Summer is quickly approaching, and children will be footloose and fancy free. The last thing kids will be thinking about is school.
However, we know that kids become bored pretty quickly even though the pool, the beach, and their bikes beckon.
During the dog days of summer, we find them hiding in the basement or their rooms watching television or gaming while they binge on junk food.
And then there is that pesky little problem of summer reading! Teachers prepare packets so kids' brains don't turn to mush!
We know kids rail against this required work until the last possible moment..
Instead, kids need to approach summer brain stimuli in a different way--and, indeed, this is the challenge we face as parents!
As you will be in the thick of it with them, I tried to think of ideas that are less run-of-the-mill, and ones I think will actively engage your kids-- and you as well!
1. BookBub.com
It was started to help publishers and authors drive their books straight to readers and fans.
You can get updates about upcoming releases and recommendations from authors about books they love.
You simply sign up with your email, and you are able to choose the book genres which pique your reading curiosity. They offer over 20.
- First, they are down loadable eBooks, so you need to have one of those devices aforementioned.
- Secondly, deals are only for a limited time, so if you see an eBook you want, jump on it or you may lose it!
2. Color-As-You-Go Summer Reading Challenge
The bookmark challenge is on We Are Teachers site, so click on the link and print the checklist and the bookmarks.
All it is is a coloring activity where your child is tasked with a challenge, and once completed, he/she colors in the picture or simply checks it off.
For example: Read a book your friend is reading. Read to your teddy bear.
Sounds cute!
3. Mad Libs
They have been around since 1953 and were created by Leonard Stern and Roger Price.
The name Mad Libs came about after the creators overheard an argument involving an actor and his agent; he wanted to ad-lib an interview and the agent thought he was mad, as in insane.
The television audience loved them, so they decided to call their product Mad Libs and released them in 1958.
They obviously caught-on, and they've been selling like hot cakes ever since.
- the person does not begin by reading the story first as he or she fills in the blank!
- Instead, he/she is asked to fill out a list of random nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs which appear on the back of the story.
- Once he/she has completed the list, the writer inserts them into the story which makes little sense but more importantly, creates a whole lot of laughs. My students and my own children love them!
- The takeaway is that Mad Libs are a great way to review parts-of-speech in a creative, non-threatening way, and it also stirs up kids' creativity and curiosity.
- You can choose to buy the Mad Lib books; here is a link to Amazon.com There is also a game that can be purchased as well on Amazon.
- Mad Libs also be purchased through iTunes and Google Play
- You can also get to the official Mad Lib site by clicking this link.
4. Blogging for Kids
- The key takeaway is that since parental involvement is the key when your child is blogging, ultimately, it is something you and your child can work on together!
- You are encouraging your child to share his/her thoughts with others to increase his/her communication and social skills while you carefully monitor what your child is posting as you establish guidelines and set parameters.
- Therefore, blogging can be a great way to connect with your child. He/she will learn to be a responsible online user, and it's a great way to show him or her that you are tech-savvy as well.
- Think outside of the box and give the idea and a site your attention.
- You and your child may decide you have much you'd like to share with the world-at-large!
5. DomiNations
Yet, if you are inclined to allocate a certain amount of time for your kid's to access their iPhone, this particular game might be the lesser of many evils.
More importantly, he/she will meet interesting historical figures as the game spans from the Bronze to the Industrial Age.
It's for ages 13 and up.
There is no sex, offensive language or references to drinking, drugs or smoking, yet there is violence.
1. Your child can play alone or with friends or anonymous players online in a league. There is a parental code you can enter to prevent this.
2. Also, in order to advance, your child will be encouraged to make in-app purchases.
**** I encourage you to look it up and decide what is best for your child and ultimately your sanity and budget.
6. Scholastic.com
I use Scholastic Scope Magazine in my own E.L.A. middle school classroom,and this site is great for kids up to age 14.
As a parent as well, I urge you to go on and check out the many resources available to you and your child.
1. When you land on the site, up top you will see the Parents tab.
Scholastic has book clubs, with popular titles at great prices. You'll also find suggestions for activities for you and your child with printables, and there is even a magazine Parent and Child which discusses pressing parental issues!
Check it out. My students and I love Scholastic! You will, too. You're welcome!
7. Would You Rather...
Moreover, it is a great way to teach your child how to refute or rebut by encouraging him/her to discuss the choice he/she did not choose and why not.
For more on this fun writing strategy, you can check out my blog: The #1 Prompt to Get Kids to Buy Into Writing!
There are actual games that you can purchase, and there are also websites that have provocative questions geared specifically toward children.
Click on this link, and it will take you to: Conversation Starters World.com
"Would you rather be the author of a popular book or a musician in a band who released a popular album?"
Furthermore, I have witnessed great growth in my students' writing as they love to do this, and they don't realize they are practicing their writing skills and the proper way to structure a paragraph:
- Your child will practice using a topic sentence and a claim- He/she states his/her choice, based on the prompt and why he/she chose it.
- Then, he/she elaborates about why he/she feels this way. Additionally, he/she should also explain why he/she did not choose the other choice and elaborate why.
- Finally, he or she concludes his her paragraph by repeating or rephrasing the topic sentence and the claim.
- Additionally, you can use an article from the paper or an article from say Scholastic.com and have your child use text-based evidence to back up his/her thinking. He/she can practice "lifting a line" and using a parenthetical citation.
So, there you have it.
I hope these ideas will help you and your child relax, renew, and rediscover the joys of learning this summer in a thought-provoking, less hum-drum way.
I'd love some to hear some feedback and to know which ideas worked best for you.
ENJOY your summer with your children! Keep them busy and happy and yourself, too!
My best,
Jayne