Summer is a precious time!
Childhood is a precious time! Summer is a grand time for relaxation, family trips or mini-vacations. Time to get in the car, drive to cool campgrounds, parks and beaches. Time for play. Time to get into nature and hopefully ‘unplug’. While driving, listen to a story and play old fashioned games instead of your kids turning on electronics. Road trips can’t be beat for educational mileage.
Summer is a time to find seashells and turn branches and blankets into forts. Or use those big boxes and make fantastic creations. Maybe make cork boats, feed some ducks, do a nature collection, study space or sharks. I love to teach interesting animals. The list is endless!
Summer is project and theme time. Aim for a project or theme each week, such as history, geography, science or math. I like to do an easy arts, craft or music activity every day to tie in with the theme or project.
Summer reading enrichment time is so much fun! Before that trip to the beach, you can figure your route, check out the internet for places to go and things to do.
You might study ocean life, tide pools or whatever your child and family is interested in.
- Make a list of questions you want to find out.
- Then read about the subject, using a variety of sources.
- Follow up the real experience by writing and drawing about it.
Enjoy family reading time.
With the pace a little slower, it’s super to:
- Go to the library. Check out summer programs.
- Watch for summer reading incentives.
- Read interesting stories online.
- Read aloud every day.
- Mix it up- enjoy fiction and non-fiction.
- Read classics and high interest material, including graphic novels.
Everyone in the family reads. Model reading for your children. Set reading goals for every family member. Chart what books are read, or perhaps even a skill goal such as to read faster, or work on spelling.
Summer reading defeats the “summer slide” or slump in skills. Reading regularly helps build reading confidence and empowers children to self-select titles of interest.
As summer winds down and school bells begin ringing, your child will be farther ahead, not behind. Reading opens new worlds, builds vocabulary and boosts comprehension. By taking turns reading out loud, fluency bounces ahead with vim and vigor.
Use new vocabulary in everyday conversation and in writing. Ask questions and summarize what’s been read. Maybe do family “One Minute Books Reports”: I liked this book because. Or, You should read this book because….”
Everyone is a reading teacher. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles play an important part in the summer learning experience. Read together as much as you can, as often as you can. This is the summer gift you keep on giving. Playing and reading go together like peas and carrots.
I hope you are enjoying my blogs; there is quite a variety for you to choose from. I’d love to hear from you. I also encourage you to visit my Facebook page for great reading resources, and lots of interesting posts. Join me on Twitter @RitaWirtz.
If you have a new, reluctant or struggling reader, get in touch with me and I promise to get back to you. You really matter to me.
Leaving footprints on your reading hearts,
Rita
Read- Alouds are summeriffic
Family reading time, sharing classic junior novels, grades 2-8
