Summer has really settled in, and you have probably heard your kids ask or say: I’m bored. What are we doing today? Can we go to _____? With school out and routines interrupted, it’s normal for kids to ask these questions over and over. But it can also be nerve-wracking. Even though kids and families look forward to being away from school, the challenges of coordinating their summer days and planning fun activities to keep them interested are tough.
Not only do I understand these challenges on the home front, but I also know what it’s like as a teacher when students return in the fall, and they are victims of the summer slide/loss. Summer slide is the regression that occurs over the summer when students do not engage in academic review of the skills learned in the previous school year. What is not practiced or refreshed over the summer will need to be intensively reviewed and, in some cases, taught when they begin school in the fall. This can be problematic for the child because of the time required to remediate and for the teacher who has the current year’s requirements to cover.
Don’t Fret! Keeping those skills sharp doesn’t have to require hours of formal lessons or worksheets. With a little planning, families can enjoy the summer and review skills at the same time.
Here are a few more ideas to help you get started.
5. Create a Summer Reading Routine
Keep it simple, but be intentional.
Examples:
- Read after breakfast
- Read before bed
- Read outside
- Read in a blanket fort
- Read at the park
- Read during road trips
- Read while waiting at appointments
- Keep a Reading log and reward with incentives and choices
- Participate in a library’s summer reading program as a family
Even 15–20 minutes daily makes a difference.
6. Keep a Summer Journal
Children can write about:
- Family vacations
- Favorite foods
- Funny moments
- Nature discoveries
- Pets
- Friends
- Summer goals
- Favorite Movies
For Younger Writers
- Draw a picture
- Label it
- Write one sentence.
Older Writers
- Write a paragraph with a beginning, middle, and end.
7. Play Word Games
- I Spy
- Alphabet scavenger hunts
- Rhyming games
- Sight word bingo
- Hangman
- Word searches
- Scrabble Junior
- Boggle Junior
- Play Go Fish with sight word flash cards
8. Nature Walk Literacy
Take a notebook outside, and research what they find.
Children can:
- Describe flowers
- Count birds
- Label leaves
- Write observations
- Learn new vocabulary
- Make predictions
- Compare insects
They can collect:
- Rocks
- Leaves
- Pinecones
9. Practice Math Every Day
Math happens everywhere. Here are a few ideas:
- Count stairs
- Measure plants
- Read clocks
- Estimate distances
- Count change
- Compare prices.
- Build with blocks and Legos
- Sort toys
- Play strategy games such as chess and checkers
- Play card games like Uno, Spades, and Dominoes
And because I’m here to help, here’s a summer log you can download to help keep track of their summer reads.
Happy Summer Reading!
Phelicia
