Jake Downs talks with Dr. Blythe Anderson and Dr. John Strong about effective summer tutoring programs to prevent the summer slide in elementary reading. They discuss strategies such as small-group tutoring, differentiated instruction, and interactive read-alouds, based on multi-year research that shows significant gains in vocabulary, reading fluency, and foundational skills. The episode emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement in summer programs, with implications for school-year instruction.

02:07 Understanding the Summer Slide
02:54 Research on Summer School Programs
07:00 Designing Effective Summer Tutoring Programs
08:46 Training and Implementation of Tutors
12:16 Session Format and Instructional Strategies
18:31 Assessment and Differentiation
27:21 Year Three Results and Findings
42:25 Program Evolution Over the Years
48:48 Big Lessons Learned from Summer School Programs
58:52 Final Thoughts and Optimism for Literacy Research