| Did you know that many kids experience a | | | | Help your child learn about history by living it as a |
| phenomena called Summer Learning Loss every | | | | hand-on experience. Don't forget summer learning |
| year? Essentially, they forget the information they | | | | opportunities locally, in addition to your library. |
| learned in the previous school year over the | | | | Check out museums, the zoo, aquariums, |
| summer months. In fact, studies have shown that | | | | concerts and parks that you don't usually get to |
| kids lose an average of over 2.6 months worth | | | | attend during the school year. Have them keep a |
| of math skills in the summertime. For kids that | | | | journal (writing skills!) of their activities, and |
| were already struggling in a subject like math, this | | | | perhaps e-mail friends and relatives about what |
| means that they will start off the next school | | | | they are doing (again, stealth writing practice!) |
| year even further behind. | | | | 4. The Internet can be your friend! Check out |
| During the summer months, kids are less likely to | | | | safe, parent-approved Internet sites. Many will |
| practice any time of mathematical computations. | | | | offer crafts, worksheets, and even |
| Most will not practice math skills outside any | | | | power-busters to keep the brain moving! Many |
| formal classroom setting. Other subjects such as | | | | lessons are broken down by grade level making it |
| reading, also show a learning loss as well. In | | | | simple to cater to your child's needs. There are |
| reading, students will lose an average of 1 month | | | | also websites that allow the child to 'play' when in |
| of learning. | | | | reality, they are learning! This is also a great |
| Think of your favorite sport. Pick your favorite | | | | opportunity to bring in new material that will |
| basketball, football, or soccer player. What would | | | | prepare them for the next grade level! |
| happen if they did not continue to train and | | | | 5. Check out your local newspaper and |
| exercise during off-season? They would then | | | | community! Most communities will hold writing |
| return to their sport and experience a lag in their | | | | camps, editor-in-training seminars, art and dancing |
| performance. The brain is no different. It too, | | | | classes and more. Log on to your city website |
| needs to be exercised. | | | | and see what is being offered within your |
| So how can you keep your kids learning over the | | | | community. |
| summer? Here are a few simple ideas: | | | | 6. Enroll into a summer tutoring or teaching |
| 1. Purchase educational workbooks. These are | | | | program. For children that are struggling |
| available at most bookstores and many cities also | | | | academically, summer can be the perfect time to |
| have special teacher supply stores that carry | | | | address it with a customized tutoring program. |
| great learning material. These products are geared | | | | The summer months are an excellent time for |
| towards different grades so you can customize | | | | your child to fill in learning gaps or zoom ahead |
| to your children's level. It is recommended that | | | | with enrichment activities at supplemental learning |
| your children do at least an hour a day. | | | | centers, or via tutors or last year's teacher. Your |
| 2. Visit your local library. Find some books with | | | | child's teacher is an excellent resource to give you |
| topics that interest your child so that they are | | | | ideas for summer books to read and math |
| really engaged in reading. The library is a great | | | | workbooks to complete in between play and |
| place to promote the love of reading! Reading | | | | television watching. |
| comprehension is highly important and most | | | | These ideas will help your child build up more |
| states have standardized testing based off of | | | | confidence, and prepare them to start the new |
| reading scores. Your librarian can suggest | | | | school with a bang! This is the opportunity to both |
| grade-level appropriate books that will keep your | | | | stabilize and advance your child, what are you |
| child's attention with the text. | | | | waiting for? |
| 3. Visit museums, zoos and other historical sites. | | | | |