We look forward to summer in a big way. Most of us relish the time when schedules are lighter, daylight is longer and time seems to slow down a bit. Summer is good for the spirit within us and good for the body and soul. The time between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next is also a time when every student risks some learning loss. Research shows us that:
students lose 2.6 months of math gains and two months of reading skills over the summer break.
on average six weeks of class time are devoted each fall to reviewing rusty skills.
two-three hours of skills work are needed each week during the summer to maintain academic skills.
summer learning loss is recognized as early as grade one.
by the end of grade six, students who have not retained skills over each summer are on average two years behind their peers.
The good news is that there are many excellent activities that will keep your student’s mind growing and learning as s(he) enjoys the summer months. The best way to make this summer learning happen is not to overload your child with academics but rather to protect his/her time to rejuvenate and re-energize. Learning during vacations is best done organically, where learning becomes part of each day’s activities and routines. Taking advantage of teachable moments makes a strong connection between learning and real life. These “teachable moments” often promote inquiry, exploration, excitement and understanding.
I like to think about five areas of skill development that benefit students in Middle School over the summer months. These areas include: reading, writing, math, physical exercise, and reasoning. The lists of possible summer learning experiences are endless, which makes it possible for you to scaffold activities that fit best within your family unit. A search on-line will yield further suggestions. The following is just a taste of what is out there to explore with your children.
READING
Encourage your child to read books that interest him/her. Have him/her read a variety of different books or discover a passion and read many books on that one topic.
Schedule family read alouds. Older students still love to be read to. This is a good opportunity to read a family adult book and discuss it together.
Read a book and see the movie.
Discuss with your children what they read. Be sure to do this out of genuine interest in the topics they are reading about and not to “quiz” them.
Mindsnacks – This app tests kids’ understanding of vocabulary and helps sharpen their reading and writing skills. For children in 2nd through 7th grade. Available for iOS devices.
Make up scavenger hunts for your children or have your Middle Schooler make up scavenger hunts for younger children. There are many websites to help with scavenger hunts (www.scavengerhuntriddles.net/scavenger-hunts/create).
Listen to audio books. Summer is a good time to explore recordings of nonfiction books of interest. Many are adult books but are appropriate for Middle Schoolers. Students benefit from listening to the flow, cadence and rhythm of language.
WRITING
Keep a journal: nature journal, vacation journal.
Scrapbook.
Make a joke book.
Make a comic book complete with sketches and captions.
Write and send handwritten letters (remember those?)
Write to a favorite author or other person of interest. My son once wrote to Queen Elizabeth when Windsor castle suffered an unfortunate fire.
Make cards and send to friends, a real departure from social media!
Write a book: Write a book about a pet, about a trip, about a fictional character or place, about a best friend, about a dream.
See http://www.readbrightly.com/6-great-websites-teen-writers/ for websites for teen writers (Wattpad, One Teen Story, Teen Ink, NaNoWriMo, Figment, Tumblr.).
Write poetry. Middle Schoolers do love writing poetry! Couple writing poetry with photography for a creative summer experience.
MATH
Cook with your children. Have your Middle Schooler cook dinner.
Plan trips together using maps.
Websites: NRICH – This website keeps kids interested in math by presenting fun problems for them to solve. Games are available for kids of all ages.
Math Shack – This website offers activities that are aligned to the Common Core Math Standards. Kids can track their progress, and if they need help, an integrated help station will move things along. For middle school students and up.
Brilliant – This Google app challenges advanced learners in math and physics with advanced problems. Problems include explanations and examples to increase understanding. Also available as a website.
https://www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/10-best-math-tools-for-middle-school This website reviews 10 websites especiallyfor Middle School math learners.
PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Play! Outdoor games; sports leagues
Hike
Swim
Ride bikes
Applewild Camp!
Run. Walk your dog!
Learn yoga.
REASONING- GAMES and PUZZLES
Do jigsaw puzzles.
Fill out word searches.
Enjoy appropriate video games (in moderation).
GAMES: Sequence: a card-based strategy game; Catan: battle to collect resources and build settlements on the island of Catan; Scrabble: reigns as one of the best word-based board games; Blokus: this Tetris-like board game will put your family’s spatial reasoning and critical thinking skills to the test; Pandemic: for a cooperative activity for your family, your best bet is Pandemic, an apocalyptic board game where players must stop the spread of diseases to save the world; Googly Eyes: don vision-altering glasses then try to draw something the other players can recognize.
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