Why (or whether) and how to supplement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We pay $$$ for the McLean summer reading and writing intensives. They also offer a math intensive, but even their “learning leaps” camps are enough to avoid the summer slide but a HUGE step above the MCPS summer offerings for elementary.

We also pay for private instrument lessons since 30 minutes a week at school is barely enough time to learn anything.

Lastly, we supplement with a lot of outside physical activities since McPS doesn’t even meet the state required minimum for PE. Swimming, karate, gymnastics, etc are what my kid enjoys

Activities and music are not supplementing.

They mean workbooks, online stuff, tutoring, etc.

Brain research says otherwise. Have you not paid attention for the last decade?!?

Music, sports, etc are different. We are talking academics.

[Anonymous]

Fill in the gaps for what school is lacking for you specific child and values. Could include workbooks, tutors, parent helping child (esp in ES, usu no need for tutor), extra-curric activities, educational play, talk to them and show them what you're doing, ... so many ways, basically just make learning fun and teach them whatever you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplement by exploring the world, not with workbooks and apps, and encourage reading.

Interested in Space? Visit the Smithsonian Air and Soace Museum and plan a trip to Cape Canaveral. Interested in History? Visit Gettysburg and some historic homes. Dinosaurs? Natural History Museum and go fossil hunting (there's a place in MD, am blanking on the name). When you travel, don't just visit the hotel pool, visit cultural sites.

We have 1 out of college and 2 in college, all successful/on the road to success and we never did workbooks or allowed apps. In fact, limit technology as much as you can without impinging on their social life as they get older. We never allowed and still never allow phones during a meal, and all phones and computers and all electronic devices were not allowed in bedrooms overnight.

School also looked different for your kids and a better curriculum with books and textbooks.

All the more reason to encourage reading actual books and fostering academic interests, not spending more time on math apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplement by exploring the world, not with workbooks and apps, and encourage reading.

Interested in Space? Visit the Smithsonian Air and Soace Museum and plan a trip to Cape Canaveral. Interested in History? Visit Gettysburg and some historic homes. Dinosaurs? Natural History Museum and go fossil hunting (there's a place in MD, am blanking on the name). When you travel, don't just visit the hotel pool, visit cultural sites.

We have 1 out of college and 2 in college, all successful/on the road to success and we never did workbooks or allowed apps. In fact, limit technology as much as you can without impinging on their social life as they get older. We never allowed and still never allow phones during a meal, and all phones and computers and all electronic devices were not allowed in bedrooms overnight.

School also looked different for your kids and a better curriculum with books and textbooks.

All the more reason to encourage reading actual books and fostering academic interests, not spending more time on math apps.

Books are great but you still need to work on math facts, how to solve math problems, grammar, spelling and vocuabulary. Books alone don't do that.