Many parents ask me how they can keep their children’s skills on grade level over the summer. I strongly encourage parents to have their children do some academic work 30-40 minutes a day five days a week. Parents should not have young learners complete work all at once, but break it into sections. I try to infuse skills into my son’s everyday activities. Here is what I do as a mother: discuss fractions while measuring ingredients for a fun treat, estimate distance the ball traveled while playing outside, skip counting in the car, math fact flash cards races and one skills sheet a day. Your local bookstore has a section on summer skills books. In order to promote reading my son participates in his local library’s summer reading program, we read books together that he has selected, listen to stories on Tumblebooks or get an audiobook for the car, read a leveled reader from Reading A to Z and have fun reading signs around us. I encourage you to have your child write one paragraph/ sentence in response to a posed question, tell a story, keep a diary or make their own book. There are blank hard covered books at a local craft store that make great gifts and children can add words to pictures they have created. Many on-line photo companies allow you to make your own book with your pictures and text. These books will be a keepsake for many years to come and your children will reinforce reading skills every time they open the book! Most importantly, spend time together building memories. It is these memories that help children feel safe and loved. A loved child is one who can learn, share their memories in stories, and make connections between experiences and content learned in books.
The reading specialists, Darlene Monochello, Nicole Uryniak and Paula Risoli, created a summer packet Summer Reading Challenge 2017 for you with some guided questions. Use their expertise to help guide you.
Happy Summer! Happy Reading! Happy Memories!