Summer Learning – Summer Fun! by Teneh Waller
Do you find yourself pulling your hair out trying to figure out what your kids are going to do over the summer? It’s important to review what they’ve learned in school so they don’t start the next year off behind. But when I mention academics during the summer time, my kids act like they want to die! “Mommy! This is our time off. I don’t want to see a book, a math problem, or even a pencil!” Sound familiar? Well I’m the adult, so I’m going to decide how they spend their time. But I do want to take into consideration that they’ve been in school for ten months. Here are some tips for making summer learning fun!
Start a book club.
This is a great way to get kids reading while hanging out with their friends. I couldn’t get my son to read on his own. After doing the book club for one summer, he is hooked on books! We’ve done it every summer since 1st grade.
• Get 3-4 kids who are about the same age and reading ability.
• Have your child choose the first book and buy enough copies for each of the club members. (It’s important that they pick a book that interests them.)
• Deliver the book to the kids and give them a week or so to read it.
• Host the first meeting at your house or at a local coffee shop. Have your child create a list of questions to discuss with his friends.
• The next host brings the next book and passes it out during that first meeting.
Decide when and where the next meeting will be.
Homemade Summer Camp.
It is crazy what summer camps cost, and the average parent can’t afford hundreds of dollars on camp. So here’s something your kids will love. Get five families together that you trust. Each family hosts one day of summer activities. Plan some games, some outdoor fun, and a learning activity. Read a book and have the kids create an art project that describes the setting of the story. Have the kids make brownies and do all of the measuring. The next day, it’s off to the next house! Pla-dow! Instant summer camp for the price of one day!
Teneh Weller is the Executive Director of High Expectations Parental Service. High Expectations is an educational consulting firm whose purpose is to significantly impact student achievement through increased parental involvement.
High Expectations Parental Service
www.highexpectationsonline.com
