INSTRUCTIONAL SUMMER

It may seem that summer has just started, however, most kids have been away from academic instruction for over a month. And, in just a few weeks you will be sending them back to new classrooms, teachers, books, and academic exercises. No doubt they will be excited about all the new curricula and a bit anxious about performing well.

It's important they are prepared and confident when starting the new school year. If children feel educationally empowered, they will do better both academically and socially.

Spending about thirty minutes a day on math and language arts skills will ready kids for the coming school year. Thirty minutes is a rule of thumb and it is perfectly understandable that sometimes other obligations take precedence. However, if you undertake some review at least a few times a week, your efforts will pay off. Come September, your child will be ahead of the game with sharpened academic skills and higher morale.

They are also learning an invaluable life lesson - practice equals preparedness and really does make perfect.

When or where your kids rev up their educational muscle isn't important - in the car, at the park or on the couch is fine. The value comes from progressing at the appropriate grade level and keeping the review stimulating. To choose the proper material, take another look at your child's last report card. There should be ample information on proficiency levels and what skills need improvement.

There are numerous grade-leveled workbooks and enrichment material at your local bookstore. Or you can go online. San Mateo County Library has special events and sites just for kids and teens. Check out http://kids.smcl.org.

A quick way to figure out if your child is able to read a book independently is to have them read about 20 words out loud. If they miss more than a few, it may be a bit too difficult. In that case, take turns reading the book together, making predictions, summarizing and discussing favorite characters and passages.

Reading aloud the classics can be entertaining and enlightening for the whole family. Discussing the stories and clarifying difficult words increases comprehension.

A summer journal and/or writing letters to friends and relatives strengthens printing, cursive, grammar and vocabulary development.

Coordinating and supervising these educational adventures takes time. If your schedule is too tight, you may consider procuring a tutor. Kids often respond better to those outside the family. Ask a local teenager if they would be willing to practice with your child or go to your local library and inquire there.

It's not difficult to conclude that children prepared for school will have more success and students who are successful in school are offered more opportunities. So purchase the new backpacks and school clothes, but also continue to give the gift of education throughout the summer months.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.