By Dr. Gladys I. Cruz
District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
As August begins, many families are starting to think about a new school year. While the remaining weeks of summer should continue to include time for family and fun, they also offer a valuable opportunity to help children prepare for a successful return to school.
Research consistently shows that children who remain engaged in learning over the summer are better prepared to start the school year. Just as importantly, the experiences children have outside the classroom often inspire the curiosity, creativity, and resilience that help them thrive long after the first day of school.
Families do not need to pay for expensive camps or tutoring programs to make a meaningful impact. Some of the most powerful learning experiences happen during everyday moments.
Reading together remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to support literacy. Whether children choose novels, graphic novels, biographies, books or magazines about topics they enjoy, reading for pleasure helps build vocabulary, comprehension, and a lifelong love of learning. Our public libraries continue to be tremendous community resources, offering summer reading programs, special events, and activities.
While families rightfully continue to be mindful of screen time, technology can also be a valuable tool when used intentionally. Digital reading platforms, audiobooks, and reading apps make books more accessible and can help students continue to build skills throughout the summer.
Every student and educator from the districts in the Questar III BOCES region has access to Sora, a digital reading platform that offers thousands of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines. Using a school assigned device or email account, Sora can be used anywhere. This summer, the platform features special collections celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, new comics, and hundreds of read-along titles that allow children to listen while following the text.
Summer also provides opportunities to encourage writing. Children can keep a journal about adventures, write letters or postcards to relatives, create their own stories, or help research destinations and develop an itinerary for a family trip. These simple activities strengthen communication skills while encouraging creativity and critical thinking.
Learning extends well beyond language arts. Everyday activities naturally reinforce important math concepts. Grocery shopping, preparing meals, comparing prices, measuring ingredients, budgeting, estimating travel time, or planning a project all help children see how mathematics connects to daily life.
Equally important are the experiences that spark curiosity. A visit to a museum, historic site, farmers market, nature preserve, park, fair, or community event encourages children to ask questions, make observations, and connect what they have learned in school to the world around them. We are fortunate to live in a region rich with cultural institutions, history, and natural beauty that provide countless opportunities for exploration.
Summer also helps children develop skills that cannot always be measured by a test score. Volunteering, learning a new hobby, helping neighbors or relatives, or taking on additional responsibilities at home all foster communication, collaboration, leadership, independence, and problem-solving – qualities that are essential for success in school, careers, and life.
As the first day of school approaches, families can also begin easing children back into school-year routines. Gradually adjusting bedtimes, establishing consistent morning schedules, and reducing screen time before bed can help students return to school rested, focused, and ready to learn. These small adjustments often make a significant difference during the first weeks of school.
We know that student success is built through strong partnerships among schools, families, and communities. Every book read together, every conversation that encourages questions, every new experience, and every opportunity to explore helps shape a child’s confidence and love of learning.
The remaining weeks of summer are not about trying to recreate the classroom at home. They are about creating meaningful experiences that encourage children to discover new interests, strengthen important skills, and recognize that learning happens everywhere – not just within school walls.
When students return to school this fall, we want them to bring more than new school supplies. We want them to return with renewed curiosity, confidence in their abilities, and excitement for the opportunities awaiting them. By making the most of these final weeks of summer, we can work together to ensure every child begins the new school year ready to learn, grow, and thrive.