How much studying is your elementary child doing this summer?

[Anonymous]

Does he at least read for pleasure, or maybe you could read together before bed? Let him play math games online. My kids love to do those, but if I made them do math on paper, then they are less likely to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

We play board games like monopoly and my rising 2nd grader is the banker. We cook and they measure and we talk about fractions. They read all the time on their own. We read to them at least at night before bed, usually more. We go to the nature centers and libraries. That's the kind of studying we are doing this summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We play board games like monopoly and my rising 2nd grader is the banker. We cook and they measure and we talk about fractions. They read all the time on their own. We read to them at least at night before bed, usually more. We go to the nature centers and libraries. That's the kind of studying we are doing this summer.

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+ 100.... This is how summer learning should happen for little kids. So meaningful and joyful at the same time. Summer journals are also a great way to reinforce writing practice and record family memories. I honestly feel that little children (pre-k- 3rd) should only have structured learning time and/or a tutor over the summer if there is a true delay in reading, writing, language, or number sense. If you feel that your child needs structured learning time at home over the summer, I feel that older elementary kids can handle writing a summer journal, reading with parents and independently, practicing math by using online games or apps...maybe 20-30 min 3-5 times a week.

Signed,
Owner of a tutoring company and former classroom teacher

[Anonymous]

There was one summer where I printed out fake money and paid them to do worksheets and read. Then I had a box of prizes with price tags and they could use their earnings to buy the prizes. This worked well for one summer but was a dud the following summer. I think the problem was that my kids had outgrown the novelties I was offering.

There was a request this year to bring back the prize box but I'm too cheap to stock it with prizes that would actually offer any incentive to work and it just seemed like I would be buying their efforts. I wish I was creative enough to find good prizes that aren't completely spoiling them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three kids in elementary and middle. I'm having them work through workbooks that review the math levels they just came from. They all needed the review. I'm attempting to get each of them to read a book but it's like pulling teeth. At this point I'd let them read smut if they wanted to.

I have the opposite - If there was a smut mathbook, I'd buy it. Heck, maybe I can make up my own questions for him tomorrow! Poop long division, or something.

He could spend all day reading if I let him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We play board games like monopoly and my rising 2nd grader is the banker. We cook and they measure and we talk about fractions. They read all the time on their own. We read to them at least at night before bed, usually more. We go to the nature centers and libraries. That's the kind of studying we are doing this summer.

These are excellent!

[Anonymous]

Rising second grader is keeping a journal of daily activities, drawing at least a couple of days a week, reading a total of 15 - 20 books over the summer, working on flash cards for math facts and doing a few math worksheets each week.

[Anonymous]

None. DC is way above grade level and an avid reader. Usually 20-30 minutes before breakfast, another 15-20 after dinner, plus DH or I reading aloud before bedtime. It's all fun. We love the libraries, and DC picks the books ( we research together on Amazon and DC writes up the book lists and is learning to find the call numbers on the library computer and on the shelves.

For a few days, DC experimented with keeping a reading journal, but it slowed things down too much. So we let it go. Don't want to interfere with the joy of reading in any way.

As for math, it's part of everyday life, just as PP described. Multiplication seems to a big theme lately. We're finding tons of examples/problems to talk about in daily life.

Also doing some programming ousting the free Scratch website. DC likes to figure things out solo, so we're skipping the how/to books for now.

The rest of the time us camp, silly play with younger DC, bike rides, pool, play dates, errands, and a few favorite TV shows. No worksheets, flash cards, homework etc.

[Anonymous]

We read every night. Try to do at least 30 minutes of math or writing or other workbook 3-5 times a week. Sometimes he cooperates, sometimes it is a lot of silliness. He reads very well so I stopped focusing on that. Going into K. Almost 6.

[Anonymous]

One hour of reading ever day and math worksheets with her summer nanny (maybe 30 minutes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero. She's reading, writing, and drawing, but anything beyond that is not really happening. (Rising 1st grader)

What studying do you mean?

DS is a beginner reader. He likes being read to but hates practicing reading. He gets frustrated that he can't read most of the big words. At the same time, he hates the BOB type books too. It is frustrating for all of us. Considering getting him a reading tutor.

I also have various workbooks that he seems to hate doing. I am not trying to get him to do hours of work, maybe 10-20 minutes per day. He has been legitimately sick a few days but he makes so many excuses.

He needs a break. Read to him. Read to him some more. Take the pressure off. He's going to get it. Don't worry about the workbooks and stuff. Give him some paint or stickers and let him have some actual fun. It is summertime!

To answer the original question, he reads a lot, but otherwise no official work!

[Anonymous]

None, they just read for fun when they want to, and they love to read and do very well during the school year.

[Anonymous]

None. DS is entering 6th. This thread has been a real eye-opener.

Where do you all live? How would you describe your culture/ethnicity/race/country of origin?

Nobody I know in my neighborhood does this, nor do DS's classmates at his independent school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising first grader is doing 20 minutes of reading a day, and maybe 20 minutes of pother review (mostly practicing Spanish). We also have a bunch of educational apps on the ipad, and I'll often catch hi playing one of those.

What are some good apps, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None. DS is entering 6th. This thread has been a real eye-opener.

Where do you all live? How would you describe your culture/ethnicity/race/country of origin?

Nobody I know in my neighborhood does this, nor do DS's classmates at his independent school in DC.

Not sure what the questions posed have anything to do anything...