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Every child looks forward to the end of the school
year. No more pencils, no more
books.we all remember how it was.
But as we get older, we find out that those long summer months are not
always the best when it comes to our childrens academics. On average, a child will lose 2.6 years
of math education in a summer.
When teachers start the school year, they need to go back over last
years work for 4 6 weeks, before moving on. This cycle causes our children to fall further and further
behind each year. Its a vicious
cycle that can be easily stopped.
There are things that can be done during the summer to help
stop this gradual slide down a negative math slope. As parents we can fill summer vacations with teachable
moments, and help keep our children on track. There are some easy ways to incorporate math into the
summer, and of course continue it all year.
Have your child do math problems at his/her level a couple
of times a week. It is easy to
find workbooks for different levels at bookstores or online. Many of the books offer problems that
are interesting and not the typical dull rote work. There are also websites that can be found that offer free
worksheets, you only need to print them out. The work doesn't have to be extensive, maybe 10 problems
three times a week. This is
sufficient enough that what was learned is not forgotten.
Help your child realize how math is used everyday. You would be surprised by how much math
we use in a day, that we don't even realize we use. By opening our childrens eyes to this, we help them to
understand that math is truly an important subject. Some examples that can be pointed out, and worked on
are: estimating, schedules,
cooking, budgeting. Having help in
the kitchen is great, not only does your child learn a skill, they can also
practice math by doubling or halving a recipe.
Playing family games is also a great way to practice math
skills. They are not only for the
younger kids either. I am
continually surprised by how often my own teens are interested in playing
family games. Often, it is not
only my kids joining us, but their friends too. Here is a list of some fun games that everyone seems to
enjoy. It is not a complete list,
but one that can get you started.
*Mancala
*
Chess
*Mastermind
*Othelo
*Monopoly
*Cards,
(500 Rummy, Spades, Pinocle)
*Cribbage
*Racko
There are also some fun math sites that have math games that
the kids enjoy. You may want to
try www.coolmath.com,
www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.html or www.coolmath4kids.com.
Summer tutoring is also a growing way to get ahead for the
next school year. By having your
child attend tutoring sessions they not only review the past years work to
make sure that everything is understood, but also progress into the up coming
year so that your child is starting at the top of the class. Most tutors are able to customize the
sessions so that your child gets the help in the particular areas needed. Summer education no longer has the
stigma of being for the slow learner, or the lazy student. Many students that are getting tutored
during the summer are ones that want to get ahead, that may not enjoy math but
either they or their parents realize the importance of math.
Putting math into the summer is not that difficult, and it
doesnt have to be painful for our children either. Spending time together playing games, or cooking are
enjoyable, and allows us to not only reconnect with our children but to help
them academically. Providing a
tutor for them gives them an advantage that all children need in todays
society. Preparing our children
for the future is one of the best gifts that we as parents can give them.
I am certain these little bits of insight will help your
student. If they still need help,
please click the website below for a FREE demonstration of our online tutoring,
and see how I can help your student with their math needs.
Visit http://tutorfi.com/LisaB
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