Our school year officially ended on May 17 this year, but we never really stop learning! On our first week out of school, we had Field Day with our local homeschool group, visited the library, and went on a field trip! Summer is our chance to learn about things we didn't have time to concentrate on during the other nine months of the year or our chance to experience more hands-on learning (field trips, art projects, swimming...). Last year, we read about the human body all summer (book list here) and completed our health credit before the next school year even started.
This year, instead of tackling a big learning goal, I have several smaller ideas in mind:
- Let the kids take turns choosing things from this list I printed and hung in the dining room: 101 Almost Free Things to Do With Kids This Summer.
- Work with Maddie and Owen on fluency when reading aloud.
- Teach Ben how to hold a pencil correctly with this easy method: Teaching a Child To Hold a Pencil .
- Spend 5-10 minutes a day learning about world geography with this free map and activity guide from Thriving Family: Around the World in 60 Days.
What are your summer learning plans?
Coming next week: Summer Reading and the launch of my new e-book: Summer Reading Guide For Families
We've been using that same pencil holding tip with Jonathan...it works perfectly! A small pompom is also the perfect size so I just keep one in the pencil box.
ReplyDeleteJonathan does get frustrated doing this though since he feels more control holding his pencil incorrectly right now. I've been trying timed practice with sticker rewards. For example, we'll color at the table and for every few minutes he colors holding the color pencil correctly, he gets one sticker on his paper. So far he likes this, but I still see him holding the pencil incorrectly when I'm not watching :( At least he's getting some practice in.
Such great suggestions... and love that you are always learning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Around The World in 60 days. We are going to do that, I linked back to you in my post about it.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear what you think about Around the World in 60 Days. I'm thinking about changing the dates and using it for our fall curriculum.
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh about #4 on the almost free things list...going to the zoo is one of the most expensive activities there is. It costs over $50 for my family to visit our local zoo. And that's if it's just me and the kiddos. If we go on the weekend when my husband has off, that's another $15 for him to get in!
ReplyDeleteWe have a small zoo that we get a family pass to. 2 visits for our family cover the cost of the pass and we can go several times in a year.
ReplyDeleteWe have a very nice small zoo in a town that is about 15 minutes for us that is free! We try to go 3-4 times a year, sometimes more.
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