Hey! Another month closer to summer break!

 

Here's a reprint of an article I wrote last year to get ready for summer! Enjoy!

 

 

Summer and Holiday Learning

 

Don’t let your children loose the skills they have learned through the year during their holiday and summer breaks! Follow these habits through the summer a few minutes a day to keep those skills going and give the children a boost for the upcoming school year!    

 

Math 
Instant recall of basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division) keeps math easy and fun.

§  Practice math drills daily.

§  Review math facts several times a day.

§  Oral drills in the car or at the pool while they play are best.

§  Print up practice sheets. You can make them with free software from Basic Facts Worksheet Factory: http://www.schoolhousetech.com/products/download.htm

§  Use computer games

§  Play dice or dominoes

§  Have the kids help at the grocery store to find the best deal or the cost of several items.

§  Let them keep the money from a yard sale or other sales activities (lemonaid stands are great!)

§  Help them start a small summer business.

 

 

Reading and Memory
Practice reading daily and use memory verses to keep memories sharp. Most Libraries have a summer reading program, get involved!

§  Daily Bible Reading.

§  Share Bible memory verses each day at meal times.

§  Read good poetry or hymns.

§  Memorize poems or hymns.

§  Read aloud daily.

§  Play reading games with letter dice or sight words

§  Read to siblings.

§  Read to your children for family time and discuss what you read.

 

 

Vocabulary & Spelling

Work on new vocabulary/spelling words daily. Create a Word Wall or Word Bank to write new words on to review daily through the break.

§  Learn a new vocabulary/spelling word every day.

§  Read the word, then pronounce and spell it together.

§  Write it in your word bank (on the wall).

§  Define the new word and use it in a sentence.

§  Review the new words daily.

§  Play Scrabble or Word Boggle

§  Use new words in crossword puzzles or word searches that can be made with free software with Word Search Factory Lite:

http://www.schoolhousetech.com/products/download.htm

§  For vocabulary words check out these sites on the internet:

http://gemini.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/sheppard/reading/dolch.html

http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/bl1000_list1.htm
http://www.freevocabulary.com.
http://www.uoregon.edu/~osmirnov/gre/list.html

  

 

Writing

Keep up the work on those notebooks, journals and scrap books!

§  Have your child to write in their journal or notebook every day.

§  Have him write a report on an interesting book or something learned, he can read it in the evening at dinner or family time.

§  Find a distant family member or pen pal to write letters to.

§  Make home made books.

 

   

Science and Social Studies

§  Have globes, maps, and time-lines available for viewing at all times.

§  Let children follow in a road atlas when you travel.

§  Have them map the route you will be taking on a trip.

§  Locate places that you encounter on your trip, in your reading,
   or in the news. 

§  Visit local museums

§  Plant a garden or visit some

§  Study the stars/constellations

 

The ideas are limitless! Keep learning through the year. Let the children help you find new ways to keep learning through the breaks! And most of all, Have Fun!!!