Parents: It is widely agreed that Covid-19 has recently played a big role in your children’s education. All the standardized tests are showing that a lag in their learning has occurred. Most children have not learned all they should have, especially in reading and math; however, none of the other subjects have really escaped this lag either. While teachers have been busy this past year trying to fill these learning gaps, some still exist. Although this coming summer should be a fun time, it can also be a learning time. By this, we do not mean formal book learning for most children. Instead, we suggest imaginative activities that expand their horizons, increase their desire to learn more about a wide variety of subjects, and teach them new skills.
Some Children Need Formal Instruction in Reading
Sadly, some children have simply not gotten entirely on grade level in a variety of subjects this past year, even though they may have had some help to have them do this. The most important subject of all is obviously reading. All the experts agree that children need to be good readers by the end of third grade because subjects which require reading skills begin to be stressed in fourth grade. There are also the children who are struggling in elementary, middle, and high school with school subjects simply because they do not have good reading skills.
If you suspect that poor reading skills are holding your children back from academic success, begin by checking if they are reading on grade level. Online, you will be able to find many tests that assess reading grade level. We suggest using the reliable San Diego Assessment Test which is on our dearteacher.com website. If your children are significantly below their grade level, some formal instruction would be very beneficial this summer. This help can come from a summer program at your children’s school, tutor, learning center, or from a college that has a reading clinic (usually free).
Reading Skill Helpers Parents Can Use
If your children’s reading skills are not quite up to grade level or you would like them to become stronger readers, there are many programs online that will help them upgrade their skills. On our website under Skill Builders, look at “Improving Children’s Skills with Techniques that Work at Home.”
Creating a Love of Reading
So much of what older children are reading today is just on social media. While it is good they are at least reading for quite some time each day, it probably isn’t engendering a love of reading, greatly expanding their vocabularies, or even helping them learn more about literature. Here’s where you as parents come in. Read to your children, even middle schoolers, every day - 15 minutes will do. But don’t just read to them, discuss what you have read with them. With younger children, it could be: Tell me what the main character in the story is like. For older children, it could be: Do you agree or disagree with the author’s view on some subject and why? And if your children show an interest, have them participate in library reading programs.
Solidifying Math Skills
Nothing keeps math skills current or builds upon them like using them frequently during the summer. Games can keep math in the forefront for children. There are solitary games like Solitaire and Sudoku, and games families can play like Yahtzee. Then, there are all the math puzzles and games online which your children are likely to try, especially if you play them together.
Expanding Social Studies Knowledge
We must admit that not all children are big aficionados of social studies. You may be able to increase their interest in this subject by visiting historic sites they may be studying about in the future and taking informational tours:
- City Hall and the State Capitol
- The homes of Presidents and historical figures and mansions of the past 100 years
- National and State parks
- Prominent Monuments
You may also increase their knowledge of times past through riding steam engines and visiting museums like those of automobiles, trains, racecars, toys, and film. Another way for children to become fascinated by history is to introduce them to genealogy. Have them research their ancestors. They may discover some were soldiers, inventors, or politicians. Once they have the name of a relative, they can Google that name and find out a lot more about this person’s life.
Building Children’s Interest in Science
An interest in astronomy could evolve from a visit to a planetarium. Besides a look at what’s in outer space, they may have the chance to look through a telescope. Then, there are natural history museums where they can see plants and animals past and present and dioramas of how early people lived. And just think what a visit to a place like La Brea Tar Pits would let them find out about animals that once roamed the Earth.
Here’s to a Wonderful and Educational Summer
If you take a day each week or just one weekend a month to have a learning adventure, it can pay educational dividends for your children as well as be a fun time for everyone in the family.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com. To learn more about helping children succeed in school, visit the Dear Teacher website.
©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2024