Summer Enrichment

Whats the “summer slide?” As I have chatted with many students in the past few weeks to reflect on their MAP scores, one thing they have noticed and shared is that their Fall scores tend to be lower than the other terms. When I ask them why, they share that over the summer, they don’t read or practice math as much. I often say that our brains are like our muscles in that it needs to (figuratively) be stretched and used. The more we continue to practice, the more we grow as learners.

When I ask the students, “How can you continue to challenge and use your brain over the summer?” they have shared some brilliant ideas. One student said she can read to her younger cousins. Another student said she can make practice math worksheets for her friends.

By continuing the routine and habits of practicing academic skills, the transition back to school in the Fall will be much smoother. 

Here are a few things your child can do over the summer:

Card Games: Here is a list of different card games that your child can play at home.

Prodigy: Students, mostly in the 4th and 5th grade, really enjoy this interactive math game.

Multiplication.com: Students can play against a computer or log in to play with each other. 

Math Workbooks and Story Books: There are plenty of practice books and read aloud books in Barnes & Nobles or the local library. Some of these books are even available as an ebook! Check out hoopladigital.com, Overdrive, Libby, or Getepic.com!

Whiteboard practice: Students oftentimes prefer writing or drawing on a whiteboard. If you have a dry erase marker and no board, your child can DIY a whiteboard using transparent paper, contact paper, a large zip lock bag, etc. Students can solve math problems on whiteboards or race against the clock to solve a problem.

Build something! Consider a problem in the world. What can your child build or what solution can your child think of to solve it?

Incorporate art! Here is an example of a way to practice fractions. Students colored in a 10 x 10 to represent parts of a whole.

This student created a multiplication puzzle using her dog as inspiration.
She gave it to a friend to answer and color.

If having a physical workbook is your child’s preference. Find one that works for you! 

Reflect and Journal. Students can think about what they have learned in the past year and create their own academic journal. What questions do they have? What do they still wonder about? These are some of the things they can include in the journal.

The key is to find activities that are motivating and personalized to your child. What activities are both fun and challenging so they can continue to learn?