The summer months are something students look forward to all year. Teachers love their summers off too, but they do worry that come September, there will be a lot of time spent on reviewing information from the year before. To help combat the dreaded brain drain, here are a few tips parents can use to keep their kids fresh and their teachers sane come September.
Read, read, read!
Our students should never stop reading, but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore! Summer reading should be fun. In order to keep summer reading fun and light, discuss with your child things they would enjoy reading about and pick books out together. This way you can push them to challenge their boundaries, but also make it fun for them!
Make Use of Teachable Moments
Summer learning doesn’t have to be “boring” or forced! Take advantage of the teachable moments that happen in everyday life. When you are on summer vacation, have your child research some of the places they want to visit and give a little report as to why. Another idea is to have your child come up with a budget for grocery shopping and then let them help you stick to it. Have fun with it and your kids will too!
Start a Journal
Have your child start a summer journal so they can look back at all the fun they had over the summer. They will be able to practice writing without it feeling like “homework.” If it helps, journal together and read passages to your kids to share different perspectives on the summer activities.
Use Technology
There are plenty of free, fun educational games out that you can bust out on rainy summer days. Have them play a fun strategy game on their smartphone to develop critical thinking. Surf the web for different educational games to introduce to your kids. Most of these games are fun and your kids will have a blast.
Play outside
There are educational moments right in your own backyard. Talk to your kids about the mini ecosystem that thrives in your yard. The bugs, animals, plants, and even your kids all play a part in an exciting circle of life that goes on around us all the time. Plus, fresh air and exercise are important parts of the school curriculum, so why not add it to the summer one too.
Continuing learning during the summer months will make the transition back to school easier for kids and teachers alike. Taking time to make sure they continue to learn will instill a thirst for knowledge that will carry them throughout life.