My littles were so excited for school to be out for summer. My son did not want any more homework, reading, math, etc. The youngest felt excited for play time and no more writing his name, practicing letters, or learning to read.
Imagine their surprise and disdain when I informed them that they would still be required to practice reading, writing and math skills in the summer. Of course, I meant on a much smaller scale. As a teacher, I know how easy it is for skills to regress if not practiced.
To combat the whining and fighting, I sat down with my littles to negotiate some daily work that was not too time consuming. Together, we made a up a schedule that has the flexibility needed for summer fun but would ensure their skills were ready for school in the fall.
Here is what we agreed upon for summer learning:
- Set up their tablets so they have to do education apps or reading before they can access regular games or videos. This is great as they gravitate to their favorite learning apps, but they get to choose what they work on. My older one has 15 minutes reading and 15 minutes math he has to work on before it will open up to his games. My younger has 15 minutes of any education apps. This helps limit the fighting as they know the rules to use the tablet and they still have choices.
- Set a time limit on TV, video games, and tablet. Our time limit is an hour and a half a day. That way they can watch a movie, shows, play some games, whatever they decide they want to do that day with their electronics. This have choices and can make decisions about what they want to watch but know the daily time limit. Now, the littles watch movies over a couple of days rather than all at once.
- If they really want to watch a whole movie or anything longer than their time limit, they can spend magnets that they receive for being helpful and kind. This gives them one more hour on electronics. This helps to keep them outside and playing rather than in front of a screen all day. We do still have days (especially some of the rainy ones this summer) that I give them unlimited screen time. Most of the time, they get bored after a couple of hours and turn off the electronics to go outside or play with toys.
- We read almost every day. Both of my littles are working on reading. Both my husband and I read them books every night before bed. Even though my oldest reads fluently, he loves to be read to. This keeps them engaged with stories. We try to have them read at least one short book a day or two chapters from a novel. Sometimes we are too busy, but not often. They get to pick a book from our collection or one from the library. They love being able to pick their own books from the library and are usually eager to try to read them.
- My youngest practices letters almost every day. He is in the process of learning to write his letters and numbers. I bought a pack of dry erase cards that have every letter and number, upper and lower case to trace and write on his own. My little picks one letter and number that he wants to practice daily. He is now writing more on his own on our white board and in cards to family.
- For math, we cook together and have some fun math board games. This, we do not practice every day, but a couple of times a week. It helps keep their math skills and shows them why fractions are important.
- I also keep track of questions so we can look up the answers. My oldest is in the “why” and “how do things work” stage. He thinks I know everything, but alas, that is not true. When he asks a question I have no idea about, I write the question in my phone, and we research it later. This is great because it keeps him asking questions and they learn how to research a question.
These are some of the ways we keep their reading and math skills sharp. I try to be flexible and pivot if we are too tired or busy in a day. We never go more than two days without reading. Unless we are vacation, then all schooling is left until we return. I think it helped to have them decide on what they would do each day, so they do not feel overwhelmed and that they have some control.
What are some things you have done to keep your littles skills sharp? I would love to hear some more suggestions in the comments.
