As summer kicks into full gear many teachers warn that the average student will lose much of what they learned the year before. Melanie Martin, a Pre-K teacher in Jacksonville, NC said in an interview given for the sake of this article that the best way to encourage children is to keep them learning in a way that is not perceived as learning at all.
Martin further stated that it is important to remember that children do not need to spend the summer vamping up for the next school year. Simply having them review material that they mastered recently will keep them sharp.
Write Letters to Sharpen Grammatical Skills
Writing a letter is not only fun but helpful to a child's skills in correspondence. Along with enhancing writing skills, and familiarizing oneself with the process of writing addresses (most importantly, the child's own) there is the potential of a prize in return.
A child can contact businesses that the household frequently buys from. In return the company might mail back promotional materials such as coupons, posters, or games. Receiving a response is all about knowing who to contact. For this purpose it is important that parents contact customer service by phone first.
Children can also become pen pals with friends and relatives that live far away. Not only will they keep their writing skills sharp, but they will make meaningful contact with loved ones
Introduce Geography Lessons Into Letter Writing
Following the mailing of a letter, look at a map and show where the letter is going from its point of origin. In this simple lesson students will have engaged in creative and professional writing skills, communication, and geography. If they go to the post office with their own money to purchase the stamp, then they will learn a lesson in commerce as well.
Transitional Work Books Ease the Change From One Grade to Another
Book stores both big and small have transitional books covering all scholastic topics, such as planetary science. The first few pages will start with an easy review of the previous year’s coursework, and will then slowly venture into uncharted territory, leading the parent into the sometimes challenging role of educator, while the child stretches to get a head start on the next year’s coursework.
To combat the strain of learning something new, a reward system is always a good motivator. Rewards do not have to be expensive or elaborate. Great rewards could involve letting a child pick out anything he or she wants from the candy aisle of the grocery store at the end of a week of finished lessons, or renting a movie from the video store.
Many believe that learning is the reward. As true as that statement may be, among the many that believe it are few children. It is perhaps a lesson best saved for a later date.
Visit the State Capitol for Great History Lessons
Travel is always fun. Visiting a state capitol can be especially so. Capitol buildings look different than any other structure nearby, and are open to the public. Your child might be able to witness state representatives giving speeches to the press.
While inside, the children can be shown pictures of the current and previous governors as well as other historical facts, allowing them to feel a closer connection to the past and present and also giving them a deeper sense of where they live.
Books about state capitols are available at local libraries, but some things are just better in the flesh. When it comes to summer learning, the lessons can be fun and adventurous whether it is sending a letter from a home in California to the Kraft Foods customer service office in Minneapolis, MN, or driving from York, PA to Harrisburg for a day trip that will not likely be forgotten.
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