Dear Parents,
One of the most frequently asked questions by parents at the end of any school year is “What activities do you recommend for my child during the summer to help him or her hold on to the progress made during KG2?” We have put together some suggestions of activities that will help you meet their academic needs this summer. Also, attached is a list of useful websites for you and some language arts and math calendars.
- Play, play, play and play some more. Young children learn through a wide variety of play experiences. Allow your child long periods of uninterrupted play time. You can extend their oral language skills by discussing their play activities with them and by showing interest in the play activities they have selected.
- Talk, talk, talk! Young children need to be listened to by interested ears. Encourage your child to create oral stories with a beginning, middle, and end. Ask your child questions to help him/her develop the characters in his story. Talk with your child, sing with him/her, and listen to him/her.
- Explore, explore, explore! Expose your child to new and exciting experiences. Take them to zoos, space centers, museums, and new cities and countries. First grade will study where people go, what people do, the five senses, human body, celebrations, words in the air, and how people communicate. When possible select activities or places to visit that will help your child build up experiences that will compliment their units of study next year.
- Read, read, read! Read to your child and with your child daily. Make your reading time a special time for the two of you. Look for books close to the level your child was reading during guided reading or the level above. Get on Raz-Kids to choose books or visit your local library or book store.
- Write, write, write! Encourage your child to write two to three times a week in a journal to maintain the writing processes they have acquired this year. Recording special events from their vacation is a great way to use their journal. Remember your child will be using invented spelling with some conventionally spelled sight words mixed in. Encourage your child to read their writing to you.
- Addition and Subtraction: Encourage your child to complete some math activities using small objects (beans, blocks, toothpicks) to work out the problems you make up for them. KG2 students operate in the concrete level of understanding, which means they need to see and manipulate physical objects in order to understand the concept.
- Handwriting: Handwriting is an easy activity for your child to practice over the summer. You can encourage your child to write their journal writing in their best handwriting. Then circle the words they wrote the best.
Websites:
Language Arts Calendar
Getting Ready for 1st Grade Math
