Ep. 239: Balancing Summer Rest and Learning Support for Diverse Learners with Ashley Harding

Jul 1, 2025

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We are happy to welcome Ashley Harding to the podcast this episode. Ashley is a fourth-generation educator and is deeply committed to educational equity. She holds degrees from USC and Tufts University in Child Development, and her career spans more than a decade, during which she has supported students and families in private and independent schools and contributed to global education initiatives in South Africa and Belize. Formerly the Director of External Engagement for a national school network, she has co-authored research on disparities affecting Black and Latino males and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal. Through her organization, North Star Academics, and her roles with BEAN and CHADD, Ashley empowers students with evidence-based strategies and advocates for those with learning differences.

Ashley discusses how parents can reframe the summer from a "deficit mindset" to an "opportunity mindset" for their children, stressing the importance of balance and allowing students time for rest, rejuvenation, and exploration of their interests outside of academics.

She explains that while academic growth is incredibly important during the school year, the summer months provide a critical window for students to develop their identity, independence, and executive functioning skills, and she encourages parents to avoid overwhelming children with intensive academic programs and instead focus on activities that build upon confidence, self-reflection, and a sense of belonging.

Our conversation highlights the need for families (both parents and students) to take time for rest and reconnection over the summer, with Ashley suggesting a plan that gradually transitions from unstructured free time in June to more purposeful activities in July and August, such as previewing curriculum, reviewing foundational skills, and setting new goals for the upcoming school year.

We also discuss the importance of real-world learning experiences such as cooking, budgeting, and travel, which can naturally reinforce academic concepts while also nurturing executive functioning abilities. Ashley stresses the importance of allowing children, especially older ones, the freedom to explore their interests and discover their passions during the summer months.

This episode of the show provides a thoughtful and balanced approach to supporting students' overall development during the summer break, with a focus on building upon resilience, independence, and a renewed sense of purpose for the next academic year!

Show Notes: [3:03] - Ashley Harding highlights summer as a time for rest and emotional integration after academic growth. [5:53] - Ashley points out how colleges tend to value well-roundedness, which begins with developing personal interests as early as middle school. [8:12] - Especially post-COVID, students and families need rest to recover from years of ongoing emotional exhaustion. [10:27] - Ashley believes that June should involve winding down, celebrating growth, and gently preparing for the next school year. [13:10] - Immediate academic intensity post-school year can overwhelm neurodivergent kids in need of rest. [14:20] - Ashley urges families to teach kids balance by allowing rest as an act of resistance. [17:02] - Summer is such an important time for families to rest, reconnect, and nurture mental health together. [18:12] - Children ultimately model behavior from parents, so truly resting teaches them balance over productivity. [22:14] - Ashley argues that fun, low-pressure activities such as cooking can help kids grasp and retain math concepts more effectively. [24:17] - Ashley likes reminding families to do as much real-world, practical learning as possible. [27:37] - Kids may need more sleep and rest, but they do still benefit from consistent routine and structure. [29:20] - Summer offers kids space for self-reflection and growth beyond just grades and academic pressure. [31:35] - Ashley points out how summer is ideal for reinforcing key executive functioning skills like memory, time management, and planning. [33:36] - Allowing kids to self-monitor can help build confidence and resilience. [36:44] - Unstructured time helps parents rediscover their children and builds upon a deeper sense of belonging at home. [39:23] - Summer is such a gift because it offers time to reconnect, regroup, and learn more about your growing child!

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