Help Desk Summer ’09

Welcome to the Kids Enabled Help Desk – where readers go to ask questions about what is important to them. The 2007 fall issue gave the first opportunity for you to ask and be answered. The following is the question that was chosen and a synopsis of the answers from our panel of experts.

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For kids with learning differences, the summer can mean regression in some hard-earned academic or social skills. Our Kids Enabled experts share strategies for keeping skills sharp!

Question:

How do I keep my child’s academic skills from regressing during the summer?
- Lorraine Vogelbaum, Johns Creek, GA

Answers:

Summer is a great time to make learning fun and rewarding. Think of subjects or activities your child likes to do, and then use your imagination to add some elements of education. Cooking is a great way to work on reading and math skills, and to learn how to follow directions. Sewing reinforces visual learning, following directions, and completing tasks. Gardening is a great way to learn about science and can reinforce math and reading skills. Hiking and camping offer great science teaching opportunities, and planning for the trip lends itself to research (reading skills), budgeting (math skills), and keeping a journal (writing skills). Cards and board games are great learning tools for math, reading, and social skills. The great thing about summer is that kids have the opportunity to enjoy learning. If they have fond memories of a summer activity, they will continue to want to learn.

- Carol Gustavson, KE Editorial Advisory Board Member

Children with learning issues must keep their skills sharp over the summer months. Otherwise, they tend to lose ground. For some students, working with a learning specialist can bridge the gap. In other cases, a trip to an educational store or having the teacher prepare a summer learning packet can do the trick. And, of course, READ, READ, READ! Many libraries have reading programs that provide great incentives for summer reading. Keeping a vacation journal or a summer scrapbook is a good opportunity for written expression and expands a child’s base of geography knowledge. Taking field trips and writing about the experience offers another way to keep writing skills sharp. Keep them reading, writing, and practicing math. Working on the 3 R’s will help them keep up and make the start of the new school year easier!

- Gayle Born, M.Ed., Educational Consultant, Parkaire Consultants, KE Editorial Advisory Board Member

Even with the best of educational intentions, don’t forget that vacation means a time to relax and enjoy each other. Unlike the structured and scheduled school year, the summer months provide opportunities to learn without the pressure of deadlines, testing, evaluations or grades. The following are some ways to add learning opportunities into your summer fun:

 

• Read! Join a summer reading program at the public library.
• Work together on a photo album, trip journal or diary.
• Use practical math skills for trip planning. Compare lodging costs, keep mileage records, estimate and add up costs for meals. Making change, calculating tips and keeping a budget are real life skills, not workbook exercises.
• Comparison shop in the supermarket.
• Cook together, measure ingredients, follow recipes. Think of your kitchen as a science lab with experiments you can eat.
• For rainy summer days, check out some good educational Web sites: www.bookadventure.com, www.starfall.com, www.pbskids.org.

- Laura Kirk, M.Ed, Parkaire Consultants

Consider doing some hands-on learning over the summer. For example, take a drive to Kennesaw State Park or Stone Mountain and enjoy hiking and sight-seeing, while you talk about the local history. Write a story (organizational skills, spelling, language and processing) about the day and use math skills to calculate trail mileage, expenses or historical dates. There are other entertaining and accessible adventures: the aquarium (Atlanta and Chattanooga), Helen and the North Georgia mountains, or the beaches in Florida.

- Amy B. Sherman, M.A., CCC-SLP, KE Editorial Advisory Board Member

Offer a variety of fun activities that have an academic
benefit. Camps are another great way to get kids involved with activities. Don’t forget to check out local park associations, churches and therapy centers that may offer specialzed camps.

- Melanie McGriff, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, Kid’s Creek Therapy

 

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Archives:

  Social Networking and Kids with Learning Differences: - October 6, 2009

  The Gift of Success - October 6, 2009

  Guiding Your Child’s Social Self - October 6, 2009

  Six for the Summer: Try Something New! - October 6, 2009