Media Advisory

The Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University invites students everywhere to participate in The Mayor's Math Challenge, part of Baltimore's Summer Learning Campaign, a citywide effort to prevent summer learning loss among the city's public school students. The link above features six weeks of fun math problems written by the Center for Summer Learning. The challenges are divided into three groups: kindergarten though second grade, grades three through five, and grades six through 12.

Each week has its own summertime theme, from ice cream parties to baseball games. Baltimore area residents will recognize the local tie-ins such as the start of Ravens football training camp and the grand opening of The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland. The site also includes answer keys for each challenge with detailed explanations to help grown-ups guide their students.

For students in Baltimore, the challenge officially began June 27 and will run through Aug. 13. Baltimore residents who solve every problem each week will receive a citation from Mayor Martin O'Malley. Information is available at the Web site.

The mission of the Center for Summer Learning is to create high quality summer learning opportunities for all young people. Keeping young minds busy with activities such as the Mayor's Math Challenge is imperative during the summer months to ward off "summer learning loss," or forgetting important skills and knowledge that they don't use when school is out. Students who take a break from reading during the summer score lower on tests at the end of their vacation than they did on the same test at the beginning of the summer. Typically, students lose one to two months worth of reading and math skills during summer break, and teachers often spend four to six weeks at the beginning of each school year re-teaching material that students have forgotten.

To speak with representatives from the Center for Summer Learning, contact Amy Cowles at 443-287-9960 or amycowles@jhu.edu. Additional summer learning tips for parents are available online at www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home05/jun05/ summer.html.