My Quivers Full - Keep Those Skills Fresh Over the Summer...For FREE!

Apr. 4, 2009 - Keep Those Skills Fresh Over the Summer...For FREE!

Looking for something to keep those skills fresh over the summer? Needing it to be low cost? Me too! Through my searches for a way for my boys to retain as much as possible over the summer, I've found quite a few free online sources that my boys are already beginning to enjoy. Math was my biggie for this year, so many of these websites deal with that subject, although there are a few here that incorporate many subjects.

You can't have a list like this and not include this first one. I've seen many people sing the praises of Time for Learning, an interactive way to learn...or supplement...many subjects. I've looked at Time for Learning, and had thought about signing up for their free trial during the summer. Since finding these other resources, this one is still on my radar, although now it's on the back burner.

Multiplication.com is a fantastic free math game site that has enthralled my children. Even Big Man who struggled learning multiplication is enjoying these games. I've been using this site as a reward for a week of hard work. There are many games to choose from, but I'd say their two favorite are Cone Crazy, the Penguin Ice Cream shop game, and Flight of the Knight, where you shoot the knights out of a slingshot.

Another interesting site is PlayKidsGames.com. This site includes games for addition and subtraction as well as multiplication. The favorite here? Tunnel Blaster. No better name for a game than that to get a little boy interested. Seahorse counting is a good game for a preschooler, although I think they could have gotten a less freakish voice telling you "Good Job"!

APlusMath also has a games page to practice those pesky math skills, all the way up to division. You can play M-A-T-H-O (like BINGO), Concentration, uncover a Hidden Picture, or blast a planet from your rocket ship on Planet Blaster. Very fun! They also have an Algebra version of Planet Blaster, but I haven't poked around that one.

A great game you download free to your own computer is Timez Attack! Little Monkey asks often if he can play Timez Attack! for a few minutes after he's finished his time on Earobics. Like I'm going to turn him down! There is an option to upgrade on their website, which buys you additional backgrounds, but the math part of the game doesn't change.

Leaving on a trip and want something to keep them busy on the long drive? Math Games has printables you can take with you on the road. If you're looking for more than just math, you can check out WorksheetWorks.com to print out loads of things, including the most popular things in my house: puzzles and mazes. The Secret Map printout is great! You can customize your map to fit your childs abilities. Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Directions can be North, South, East, and West; or Up, Down, Right, or Left. Make the map a pirate ship looking for the buried treasure, or which teddy bear belongs to your brother, etc. VERY fun, and a tricky way to get them to enjoy reviewing math

Okay, many of these sites are based on Math. What if you're looking for many subjects without jumping from website to website. Gamequarium is a great site to explore. There's just too much to list here.

Wanting to get a jump on keyboarding before the next schoolyear starts up? Gamequarium has many free games to start building those skills in a fun way, or you can try GoodTyping.com for a free online typing course. I haven't registered with them, but you could make yourself crazy trying out their free typing speed test!

Have kids who enjoy listening to audio books? Story Nory may be the place to go. These stories can be downloaded to take with you, or listened to online. The text of the story is right there as well, which is great for reading along.

Do you want something to motivate those kiddos to read more over the lazy summer months? Perhaps you should look into Read, Click, and Win sponsored by Sylvan learning center. After each book, the child must complete an online quiz to be eligible to win prizes. The prizes are anything from bookmarks or temporary tattoos, to ebooks or candy. Now, I have not signed up for this service just yet, so you'll need to investigate it for yourself to see how it works.

On that same note, perhaps you're like me and are always wondering what reading level a certain book is. I don't know how accurate it is, (but it can at least put you in the ballpark) I've been using OKAPI! a lot lately. It seems to be good, in my very-much-not-an-expert opinion. Books Little Monkey has been reading easily came through OKAPI! at the same level as his reading tests indicated, which causes me to think it may be reasonably accurate.

What if you just want some fresh ideas for easy, fun unit studies over the summer? Try out Homeschool Share, where you can choose from unit studies ranging in skill level from Preschooler to Middle Elementary (up to age 12). This site is just.....WOW. A whole lot of ideas in this one!!

Maybe, like me, you're always looking for mazes to keep little hands busy at a restaurant or in waiting room when there's nothing else to do. A couple of great maze sites I've been using lately are KrazyDadMazes and PrintActivities. I'm finding I have to print out multiple copies of each maze, since everyone wants a shot at solving them. :)

Now, do we like having our kids staring at a screen all summer long? Not at all, however these sites can be used as a fun way to supplement their summer review. My kids get excited when they know they have to do some work, then find out I'm letting them play games on the computer. Enjoy!

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