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Summer is Fun, But What is Being Lost?

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 children’s 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 year’s work for 4 – 6 weeks, before moving on.  This cycle causes our children to fall further and further behind each year.  It’s 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 children’s 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 year’s 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 doesn’t 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 today’s 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