Summer flew by and you may or may not have done all the school-type activities you’d planned. Maybe the kids read a little bit, but you know it wasn’t enough to keep their skills humming. Chalk it up to family fun times and move on.
Good news. It’s great for kids to take a break from the daily grind of school. But you’ll be surprised how much good it does to do a little brushing up on skills before you get back to the real routine.. Here are a few things you can do now to make your child’s re-entry into the new year smoother:
· Make a real effort to read aloud to them daily. Choose books they love or do a family read-aloud over the space of a few days.
· Haul out some math flashcards or worksheets and do some sample problems. Review reading directions at the top of a page before answering questions.
· Make sure each child reads independently every day. Fifteen minutes of reading will bring comprehension skills back to mind and help to make reading smooth and accurate.
· Provide paper and art supplies and encourage the kids to write some stories. Help them get back in the habit of putting words on paper.
Make the entire process fun. No grades, no negative feedback, just encouragement to enjoy casual learning to make re-entry to school easier. While summer flies by for adults, it seems like a long time to children, the review will help.
Then it’s time to make plans and address new goals for the coming year. Two ideas:
1) Have a family meeting
It’s wise to make a clear transition from relaxed summer days to a workable fall schedule. It’s important that children know their adult family members support their learning, and one way to get everyone on board is to have a family meeting. Each family member has input in setting expectations for such things as work times, television privileges, telephone and texting time, bedtimes and how many out of school activities will be part of the new year. Post the schedule where all can see and there will be no surprises, but instead a knowledge that the whole family is entering into a new school year ready for success.
2) Create Personalized Study Spaces
Here’s your chance to encourage your children in good study habits. Help them create and personalize a study area at home. You can work together to organize and plan the décor. It’s amazing how a few contact paper-wrapped cans and some bright new pencils can perk up a work area. Buy a simple plastic organizer tray or use some recycled boxes to store rulers, erasers, scissors, glue and other necessary supplies. Add a nametag, stickers, drawings, pictures—anything that makes it a special place to settle in and feel ready to tackle new projects. Just as you enjoy planning and feeling ready for the new school year, so do your kids. Their own space will help set the scene for great work this year.
Happy September, Happy Learning!
Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and author of the book, Homegrown Readers: Simple Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Read. She specializes in education, parenting and family life articles. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net
Good news. It’s great for kids to take a break from the daily grind of school. But you’ll be surprised how much good it does to do a little brushing up on skills before you get back to the real routine.. Here are a few things you can do now to make your child’s re-entry into the new year smoother:
· Make a real effort to read aloud to them daily. Choose books they love or do a family read-aloud over the space of a few days.
· Haul out some math flashcards or worksheets and do some sample problems. Review reading directions at the top of a page before answering questions.
· Make sure each child reads independently every day. Fifteen minutes of reading will bring comprehension skills back to mind and help to make reading smooth and accurate.
· Provide paper and art supplies and encourage the kids to write some stories. Help them get back in the habit of putting words on paper.
Make the entire process fun. No grades, no negative feedback, just encouragement to enjoy casual learning to make re-entry to school easier. While summer flies by for adults, it seems like a long time to children, the review will help.
Then it’s time to make plans and address new goals for the coming year. Two ideas:
1) Have a family meeting
It’s wise to make a clear transition from relaxed summer days to a workable fall schedule. It’s important that children know their adult family members support their learning, and one way to get everyone on board is to have a family meeting. Each family member has input in setting expectations for such things as work times, television privileges, telephone and texting time, bedtimes and how many out of school activities will be part of the new year. Post the schedule where all can see and there will be no surprises, but instead a knowledge that the whole family is entering into a new school year ready for success.
2) Create Personalized Study Spaces
Here’s your chance to encourage your children in good study habits. Help them create and personalize a study area at home. You can work together to organize and plan the décor. It’s amazing how a few contact paper-wrapped cans and some bright new pencils can perk up a work area. Buy a simple plastic organizer tray or use some recycled boxes to store rulers, erasers, scissors, glue and other necessary supplies. Add a nametag, stickers, drawings, pictures—anything that makes it a special place to settle in and feel ready to tackle new projects. Just as you enjoy planning and feeling ready for the new school year, so do your kids. Their own space will help set the scene for great work this year.
Happy September, Happy Learning!
Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and author of the book, Homegrown Readers: Simple Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Read. She specializes in education, parenting and family life articles. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net
