It's at least 80 degrees and humid come early June in North Carolina. Kids are anxious to walk through the school doors for the last time until fall. Backpacks are tucked into the closet and the list of fun ahead seems endless. Days at the pool or lake begin, in addition to camps, family vacations, and so on. We sincerely hope your family is able to take advantage of the much-needed relaxation time.
We also hope that our students will continue learning during this time "off" from the classroom. Keeping up the skills and concepts students have worked so hard to obtain this last year is vital for starting on the right foot come August. Summer learning doesn't have to fall wayside out of fear of it being a damper on fun or too difficult to schedule. With the right mix of support and activities, learning can blend right into the other excitement you have planned!
Our tutors are excellent at making summer sessions smooth and bearable for their students. They understand most kids would rather be hanging with friends or swimming in the pool than focused on academics. Going into summer with a tutoring plan will make it easier for your child to accept it as part of the summer schedule, just like camp, vacation, etc. Knock out a morning session and the rest of the day is open for the more exciting activities, or if you want to play in the morning, then you can schedule their regular sessions for late afternoon/evening times. A simple reward for working hard during these sessions is also a great way to encourage that focused time as well.
Don't worry if your summer is packed with extra-curriculars and you fear sessions just won't fit in. We understand the need for flexibility. We gladly work with our families' busy calendars to reschedule for vacations, camps, etc.
In addition to a tutoring plan, here are some other simple activities to keep your child's mind engaged this summer!
Younger kids: Get all of the craft supplies and let them create their own reading calendar for the fridge. Go to the library to pick out books every couple of weeks. Reward them for reaching weekly or monthly reading goals!
Older kids: Let them read a book they can also watch a movie of after they complete it. Let them see how much you value the skills too by reading along with them. You can discuss a few ideas after you both finish it and also offer them an incentive for completing a certain quantity of books during their summer break.
Younger kids: Work on math skills using money saving incentive from doing extra chores or yard work.
Older kids: During TV time, put the language setting on the one they are studying in school. Have fun with it!
Younger kids: Try to replicate a fun science experiment to try at home on a rainy day.
Older kids: Encourage them to journal every night -- this is a great way for them to express their emotions while also using their writing skills.
Any age: Let them do a research project of their choice to present to the family at the end of summer. This will use their creative, computer and oral presentation skills, but keep it light and fun! Let them pick a historical location (like somewhere you are vacationing) or a specific topic (like the art of water skiing) -- wherever their mind takes them!
Any age: FAMILY trivia night!
Watch for updates on unique experiences and even freebies from local museums, zoos, farms, camps and even the library.
We have an amazing summer tutoring team with a wealth of experience to support your student in all subjects, grade levels and test prep. If summer tutoring is for your family, please contact us today!
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