How to Keep on Track for School During the Summertime

Summer time is a fun time for children but it is also a time when they forget many of the skills they learned in school. Parents can help them stay on track for the upcoming school year in a few easy ways.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet connection
• Printer
• Library Card
• Communication with Teachers
• Enrichment workbooks

How to Keep on Track for School During the Summertime

1. Much of what you need to keep your student on track during the summer can be easily found on the internet. Look up activities, crafts, and worksheets that will both entertain and educate your children throughout the summer. Most of them you can print for free right at home. You may try to plan three days a week when you sit down at a designated time and help your children do some of these activities. Pick themes and topics that are of interest to your student so they will be more excited and eager to learn and participate. Learning about animals, weather, cooking, and ocean life, are examples of themes that can teach all sorts of school related skills from reading to math.

2. Talk to your child's teacher at the end of the school year and find out if there are any skills that they need to focus on during the summer. Ask your child's teacher to suggest activities or resources to help your child strengthen their weak areas. Many teachers will be happy to provide worksheets and materials to help your student stay on track during the summer if you just ask.

3. You can also speak to a teacher in the next grade that your child will be entering and ask what major skills will be worked on in the upcoming year. Give your child a head start by finding ways to learn about those skills at home.

4. Use your public library to encourage your children to keep reading all summer long. Many libraries offer summer reading programs with incentives for children to read. Many also have activity and story time offered through out the week for various age groups. Get involved with these activities.

5. You can do your own reading program at home with your children by having them put stickers on a chart for each book that they read. Offer a reward or activity for each chart that they fill up.

6. Many educational supply stores have enrichment workbooks that you can use with your children to keep them challenged and learning during the summer. These are great to use right before dinner each night; as you prepare dinner, your student can try to see how many worksheets she can get done. Go over them together to see how she did.

7. Encourage your child to keep a summer journal of activities and adventures that they do each day, this will help them practice their handwriting skills as well as creative writing skills all summer long. Plus, at the end of the summer, your child will have a great scrapbook that he will cherish in the years to come. Help him remember his fun summer.