Retaining Knowledge Over the Summer

[ReneeW]

Kids lose so much of what they've learned at school during the summer break. I'm trying to brainstorm ideas to help my 7YO keep learning--last summer we didn't do much (OK, anything!) between kindergarten and first grade. Ideally I'll implement a schedule for my kids - like two or three times a week we do "summer homework" or have a fun intellectual project. If I'm not intentional about it, I know that August will be here and I'll be like "ACK! I meant to do something!!!" because the summer flies by.

Have you done anything like this? What did you find to be effective for your kids? On the one hand, I want summer to be relaxing and fun and give them time to let their little brains re-group. BUT I feel like we should be doing SOMETHING. I also have these "fabulous mom" fantasies about taking them to the art institute, science museum, etc. which I doubt will happen in actuality. But ... if I put some outings on the calendar now and stick with it, maybe this summer will be more productive!! Any ideas would be great. Or am I really just dreaming and being impractical?

[bumblebee23]

Sorry I can't help much with this except have you tried the Lakeshore learning website? They have a lot of fun ideas and worksheets for the kids that you could try.

My boys go to summer school every year. They complain about it but I would rather have them do that then sit around the house watching tv all day while I'm at work.

[dara1012]

Lakeshore Learning has some summer activity books I know there is a store in Maplewood by Maplewood Mall and I think there are others. You could also ask the kids teacher if there are any old textbooks you could have.

I would suggest having 2 days of an hour or two of learning activities at home and then a "field trip" day, if you plan it out on the calendar and make the field trip day educational and fun that would be great! I wouldn't want to overwhelm the kids with too much scheduled, but you also don't want to lose knowledge.

I remember that when I was in elementary school our library had a summer reading program with incentives, I am pretty sure Ramsey County libraries do this. You could have set times that you go to the library too.

One summer my mom was tired of us asking to watch TV so she implemented a rule that each of us kids got a different colored poker chip. At the beginning of the week we got 20 chips each worth 1/2 hr of tv or video game time. If at the end of the week we had left over chips they counted as $.50 toward buying a book at the bookstore. My brothers have since admitted that they used to "cheat" and use each others chips (one would put a chip in and the other would watch too). But in general it cut down on our tv viewing and increased our reading.

Is there a volunteer or service learning opportunity the kids could do? Like learn about recycling and collect yogurt containers to take to the co-op for recycling or collect cans and recycle for money? Maybe do an unofficial adopt a park and clean up the park?

You could do some practical learning too....like work on yard work (pulling weeds, watering flowers), help with laundry, etc. Some of those life skills are so important. I learned to cook one summer when I was in high school....it wasn't planned but my mom broke her foot and couldn't stand so she sat in a chair and taught us how to cook different meals. I know your kids are younger, but you could teach simple cooking things and make it fun.

[jlschlangen]

I feel as if I could have written the same exact thread.

I am guilty of letting my kids watch tv, vut I am going to have them read or do flash cards or workbooks this summer. They are both doing the reading program through the library.

[ReneeW]

Thanks for all of the tips!! I am determined to be more purposeful and intentional this summer and keep my kids learning ... Dara, LOVE your suggestions!!

[colleen]

I am with Usborne Books and More, and we offer a program called the Smarty Pants Camps. There are different collections for the ages that you are looking at.

Space Explorer Camps promote critical thinking through active reading, effective writing, and inquiry learning. It's all the FUN of camp at YOUR HOUSE this summer! Space Explorers Camp Kits It is estimated that students can lose up to 30% of their skills and knowledge during the summer! Smarty Pants Camps will help keep children reading, writing and problem solving during the summer to help prevent this Summer Brain Drain. The Space Explorers program includes a series of challenges, missions and hands-on experiments for children to explore and solve collaboratively. Standards based programs are scaled for different age groups. Each camp kit includes a student lab notebook and a set of fiction and non-fiction books for reference, reading and exploration. We offer packages that work with groups of all sizes. It is hands-on-literacy fun that is perfect for the summer or for enrichment anytime.

You can look at the collection of books on www.myubam.com/P3226, left hand side and click Smarty Pants Camps. I have heard good things about this program. I have not tried it (my son is only 14 months). But at least this is all set up for you to do and follow. You could even get some of his friends together and do this if you'd like. Any questions let me know, and I'd be more than willing to help!

We also offer literacy for a lifetime program, where he receives pledges for the amount of books he reads, and then receives free books.

But I have also heard many libraries doing this for the summer as well. I'm sure there are great activities to do online. You could even set up your own chart, where if he reads so many books in the summer he can have a grand prize of whatever you'd like to offer.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll figure something out great! :-)