Beat the Summer Slide: Aspen Academy's 2026 Summer Academics Guide

  • Academics
  • Child Development
  • Leadership
Beat the Summer Slide: Aspen Academy's 2026 Summer Academics Guide
Jennifer Gravlee and Kelly Thatcher
Beat the Summer Slide: Aspen Academy's 2026 Summer Academics Guide

Reading, writing, and practicing mathematics over the summer really do make a difference!

For decades, schools have tried different methods to combat the dreaded “summer slide” negatively impacting overall student achievement. Many students and families regard the summer break as a break from school and other “requirements.” However, research shows that kids who never crack a book during their summer break fall behind, while students who do maintain or increase their academic skills.  As parents, we have the opportunity to teach and model to our children that learning is not just for school or a grade, but for life. Learning, reading, and stretching one’s mind is a personal habit that will reap great rewards. Find ways to bring balance to your summer while maintaining skills learned throughout the school year.

Access our 2026 Summer Packet Here

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About the Author

Headshot of Kelly Thatcher, STEAM instructor

Kelly Thatcher, Lower School Director

Kelly has more than 20 years of experience as an educator, including teaching Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 3rd grade, 8th Grade Science, HS Biology, and Robotics/STEM.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, an Elementary Education Teaching Credential and a Science Teaching Credential. As a NASA Educator, she prides herself on bringing real life science into her classroom everyday. She is trained on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property by the US Patent and Trademark Office and works to teach innovation and problem solving skills to students of all ages. She has been awarded the STEM Champion Award for developing and inspiring communities of STEM learners in impoverished areas and underrepresented populations and the 2018 Apple Awards Finalist from The Foundation for Douglas County Schools.

Kelly is excited to be at Aspen Academy because we nurture and empower students to make the world a better place; which is why she became a teacher. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, who is also a teacher, and their wonderful 3 daughters; cooking; gardening; snowboarding; making jewelry; and being outdoors.

Degree(s)

B.A., Liberal Studies Elementary Education, Humboldt State University
M.A., Education, Teaching, Azusa Pacific University