintaining social connections and participating in structured activities can support both learning and overall well-being.

Student Services offers a range of optional summer sessions designed to help students stay engaged in a flexible, virtual setting. All sessions are virtual and drop-in unless otherwise noted. 

Some have limited capacity, so families are encouraged to register early.

Summer is also an opportunity for students to stay connected and explore new interests. Maintaining social connections and participating in structured activities can support both learning and overall well-being.

Student Services offers a range of optional summer sessions designed to help students stay engaged in a flexible, virtual setting. All sessions are virtual and drop-in unless otherwise noted. 

Some have limited capacity, so families are encouraged to register early.

Summer Lunch Bunch
Elementary school students
Wednesdays at noon on June 10, June 24, July 8, July 29
Students share lunch, play games, and build skills related to resilience and emotional readiness.
Join, password sharks

Connections
Middle and high school students
Wednesdays: June 10, June 24, July 8, July 29
Sessions focused on life skills, peer interaction, and discussion, with opportunities to build connections with classmates.

• Middle School: noon  Join, password FLVSMS
• High School: 12:30 p.m Join,  password ALLWELCOME

Art With Heart Summer Camp
Middle and high school students
June 15–18 at 12:30 -1:30 p.m.
Creative sessions using art for self-expression, stress relief, and confidence building, no experience required.
Join, password GOMAKEART

Full of Ourselves: Yoga and Mindfulness (parent consent required)
High school students
Tuesdays at 2 p.m., June 2 through July 21 (No sessions June 30 or July 7)
Yoga, mindfulness, and wellness support in a small-group setting.  Register

“Having some opportunities to stay engaged can help students maintain confidence and ease the transition back into routines when school resumes,” said Amy L. Hall, FLVS Student Services Administrator.

While it can be helpful to maintain light routines, summer should still feel like summer. Time to relax, spend time with family, and recharge is just as important as keeping skills fresh.

By combining simple daily habits with opportunities to stay connected through FLVS, students can enjoy their summer and feel confident heading into the new school year.

Visit the Student Services webpage for more information about summer activities and schedules.