Family Involvement Articles
These articles are written especially for parents by our Buddy Project staff.
Top 10 Ways to Prevent Summer Brain Freeze!
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Plan ahead because the summer goes by SO fast. Take time to discuss how your children want to spend their summer. Get out your calendar and sprinkle some of the following ideas in with the lazy-daisy, play in the sprinkler, Popsicle days.
9
Do gardening together. Give your kids a small plot of dirt or a container, and a packet of seeds. Develop some patience, perseverance, and responsibility, along with the science skill of observation.
8
Take advantage of your nearest city. Think about enjoying nearby summer field trips: museums, zoos, nature trails, local festivals, libraries, etc. And don’t forget the obvious yet often intriguing and mysterious spot - Mom or Dad’s workplace!
7
Encourage each of your children to become an expert on something this summer. Help them start a collection. Then encourage them to hunt for related library books, videos, and websites to learn more about their collection .Buy them an inexpensive journal where they can record their findings.
6
Send yourself outside with your kids. Whether you’re in your backyard, a campground, or at the ocean, ask lots of questions about what you see. Be willing to actually help them track down the answers when you get home. Investigative, "real life" questions spark a thirst for knowledge like nothing else!
5
Travel anywhere with your children. Let your kids plan, research and budget for the trip, within your financial limits. Make sure you ask for an itinerary and a packing list. Join your children in keeping a journal of the trip and creating a scrapbook when you return.
4
Math skills take the greatest hit in the summer. Be sneaky and “let” your kids do the shopping and cooking. Food is a big motivator and a natural math laboratory. Let them plan the menus, figure out the budget , measure the ingredients, check the temperatures and, of course, lick the bowl. Keep them motivated to keep up with their chores by listing them with assigned monetary values. Have the kids submit a daily or weekly "bill" if they want to be paid.
3
Consider the computer a motivational learning tool, not a babysitter. Pick appropriate websites for your children and set time limits. The computer is also a great way to just relax with your child as you laugh and discover together.
2
Unplug the television. Enough said.
1
Read to your kids. Read with your kids. Read while your kids are reading. Remember that research indicates children who see parents reading for enjoyment are more likely to become readers themselves!
Recommended Websites for Rainy Days:
- Family Education: Summer Learning Ideas
- visit this site
Check out these ideas and websites for Reading, Language
Arts, Math, Science, etc.
- Summer Ideas from Proteacher
- visit this site
A site for for printable activities, games, crafts, and other ideas for June, July and August.
- Math for the Fun of It – Everyday Activities
- visit this site
- Great math games for parents to play with their kids anytime or anywhere.
- PBS Teacher Source
- visit this site
This site is searchable to guide you to activities, online games, and lessons for K-12. Many activities are related to standards.
- GrowParents: Summer Activities and Games
- visit this site
Want to give your child a head start on next year? Use this site to find grade specific activities for families. Grades 3-8
- Summer Activities from Education World
- visit this site
Here you will find a great variety of summer themed websites, games, recipes, and activities.
- Summer Learning Activities from Indian Prairie
- visit this site
Find activities for TV, shopping, vacations, and around the house to keep your child involved all summer long.
- Reading Lists
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- Download this template for summer planning help!
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Workshop Offerings
Visit our BTLC Partner Web Site!
The Buddy Teaching and Learning Center site, www.btlc.org, is the place to find and register for quality professional development and technology training opportunities offered by the team of Buddy facilitators who are all experienced Indiana teachers and administrators.
