Research says kids will LOSE on average over 2 months of learning in reading and math during the summer. These are the two most harped on (and tested) subjects in school. Don't let your kids lose what they learned over the school year!
My Tips and Tidbits...
1. Create a consistent schedule where you and your kiddo have a specific time where you meet everyday and do academic activities. I chose to focus on reading and math but I will integrate some science and ss too.
2. Make It Fun! All learning does not have to be paper and pencil!
3. Get Involved! It's more fun and rewarding when you participate in your kids learning.
So What Am I Doing? Glad you asked!
Reading:
My seven year old and I were provided with a 3rd and 4th grade summer book list given by her teacher to begin with. Don't worry if you didn't grab one before school let out! You can look online or visit your local library for summer reading lists.
Everyday she reads a chapter and often times she invites me to read a few pages with her. This is a great opportunity for her to hear what fluent readers sound like while reading with expression. On her own, she writes a summary of the book (while getting some practice with writing) and she reads it to me (practice reading fluently aloud).
After each book she reads this summer, she will do a book report (also provided by her teacher). There are lots of different book reports you can look up online and especially from my favorite place online...Pinterest! Click here for ideas! --->26 Fun Book Report Ideas
Math:
When speaking with her teacher and looking at the upcoming standards in 3rd grade, I really want my daughter to be fluent with her math facts and retain them for the upcoming year. So I give her time to practice her facts on a school website she used year long, Reflex math, and quiz her often. We also have a math workbook we work from and we're currently working on word problems (the biggie). This is also a critical skill needed for next year and beyond.
Don't Forget About Your Toddler!
At the age of two it's important to foster a love for reading and learning by playing. With my two year old, she has done really well with identifying the letters of the alphabet and can tell me a word that begins with the letter. So I've moved on to reading along with her sight word books and having her point to the words. We also make lots of time for reading for enjoyment with no pressure. In math, were identifying numbers and counting objects to 20. There are tons of things to count around your house: balls, toys, cars, popsicle sticks, those afternoon snacks like raisins and apple slices.
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