How many times have you heard yourself or another person say, “I’m ready for summer?” Let the truth be told, my students are ready! Many students have shared their family plans for vacation and they are extremely excited. Whatever your plans are for the summer sometime should be spent on reading, writing and math. In order to prepare for summer, now is a good time to think about a routine that will allow you to incorporate academics in a positive way.
Many parents have asked me for advice about what they should consider doing in order to maintain what their student has learned and maybe even jump start them into the fall. I highly recommend asking your teacher about what the curriculum requirements are for the fall in each of the main subject areas. If there are specific novels that the student is required to read, you may want to consider borrowing that novel from the library or even purchasing the novel. The advantages of purchasing novels are great: the student can highlight, write, and make the novel their own. In addition, you can determine how many pages should be read each day and fold down the pages as the student reads to provide a concrete visual for how much work is completed. Keeping a journal on the novel that keeps track of the plot (sequence of events) and character development will help students summarize what they have read and will provide them with writing practice.
Ask your teacher for copies of math worksheets or a recommended internet site in which free worksheets can be obtained. As an alternative, there are websites that provide math problems in the form of games that many students prefer. Practicing with math each day will reinforce information learned. Math doesn’t have to necessarily be problems and worksheets. We are surrounded each day with naturally occurring math problems: color matching outfits, setting a table using patterns, matching socks while doing laundry, measuring while following a recipe, playing card and board games all requires some math practice. Think of creative ways to incorporate math into daily activities.
An easy way to include academics into your summer schedule is by visiting a library regularly. Investigate your local libraries schedule for activities and join. While you are there allow for more time for your student to do research on topics of their interest. Think about what events can be added to your summer schedule to enrich and enhance your child’s academics. Please feel free to share your plans with our community. We have close to 800 people following this blog and I would love to hear from you!
Have a happy summer and let me know how I can help!
Diana
