Community Magazine June 2009

RIFKA SCHONFELD I NSIGHTS INTO EDUCATION Summer Survival Kit A wise parent will make sure to place summer learning high on the checklist of things to accomplish over the summer break. Learning doesn’t need to take a vaca- tion just because school is out. Of course, if your child is away at camp for most of the summer, your influence over his or her learningopportunities is restricted. But for those who are home for even half a sum- mer, the rewards to be gained from a summer learning program cannot be overestimated. Most children canusereinforce- ment in one or more of the basic skills. Whether it is reading, writing or math skills that have not gelled, or social dynamics that have bred u n h a p p i n e s s and frustration, the problems will inevitably resurface in September – sometimes with a vengeance. A summer of fun combined with sensible learning strategies that ensure scholastic growth can put a struggling child right over the top. Such a summer can pave the way for a school year of happiness and success. By utilizing summer’s potential to the fullest, parents can literally reverse a child’s academic and social standing. And by seek- ing out available learning programs, they can do all this in ways that are stimulating, fun and immensely productive. In the “Lifejackets” program, a branch of S.O.S. (Strategies For Optimum Student Success), we designed a customized approach to summer learning in a relaxed but goal-oriented atmosphere. This enables children not only to stay “afloat” with the skills they have acquired during the school year, but to achieve greater profi- ciency in areas in which they need strengthening. Motivational tools and strong incentives help raise the child’s skills to appropriate levels. For children who do not require a struc- tured remedial program, the following sug- gestions for informal learning could help keep summer learning alive: Read. • Make sure to set aside time each day for reading. Be careful to supervise the selection of books at the library to weed out those with undesir- able content. Word games • . Grocery stores and dis- count stores have inexpensive puzzle books with crosswords and word search puzzles. Sit down together and solve a puzzle! Plant a garden. • If you don’t have much room, plant a couple of flowers in pots. Assign your child some respon- sibility for the plants, like watering and weeding. Save up loose change and decide whether • to get a hamster or goldfish. Have your children write up an agreement about taking care of the animal, cleaning its cage or tank, feeding, etc. Make a scrapbook of photos and memen- • tos of your summer. Purchase or put together a journal that kids can use to record their summer experiences. Have your child write out captions below each item. Plan a vacation together. • Find out all you can about the place you plan to visit this summer. Read maps and guidebooks. List the places you want to see along the way. Plan a budget for the trip, as well. A fifth- or sixth-grade child can even help calculate gas mile- age every time you fill the tank! Encourage children to write. • Postcards and letters can be mailed to friends while on vacation. Visit museums, art galleries, theme • parks, zoos, sea aquariums, water- fronts, cultural centers and historical sites to create learning experiences for the whole family. Visit forests, ravines, waterfalls, rivers, • lakes and natural wonders such as caves and mountains to pave the way for informative discussions about the “wonders of Hashem’s creations.” Whether you opt for unstructured, infor- mal learning for your child, or a corrective, skill-building, don’t let the summer fly by without reaping the benefits of a summer learning program. Make sure your child is given enough input to reenter school in the fall in a new mode of confidence, eager and ready for whatever challenges are in store. Rifka Schonfeld is director of S.O.S. (Strategies For Optimum Student Success). W ould you believe that over the course of the summer a grade school student can forget nearly 60 percent of the math, reading and writing skills learned during the school year? For weaker students, in particular, a two-month vacation from learning can be an enormous setback. 116 Community magazine