Tips From a Teacher~ Simple Summer Learning Activities You Can Do At Home

So many parents ask “So, what can I do to help my child(ren) continue to learn and progress with math and reading over the summer"?

As a teacher, I always recommend that parents do continue to work with their children during the summer so that their children don’t have what I call, the “summer loss” syndrome.   

I would say “just a little everyday”. Not a big deal, right?

Well, that was before I was a mom. Now, having two little ones at home, I know that just a little bit can become a big deal. You still want a stress-free summer that is fun for your children and yourself.

Here are some simple summer learning ideas that will make that “a little everyday” a lot easier and something fun that your child will look forward to. You will take pride in the fact that you are helping your little ones with math and reading skills and your child will have so much fun, he will not realize he is doing school work!

Simple Summer Learning Activities:

• If you have little ones, have your older ones read to them.
• Do basic math facts with food. 
• Cut up their peanut butter sandwich into pieces –
• Have younger children count the pieces.
• Older children, work on addition, subtraction or fractions.
• Basic math facts with flash cards (dollar tree sells them).
• Keep track of the time of completion and they can compete against their own time.
• My oldest is obsessed with Legos.  Lego activities that hit both spelling and math are:
• Spell words out using Lego blocks.
• Count out red Legos, orange Legos, black Legos, etc.  Which pile has more/less?   
• Good old fashion reading to your kids is always great time for bonding  and learning.
• And, as I still tell all my students, READ, READ, READ!

I hope this helps!  Because in the end, like it or not, the “summer loss syndrome” is real! I see it every September.

~Dalila

Guest post by Dalila L. Mendoza. Dalila is the mother of two boys, Jacob – 6 and Jeremy – 1.  She has been married to her husband, Joshua, for 10 years.  Currently, she is the Assistant Principal of an elementary school and a second grade teacher (yes, full time in both positions).