At A One-Room Schoolhouse, we will start our parent-teacher-student conferences tomorrow. Can you guess the number one question I will be asked? “What should we work on over the summer?” Everyone wants to know how to prevent the summer slide.
Most students lose about 20% of their school year gains in reading and 27% of their gains in math over the summer. This means they lose about a month’s worth of learning. Additionally, younger students are more prone to the slide than older students.
Steps to Stopping Summer Slide
- Read, read, and read (To, with, and by)
- Make time for both “smart” play (puzzles, blocks, board/card games, learning apps) and “unstructured” play
- Get outside (hint: get those hours for #1000hoursoutside)
- Go on outings (museums, zoos, planetariums, parks, battlefields, and shows)
- Target a few key concepts to turn weaknesses into strengths
Number One: Read…Ten Book Challenge
Recently, Jenny Phillips from The Good and the Beautiful published a few vlogs with top read-aloud list suggestions. So, I challenged my kids to read all of the books from one of these lists together this summer. Reading books as a family creates hours of enjoyment, peace, and bonding.
Check out each video here (older kids) and here (younger kids). My kids and I are almost done with Esperanza Rising, and it has been an amazing read so far!
Recommended Family Reads for Older Children
- Treasures of the Snow
- The Winged Watchman
- Heidi
- Carry on Mr. Bowditch
- My Name is Sally Little Song
- The Good Master
- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
- Red Sails to Capri
- Daughters of the Mountains
- Esperanza Rising
Recommended Family Reads for Younger Children
- The Light at Tern Rock
- The Cabin Faced West
- The Chocolate Touch
- Wilma Rudolph
- The Hundred Dresses
- Badger Hill Farm Series
- Rickshaw Girl
- Owls in the Family
- A Grain of Rice
- See Saw Girl
- The Prince and the Pauper
- Crooked Creek Ranch
Can you get ten done before the end of the summer? We are aiming to get the first list done, but maybe, just maybe, we will do the second list too!
Other Summer Slide Stops
One of our Schoolhouse teachers has put together the ultimate linked list, highlighting fun, grade-level activities that The Good and the Beautiful have published over the years on their blog. Whether you’re looking for great activities, need to review some grammar, or want to celebrate a summer holiday with a little summer study, this list is perfect for you!
I have also created some recommended reading lists for all ages. These lists are tailored to engage and challenge students at every reading level. For a variety of book suggestions, covering different genres and interests, be sure to check out my blog posts. Whether you’re looking for books to support young children, engaging chapter books for middle-grade readers, or thought-provoking novels for teens, you’ll find a wealth of recommendations. These lists are designed to help you keep your child’s reading skills sharp and their love for books alive all summer long. Explore my blog posts for detailed reading suggestions for every age group.
As a long-time math enthusiast and teacher, I can attest that math is a “use it or lose it” skill. To keep math skills sharp, I often recommend parents use a daily review like Math Minutes. Just Google “Math Minutes” along with your child’s previous grade, and you will find a variety of options.
Another resource I’ve recently discovered is a new math curriculum called Math With Confidence. It fits nicely between The Good and the Beautiful Math levels. Math With Confidence is perfect for bridging the summer between math levels from The Good and the Beautiful. Choose the grade you are bridging to for a review of the last level and a preview of the next.
- Get ready for PK
- Get ready for TGATB level K
- Get ready for TGATB level 1
- Get ready for TGATB level 2
- Get ready for TGATB level 3
- Get ready for TGATB level 4
Another great summer options from Math with Confidence in their math fact program. This is more than just drill and kill, it provides instruction to have a deep understanding of the facts and then builds fluency through fun games and activities.
Let’s work together to make this summer both enjoyable and educational, ensuring our children are ready to excel in the coming school year. Happy learning!
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