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Summer or Anytime Ideas for Parents
Dear Parents:
Many of you had asked for ways to keep your child motivated this summer. May the following ideas give you inspiration!
I. Reading/Writing
The more your child reads the better reader and writer he/she will become.
A. Newspaper Ideas
Comics
Ø Choose a daily comic that your child enjoys. Cut apart the segments and have them put it back in order. This will help develop sequencing and logic.
Newspaper Scavenger Hunts
Ø Choose a part of speech (verbs, nouns, adverbs, adjectives) and ask your child to hunt in the newspaper and find ten. Hunt for ten similes or metaphors. Add to the excitement by making it a race. Involve younger siblings by having the search for letters of the alphabet.
B. Closed Captioning
While your child is watching TV, turn on the closed captioning option for your set. This way the child will see the words in print across the bottom of the screen, thereby aiding word recognition and sight vocabulary.
C. Practice word cards and lists
Consider playing bingo or tic tac toe with your words. It can be fun and help
your review your retired words.
D. Local Library Book Clubs
Your local Township library has some great book suggestions and often run summer book clubs.
E. Select a book that you and your child can read together.
(You may want to find a book on the Council Rock WEB site’s Library service recommendation list.) While reading, discuss possible connections you have with the book, characters you each relate to, questions you have, and interesting words you have encountered.
F. Cooking
Not only is this a great life skill and mathematical task (reasoning, measuring, cost analysis, portion control), but cooking with recipes is also a great direction following and comprehension task! In fact, writing recipes is a wonderful activity and perhaps a family legacy. Take it a step further and have your child e-mail or write to relatives requesting favorite recipes. Compile these recipes into a family cookbook to be given as gifts.
G. Coupons/Shopping
Have your child review your shopping list. Next allow them to find coupons for items on your list. Any money saved goes right into his/her piggy bank to be spent on a book of his/her choice. How is this reading? Word recognition and sight word vocabularies are developed here. Reasoning skills in mathematics are an added bonus.
H. Libraries
Commit to one half hour per week.
Learn about your child’s favorite animal, state, vacation spot, or person. Better yet, learn about something your child hates. I hated spiders, until I learned about them and how they help humans. I gained respect and knowledge at the same time!
Libraries often offer story hours, crafts, and author visits, as well!
I. Car Rides
Signs
Ø Find letters consecutively from A to Z. For older children, look for all fifty-state license plates. Good luck finding Alaska and Hawaii!
Taped Books
Ø Listen to books on tape or songs by educational artists like Jonathan Sprout. You can even make your own books on tape, by recording your voice reading the story aloud onto a blank cassette tape, and then having your child listen to “you” reading a story!
J. Word Skills
What do I do if my child struggles with a word?
Ø Have the child read to the end of the sentence without the word. Think of a word that would fit, beginning with the same sound of the word in question.
Ø Look for a word inside a word.
Ø Break the word into smaller chunks.
Ø Check the dictionary or spell checker.
Ø Ask for help.
Ø Skip it.
K. Photo Albums
Organize pictures
Ø Have your child sort pictures by year, season, or event.
Ø Allow them to add captions and borders to pages in the book.
Ø Include them, while shopping for scrap-booking supplies.
L. Journals
Keep a daily diary/journal of the best and worst things that happen to them each day. At the end of the week, have them turn one of these nibbles into a story.
M. Letters
Write to or e-mail family members, friends, teachers, and causes. (autographs, encourage companies to recycle, restitute a broken or damaged item, complain, request, hire.)
N. Websites
· www.scholastic.com
Login CR068
Password: Student **This is a great research tool. It levels readability
and rates information. It is a kid safe and information reliable sight.
Reading and Storybook site:
· www.lil-fingers.com/storybooks/index.htm
Vocabulary Sight Words Sites:
· www.msrossbec.com/sightwords.shtml
· www.homebase8.net/dolch/intor.htm
Phonics and Word Study Sites:
· www.sadlier-oxford/phonics/control_page/front2.htm
· starfall.com
Spelling Practice:
O. Fluency Folders
Remember those fluency folders and enjoy visiting those stories from the year. They will surely bring you memories of how much you improved this year.
II. Mathematics
A. Newspapers
Ø Compare sports scores
Ø Shop sale adds
Ø Check scales of home and sale prices
Ø Follow a stock’s rise and fall. Graph it.
B. Car Rides
Ø Calculate mileage
Ø Read mile markers
Ø Review maps
C. Calculators
Take one wherever you go. Let your child add purchases, calculate tax (multiply total by 0.06), compare costs, calculate tips or just play.
D. Websites
Practice Basic Math Facts:
· www.multiplication.com
· www.aplusmath.com
· www.abc.net.au/countusin/default.htm
· www.mathplayground.com/flashcards.html
Coins and Money:
· www.playtolearn.com/coins.asp
· www.quia.com/mc/4918.html
E. Flashcards
Review and practice math facts. Pre-made cards run about a dollar a pack at the local supermarket. You may also want to consider Twist and Shout handheld game devices. These can make the boring a bit more exciting!
III. Social Studies and Science
A. ReviewStatesand Capitals
Visit www.50states.comand www.factmonster.com
B. Check out some of the science movies
Go to www.brainpop.com
After viewing the movie, take the short quiz to check your comprehension.
I hope that you have gotten some ideas. Please don’t feel overwhelmed. You do not need to do all of this. The intent is to find something that you and your children will enjoy. Learning should include an element of fun. Any questions? Our mail is checked frequently during the summer. I will return any messages I receive. Enjoy your summer! I look forward to seeing you and your child in the coming year.
Respectfully,
Sandra Pierce
215-944-2337
email- spierce@crsd.org
