Now that summer's coming, school will be out (this Thursday is DS' last day of second grade). How will you keep up the studies so that all isn't forgotten?

DS' teacher commented that he seemed to forget a lot of things, especially in math, during Spring Break. In truth, I'm not really up on his math, but did buy flashcards, and we play the license plate adding game. Plus, I'll have him continue his reading.

What will you do? I just feel I'm not doing enough, but I don't also want to make it like school at home.

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The Really Needy, Special, Networking and Talking Mod

My DS is going into first grade. I plan to get him involved in everyday things to help his skills. Like helping me bake or counting out money when we shop or measuring things around the house. For reading, I'm going to give him a sticker for every book (or chapter in a chapter book) that he reads When he has 10, he can get a treat. Overall, I don't want him to feel like he's in school, just work on using what he's learned doing everyday things. I'm also going to have him keep a journal to keep up his writing skills.

A teacher once told me kids lose 1/3 of what they learn over the summer.

DS has summer school every year. And we also homeschool.

Vickilynn, that journal idea sounds like a great one, and one DS needs. He brought home his journal from school and it was 3/4 empty! Thanks for the idea.

Also, do you know about Barnes and Noble's summer reading program? I think it's like read 8 books and they get a prize. Libraries also have things in place to - just extra reinforcements for you.

Autismmom: Is the summer school on fewer hours or fewer days than normal so he gets a break? How does that work? I'd actually considered looking into it, but the teacher didn't think it was really necessary. I think it would help him, although he'd fight me. Also, do you pay for it yourself? Camp alone is crunching my budget!

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Autismmom: Is the summer school on fewer hours or fewer days than normal so he gets a break? How does that work? I'd actually considered looking into it, but the teacher didn't think it was really necessary. I think it would help him, although he'd fight me. Also, do you pay for it yourself? Camp alone is crunching my budget![/quote]

Summer school is four hours long and goes for 6.5 weeks. His teacher calls it camp and they "explore" different subjects. It is free for kids who are determined to need it- either social issues or kids who forget what they have learned. They have days where they have to wear a bathing suit somedays for water reward days. At the end of the week, she normally lets everyone have 15 minutes play in the sprinkler and they do water science experiments. I can't afford any special camps so I am greatful for this.

My kids are enrolled in KUMON and that's a all year thing for them, and I don't plan on stopping it. One is going in 1st grade, and one is going into K. They're both doing really well. Little one is already done with his pre-school (last week), and has started reading by sounding it out. I have the older one write a little something in his journal (we started about a month ago, and it's just a regular spiral notebook that he keeps by his bedside) everynight before going to bed. He write what he did, and stuff like that. He's doing really well reading and writing now, and I don't want him to forget that, so I'll keep up with the journal and KUMON, and they have to read atleast 5 pages of any book (or the whole book if they please) every night. That's been a rule from day 1 even when I use to read to them.

I plan on having 20 minutes brain time a day. I went to schoolbox store and bought a summer bridge book. It's set up for 10 weeks, every day you do 2 pages. So, we will do that along with some handwriting and reading practice each day. (My son is going into Kindergarten!)
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