Real Life Word Problems and Other Ways to Apply Skills Over the Summer

I’m looking out the window at Southern California’s June gloom, so I know summer is right around the corner.

While the end of the school year and homework often comes as a relief to parents, many also become fearful that their kids will lose ground over the summer break. For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting some suggestions of ways families can apply skills learned in school, keeping those young brains active over the summer break.

Make a Weekly Schedule

Planners and assignment sheets are something that many students resist during the school year.  It just seems like too much effort.  But if you’re using a planner or calendar to schedule all of the fun things you want to do during the summer, it becomes a much more engaging and motivating activity.

Use a planner or calendar of appropriate size, sophistication, and media for your child’s age and skill level.

Work together to place lessons, outings, and vacations on the calendar/planner.  Schedule-in daily reading time, time designated for chores, sports practice, etc.

Talk about the calendar, asking the child, “What’s on your schedule for today?”  When you need to schedule a dentist or doctor’s appointment, or even a time to go see a movie or a baseball game, have your child check his calendar to see where he can fit it in.

As you get close to school starting again, start brainstorming how your child will use his calendar or planner during the school year.

Trip Time Table

Going on a vacation?  Involve your child in the logistics.  For example, if you’re flying somewhere, what time is your flight?   How early do you have to arrive at the airport before your flight, and therefore, what time to you need to arrive?  How long does it take to get to the airport?  What time, then, do you have to leave home?

These are things that we, as parents, just tend to take care of, but are actually real applications of time and math.

If your child struggles in school, changes CAN be made before next school year.

Quick Answers

How can I keep my child’s brain active over the summer?

Families can apply skills learned in school over the summer break by making a weekly schedule on a planner or calendar and by involving the child in the logistics of a vacation, which are real applications of time and math.

How can a planner or calendar help my child during the summer?

If you’re using a planner or calendar to schedule all of the fun things you want to do during the summer, it becomes a much more engaging and motivating activity. Talk about the calendar, asking the child, “What’s on your schedule for today?”