Each Summer

I like to choose 2 somethings that my kids will learn new or continue to practice for the summer when they're in elementary school. This can be obtained by looking up the grade's standard in order to choose what to focus on.

I choose reading as one skill and then something else like math skills or social emotional skills.

I like to prepare my kids for what's to come and have them practicing a skill or introducing them to one skill for the year ahead. So that when they come to it during the school year they already have some knowledge of it.

We've also worked on social emotional skills as well like trying new things, showing good manners, kindnesses. It depends on what I felt/feel we're the biggest need at the beginning of that/the summer.

Here are some ideas based on grade. Do what works best for your child and where they're at. If it works better to review what was previously learned do that.

The Key is to Keep it Fun

For Preschool: reading letters (sounds & names) + numbers (2 = **), writing letters + numbers, counting to 30, ordering numbers to 30

For Kindergarten: reading skills, writing skills, number skills: reading letters + numbers, writing letters + numbers, counting to 100, ordering numbers to 100

For First grade: reading skills, writing skills, math facts (single digit addition and subtraction)

For Second grade: reading skills, writing skills, math (double digit addition and subtraction)

For Third grade: reading skills, writing skills + cursive, math facts (single digit multiplication 0-12)

Third grade to fourth grade is a big transition year. Third grade and below children are learning to read. With  introductions to understanding what they're reading. 

In fourth grade and up children are reading to learn. Which means the focus switches to reading comprehension and understanding the different elements of stories.

For Fourth grade: reading + reading comprehension skills, writing skills, math skills (double digit multiplication)

For Fifth grade: reading + reading comprehension skills, writing skills, math skills 

Types of Reading Comprehension Skills

 Children learn can include:

• Sequencing (order of events)

• Main Idea, details

• Problems and solutions

• Drawing conclusions (from personal experience and within the story)

• Making inferences based on the information given

• Comparing and Contrasting

• Summarizing the story in their own words

Simple Summer Reading

Reading skills could be as simple as reading books. Read for fun instead of quiz points if you can. This brings the joy back to reading. Have children choose books to read based on their interest. 

New books can be rewards. We have a heart chart - when my kids do kindnesses and once they earn a certain number of hearts they earn a new book. I've been doing this since they were in preschool. 

If you interested in how to set up your own