By Kathy Greeley, ELA Coach, and Claire Dahill, Math Coach
Summer is a time to get outside, visit with families and friends, and have a change of routine. But, even during this break from school, kids can still be learning. In fact, students who continue to use their minds well during the summer return to school with a real advantage - they’ve beaten the Summer Slide! On the other hand, students who do not read or practice math skills can lose two to three months in their achievement. These students often come back to school and have a hard time keeping up with their schoolwork.
So what can you do to prevent the summer slide? It’s simple!
For Reading:
- Set a daily schedule so your child reads 20-30 minutes each day.
- For older children, set a goal to read at least 5 books over the summer.
- Read aloud with your child - you read to them and they read to you.
- Engage in conversation about what you are reading and other things going on in your day.
- Visit the Cambridge Public Libraries. They are air-conditioned!
For Math:
- Set a schedule to practice math 10-15 minutes each day.
- Mathematize the day. For example: If you have 4 people eating dinner together and everyone needs a knife, fork, and spoon, how many utensils will you need all together?
- Play board games (like Checkers, Chutes and Ladders, Set) and card games (War, Crazy Eights).
- Practice Symphony Math, an online intervention program available to all students: Account #4965. Student user name is their student ID # (lunch number), and the password is abc123.
- Practice Math Facts - check out this free website with lots of math games.
We will be sending home a calendar and reading contract at the end of the year. Look for it and post it on your refrigerator so you can help your child track their daily practice. We will be looking for these in September!