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Sunday, May 20, 2012
Summer Learning Tips
Although I am looking forward to the summer just as much as my students probably are, I also am dreading the loss of learning come September. For this reason, I decided to read this article, Summer Learning Tips. Last year I started sending home a "Top 10 List of Things to do this Summer" with students' final report cards of the year. This article, although shorter than I hoped, gave me a few suggestions to add to my list. For example, I liked the idea of students rewriting the beginning or end of a book they read over the summer. Not only is this supporting their reading comprehension, but their writing as well. I also thought the idea of a Scavenger Hunt was great! I think this is a great way for families to spend time together, yet make it educational (i.e. visit the DIA, Greenfield Village, or the Detroit Zoo). Flash cards are an idea that I already have on my list, but I liked the idea of including word problems. Students become so overwhelmed with the story problems on the MEAP in October, therefore practice over the summer would be very beneficial. Finally, the current events project would be a good idea since I loop half of my students. I could assign a project for students to bring in for Meet and Greet to keep them learning over the summer and excited to share their report. I'm glad I found this article and am wondering if anyone else has any other suggestions! :)
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I definitely see a loss of learning at the beginning of the school year, as well! The suggestions in the article seem decent, but don't cover all areas of the curriculum. Planning to spend time with the family like a trip to a museum could be a fun way for students to continue to practice certain skills while having fun at the same time! I definitely don't think students want to sit around and spend their summer practicing with flash cards, but you never know! When I began this school year I did see a lot of simple, basic math skills that were lacking so I would have liked to see some suggestions to help with math other than flash cards. Even so I thought this was a good article that offered some great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteI too found the article beneficial. As a math teacher, I see what Jaclyn sees at the beginning of the school year, a loss of basic skills. In my previous district in Michigan, all students going into sixth, seventh, and eighth grade received a math "Summer Packet". The district was all in support of the idea of passing out the math packets at the end of the school year for the students to return the following September. Teachers counted it for a grade and students were giving opportunities all summer to practice their math skills. Now, worksheets are not the most engaging way to practice math skills but we had students at least practicing over the summer months. It is hard to really "force" things upon students with the districts support.
ReplyDeleteThis article provides great information and suggestion. It is important to ensure our youth are exposed to a learning environment (creative or structured) throughout the year.
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