[Savvy]

What are the top ten things kids should practice during the summer so that they are prepared for the next year?

Read! Does your public library have a summer programming flyer you could copy and distribute?

Talk about reading! Give parents a few question stems to get them started: "Did you ever feel like ___? When?" "Oh no! What do you think will happen next?" "I don't remember how the story started. How did the beginning go?"

Productive screen-time: Give parents ideas for educational websites, like starfall (for rising first graders), abcya.com, fossweb.com, or tumblebooks (google tumble books library and click through a library website to get on for free).

Send any unfinished workbooks home and psych the kids up that any work left is second grade work!! Send them a special second-grade pencil and sharpener (Dollar Tree) to do it with. Send a note to parents that it's not mandatory nut would be a great skills enhancer.

I'll be watching the thread for more ideas!

[stressgirl37]

I tell my families to read (to, with, and independently). Local library usually has a reading program and story hour. Also our Barnes and Nobel usually has a summer reading program also with an incentive.

Also, writing is important. Write about anything! Keep those skills sharp.

Finally, basic math skills. I give them resources for this, like websites and workbooks like Jump Start at Costco or something similar.

I keep it to the basics because a lot of my families have limited resources. I have a letter I send that has info on "summer brain drain" and why it's important to try to maintain their skills.

[stressgirl37]

Just found this

http://myfrugaladventures.com/2012/0...for-kids-2012/

[esl]

but they do need to keep up skills in a fun way. Read, talk about the books, ask questions, draw pictures, as above

write ... a diary, a story, a postcard, letter or email,....

maths - in a real world setting... cooking, shopping, counting in an informal way,

explore - museums, woods, parks

play - sports, board games ...

websites and TV - in a limited amoiunt and with follow up discussions

art activities - get out the materilas and let them loose to create