Our office would love to hear from you! What would you like to see here in the future? Please click here to complete a quick survey and let us know how we can help.

Summer Resources for Families

School districts are in a unique position to provide helpful information to families as they transition from school to summer. Some things to consider sharing with families before the end of the school year are:

Information on where they can access free summer meals

Summer camps, child care, and tutoring available locally

Ways to continue learning at home throughout the summer

Keep reading for some great resources to share with families!

girl with magnifying glass looking at a butterfly

Learning Resources

As part of our commitment to fostering year-round educational opportunities, we have curated a collection of resources districts may want to share with families to support learning during the summer months. These resources aim to bridge the summer learning gap, promote continuous academic and social growth, and ensure all students have access to engaging activities while away from the classroom.

Get Ready for Summer: Ideas for Teachers to Share with Families

National PTA Summer Learning Resources

NAEYC Summer Learning - Early Childhood Resources

NYSED Summer Learning Resources

National Education Association (NEA) Resources to Support Summer Learning

Summer Meal Resources

Ensuring that children receive nutritious meals during the summer months is crucial. The following resources will connect families with local meal sites and program details.

Hunger Solutions New York

Feeding America

Summer Meals NYC

Let's Learn Instructional Learning Series

Let’s Learn, The WNET Group’s daily instructional learning series for children ages 3 to 8, launches new episodes beginning this July on public television stations nationwide (check local listings) and letslearn.org.

Let’s Learn serves as a supplemental resource to support children’s learning at home and in the classroom. Taped by a dynamic and diverse group of educators, episodes offer age-appropriate content focusing on foundational reading and writing skills, literacy, math, science, social studies, arts and social-emotional learning.

books and apple on a desk with the words let's learn

Connect with Local Libraries

School districts can collaborate with local libraries to offer crucial summer services that benefit students and families. Many libraries provide a wealth of resources, such as summer reading programs that prevent learning loss, access to computers and the internet for research and online learning, and engaging activities like storytime and workshops that foster creativity and critical thinking.

To ensure families are aware of the great summer opportunities available at their local library, districts can distribute information through multiple channels. Consider adding information about library events through newsletters, social media, and school websites. Many libraries have a full calendar of free summer activities to share with families!

Find Your Local NYS Library

It's Here! Summer Reading at New York State Libraries

Are you looking for ways to promote fun and educational adventures and activities for Summer Reading to students and families this year? These short and entertaining PSAs in English and Spanish on YouTube are now available to help with outreach! These resources can be used to promote Summer Reading participation and programs throughout your community by posting on different platforms like websites, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Check out the variety of promotional resources that are provided through the CSLP YouTube Channel, the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge toolkit, and the Summer Reading at New York Libraries site on the State Library’s Youth Services pages. The P romote Your Summer Reading Program page includes a Summer Reading toolkit for schools and school libraries!

Questions? Contact NYSLYouth@nysed.gov.

Self-Paced Professional Learning from PBS Kids

PBS KIDS offers this FREE special collection of flexible self-paced learning to help inspire PreK-2 teachers and provide support for the classroom. Choose from a variety of learning topics designed to spark new ideas and expand your skill set for engaging children and families with educational media. You may also be able to earn between one to three credit hours.

Explore our Learning Paths, a series of short microlearning modules (15-minute, skill-based experiences in a range of interactive formats) that can lead to a certificate.

Click here to access professional learning from PBS Kids!

PBS Learning Media:

Family Resources

Find resources, including hands-on activities, apps, and videos, that families can use with their children to support literacy development and explore science in their everyday lives. These resources will help families nurture children's natural curiosity by encouraging them to explore, notice, investigate, make predictions, and ask questions to help them learn about their world. Some of the resources are designed for use in the home and some can be used in a community-based setting where families gather to explore together.

Click Here for Family Resources

image of molly of denai from pbs kids and a field guide workbook about birds

screenshot of an activity description called what is that bird

Did you know? PBS Learning Media has lessons and videos available in multiple languages! Teachers and families can filter by grade level, language, resource type.

Questions?

The Office of Early Learning provides technical assistance to districts regarding Prekindergarten - Grade 3 instruction and best practices. Our office also answers questions regarding UPK funding and program implementation. You can contact us at oel@nysed.gov or (518) 474-5807.

Erik Sweet, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning

Lori Smart, Director

Tanya Amodio-Kovacs, Supervisor

Paulette Coppin, Supervisor

Grace Bombard, James Bordis, Samantha Chobot,

Lauren Cosamano, Carly Feldman,

Eric Feml-Nelsen, Jason Gish,

Tiffany Koo, Noelle Lake, Christine Lyons,

Terry Onofrio, Brandon Orszulak, Madison Ramnes,

Tina Rose-Turriglio, Christina Ryan,

Mary Sandoval, Rachel Schlude, Michelle Sidoti,

Zak Snyder, Megan Tobiasen, Vicky Woods