Schooling Through Summer

Summer is coming! Everyone gets restless as they await the end of the school year and the start of summer vacation. Summer is a blast and then...September arrives. The schedules start, and it’s hard to get back into the swing of things. You feel like you have to start all over again. Sound familiar? One solution to this frustration is to continue school right through summer.

What? No summer vacation?

Of course there is! The thought of no summer vacation isn’t fun for anyone. Summer schooling can be a laid-back version of what you do during the main school season. This means a bit of very light work each day and still leaving enough time to enjoy all things summer.

This way, you ensure that they continue to use their brain muscles and keep them oiled so that the return to the official school year isn’t so difficult to get back to regularly scheduled programming.

Here are some ways you can implement school this summer:

Have a Reading Basket

Maybe you already have a “morning basket” in your home where kids can grab a book at the start of each day. You can continue doing this or just start with a bunch of books to set aside and decide on a time that’s best for a reading break each day. It can be in the mornings right after breakfast or perhaps in the afternoon when everyone needs some down time.

Do a Unit Study

Summertime is great for unit studies! Did your child have a topic of interest that came up during the school year that you just didn’t have time to squeeze in? Summer is the perfect time to do it! It’s bonus learning plus something they wanted to learn more about so it’s a win-win! A popular topic is, of course, nature where you can combine science and art while enjoying the outdoors. Studying the bugs or flowers, drawing or painting a beautiful summer scene, and doing summer scavenger hunts are all great ideas for keeping the kids busy.

Journal Writing

Encourage your child to work on their writing skills by starting a journal or diary for the summer. You can title it “My Summer Vacation,” and they can document their summer adventures day by day.

Go on an Adventure

Explore your city or country! Summer is the best time to check out those popular tourist attractions. Museums, zoos, and nature reserves are great for exploring and they are educational, too. Take some pictures and create a summer scrapbook or journal about your traveling adventures. An even more simple idea is to take them shopping. Teach them all about using life and math skills as they help you plan the grocery list and add up how much money you might need, or take them to the dollar store with money from their piggy bank and teach them how to make a purchase on their own.

Have a Book-to-Movie Marathon

One of the exciting things about finishing a book is seeing it come to life on screen. Choose a series for the summer and read together. This is an excellent way to incorporate read-aloud opportunities as a family. Then, pop some popcorn and watch the movies!

Cooking or Baking Classes at Home

Get those measurement skills happening while teaching basic life skills at the same time. Summer is a great opportunity to explore new recipes together, plan family gatherings, and maybe pass down some old family favourite recipes and traditions at the same time. Summer is all about the food too!

If you can establish a healthy balance of fun and learning, then your child will greatly benefit from it. At the end of summer, you can ask your child to present their stories, artwork, and documentation of their adventures to friends and family.

Happy summer learning!