Only about a month to go until school is out. For
students, teachers and parents alike, the last weeks
of school can be both exciting and challenging.
Students are looking forward to the summer break
and, as a result, their interest in schoolwork may
wane. Teachers are completing the strenuous
state assessment tests and now have a classroom of
students more interested in summer than science.
For parents, the end of one school year signals the
impending start of another one. So, how do you
ensure your child is ready to tackle the next grade?
The end of the school year is really a time to prepare
for transition - the transition from one grade to
another - but also the transition from in-classroom
learning to the continuous learning that takes place
outside of school.
At this time of year, Sylvan Learning, the leading
provider of in-center and live, online tutoring
at home to students of all ages and skill levels,
advises parents to focus on three areas - helping
their children make the most of the final weeks of
school, knowing what the next grade level will bring
and looking for ways to inspire learning during the
summer break.
Make the most of the final weeks of school.
* You can help your children review by asking
them to show you what they've learned or by
working through homework problems together.
* Schedule a last meeting or discussion with your
children's teachers. Identify successes and
challenges.
* Help your children stay motivated about school
so they gain the full benefit of their final days
in the classroom by putting a reward system in
place.
* Have a conversation everyday about school.
Know what the next grade level will bring.
* Speak to your children's current teachers or
teachers in the next grade about the upcoming
curriculum.
* Ask about new subjects and changes in focus.
For example, in 4th grade, students usually
begin to "read to learn" rather than "learn to
read." If your 3rd grade student is struggling
with her reading, this summer would be a good
time to focus on improving reading skills.
* If the next year will mean a change in schools,
such as entering high school, take advantage
of orientation sessions where you and your
children can learn more about the new school.
Let your kids be kids.
Summer vacation is a great tradition. It's important
to enjoy the time off. But, you can also learn as you
have fun. In fact, the best learning occurs when
children don't realize they're learning.
Parents can design summer vacation activities that
are both fun and educational. For example:
* If you know your children will be studying
history next year, visit local, historical sites or
borrow historical books and/or novels from
your local library.
* Continue reading throughout the summer. Visit
a local library where they can help you select
books appropriate for your children's ages
and interests. Or, go to www.BookAdventure.com
Book Adventure is a free, Sylvan-created
interactive, reading motivation program
for grades K-8. Students choose their own
books from more than 7,000 titles, take short
comprehension quizzes and redeem their
accumulated points for small prizes. Book
Adventure also offers teacher and parent
resources and tips to help children develop a
lifelong love of reading.
* Plan family activities that are fun, interactive
and educational. To help you get started,
Sylvan Learning offers a free activity booklet,
Family Learning Fun. The booklet provides
seven different ideas and activities that will
help sustain and inspire academic discovery. It
is available in the "Parent Resources" area of
www.SylvanLearning.com
* Develop writing skills by writing or emailing
pen pals.
* Demonstrate the value of continuous learning
to your child by showing how you continually
learn, such as regular reading, developing new
skills for a job or learning a new hobby or
sport.
