KEEP KIDS ACADEMICALLY SHARP DURING THE SUMMER—

WHAT TO DO

     Those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” will soon be upon us.  There is a growing concern about the summer vacation’s possible negative impact on learning.  Many educators argue that children learn best when instruction is continuous.  The long summer vacation disrupts the rhythm of instruction, leads to forgetting, and requires time be spent reviewing old material when students return to school in the Fall.  The research evidence bears out these concerns.

     Here are some tips for how you can help your children stay sharp during the long summer break:

     1.  Look for academic-related activities in the community.  The local library has summer reading programs for readers. 

     2.  Plan your summer trip with an educational theme.  When deciding where your family might go on vacation, think about what educational benefits might be available.  For example, if you are headed to a national park, take advantage of ranger-led geological or historical tours.  Have your child read a book about where you are going before you leave.  If you are still thinking about where to vacation, find out what your child will be studying in the coming school year and visit a related site.

      3.  Talk to a teacher in your child’s next grade.  Find out what books your child might read over the summer to be prepared for the coming year.  If your child is an emerging or beginning reader, ask the teacher to suggest books you can read to and with them.  Find out the content of the math curriculum for the next grade.

      4.  If your child has an academic weakness, summer is the perfect time to help strengthen it.  Locate a tutor who would be willing to spend some time with your child to help him/her.

      5.  Visit a museum.

      6.  Visit the zoo.

      7.  Write letters to friends and family.

      8.  Visit the State Capital and take a tour of the building.

      9.  Take a trip to a factory or manufacturer that offers tours.  Learn how they make products, how they are distributed, how they are marketed, and the history of the business and the importance of it to the community.

      10.  Start a hobby or craft.

      Remember that the object is for everyone to have fun, while learning at the same time.  Academic-related activities over summer should not last all day, every day, but neither should down-time.  Don’t let the summer turn into a cartoon and video game marathon for the kids.  Remember that children are learning all the time, even during the hazy, but perhaps not so lazy, days of summer.

       Have a safe, enjoyable summer vacation!

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    James T. Masullo, Jr., Ph.D.

                                                                                    Superintendent of Schools

                          Sincerely,

                                          BELLEFONTE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                                      
                                                      James T. Masullo, Jr., Ph.D.
                                                      Superintendent of Schools