Hi Boys and Girls,
Have you heard the expression, "Summer Slide?"
Well, it's not a slide you slip and slide on; it is a saying about students losing important academic skills during the summer months when they are not involved in reading or writing activities.
And though it is August, you may think: "It's too late" or "but I just want to have fun!"
Well, guess what: there are still opportunities to brush up on reading and writing in time for that very first day of school and have fun while you're doing it!
In a recent online article "Take Part," Tips for Parents: How to Prepare Kids for the Next School Year by Joseph Gaub, 6 important steps are given to parents to help children.
Here's an abbreviated look tailored specifically for you:
1. Reading list:
- Locate a few titles of novels you will read next year. Read some of these books. You can most likely read a book in ten days. If you start now, you will be able to read at least 3 before school begins, and that's a great thing!
- Not only visit the library, but go to your friendly local book store. The clerks there are very helpful and knowledgable. They can tell you what is flying off the shelves---the hottest book of the summer! Be sure to read it too!
- Set up a read-a-book-with-a-buddy. Find a few friends who are also interested in reading and buddy up, or ask a family member to read along with you and discuss while eating dinner, in the car, on vacation, etc.
- Start a twitter account or tumblr to list great books you are currently reading or your friends recommend. This active list will help everyone stay connected.
- Mix it up by reading both fiction and nonfiction, and throw in a few magazines or newspaper articles too.
Here is a list of the BEST 100 books all kids should read! Check the link below...How many have you read?
A few more suggestions:
2. Writing Opportunities
- Use the remaining time of August to craft a letter, perhaps to a relative, it can be two or three paragraphs.
- Write a letter to your family, perhaps a request for a capital purchase or a favored vacation, or pet acquisition!
- Maintain a family journal or a blog that chronicles family activities or a wish list of activities.
- Write a letter of complaint, that is, draft a letter to let's say, the plumber or a driveway paver requesting an improvement, or even asking for the replacement of a recently received product you or your family are dissatisfied with.
Watch this video on letter writing
3. Learn something new
- Take up a new activity: sketching, photography, mountain climbing, juggling, word puzzles, etc.
- Determine the steps involved in attaining a new skill, then setup small steps that will get you there, one day at a time until you reach your goal.
- Make it fun for yourself, even though you are learning something new, it still can be fun.
4. Overall wellness
- Identify a physical skill or a goal you want to reach, such as how many jumping jacks you can complete over a two week period, or a distance power walk you can cover around dusk. Maintain a chart of sorts and track your accomplishment.
- It may even be fun to start a vegetable garden. Square out a small patch of land and work it yourself. Turn the soil and plant your produce. You then get to savor the fruits of your labor. And it's just about the perfect time to plan and plant a pumpkin patch!
5. Complete a service project
- Locate an organization that interests you. It could be an animal shelter, a food pantry, a local library, etc. Setup a meeting to discuss a possible project such as, a chess club for young children, or a free worksheet summer tutor service given by you.
- By giving back to your community, it increases the manner in which you view your own world. Giving of yourself always makes you feel good.
6. Free time
- Above all kids, don't forget to simply loaf, meaning just chill and perhaps look at the stars, a flower, a cloud, the grasses, waves, etc. It is as important to simply rest and relax. And hey, remember that old forgotten tree house, perhaps it's time to cruise on up and view the world.
- Maybe play a pickup basketball game, go for a bike ride in your neighborhood, or just take a walk and smell that sweet summer breeze.
- Doing absolutely nothing works too.
Even if you only do two or three things from the suggested list, it is far better than doing nothing at all.
Be well kids.
The Teach.
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