Hello and welcome back if you are a regular reader and a big hello if you are new to this blog. Today, I am going to write Part 2 about how to beat the summertime “there is nothing to do” cycle with your kids and sneak in strategies to retain skills. Part 1 tackled Math and this time, Part 2 will focus on READING, WRITTEN LANGUAGE, and learning about our world!
Please don’t let out a big sigh and stop scrolling because I talked ed-speak here! I promise that below you will find fun and creative ideas that even grown-ups will love. So, please keep reading, comment with your ideas, and share with others!! THANK YOU!!
As I mentioned in Part 1, the first steps are necessary and important. Step 1) Turn off devices. This is good “old-fashioned” learning. Hands-on and multifaceted. Unless otherwise noted- no devices will be needed. (And if they are it will be “with intention”.) Step 2) Engage with your child and supervise their activities if they are young or in need of help. Don’t assume that your child will know what to do or how to do it. Bonus- you are likely to have fun, too!
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR!
Start by highlighting a different country every week or bi-monthly! During this time you can 1) read about the country 2) Listen to music from the country 3 )Find the country on a globe or map 4) Plan a fake (or real) trip to the country – including making an itinerary. 5) Learn about the language of the country (or languages). 6) Play a game that is specific to that country 7) Cook a traditional meal from the country!
Margaret McSweeney, host of KitchenChat, shared this technique to help promote cooking at a young age and reading skills, “Try tasting the world by cooking through the alphabet with your children. A: learn about Argentina and make Chimichurri sauce. B: learn about Brazil and make Brigadeiro. You will enjoy exploring the globe through food with your kids.”
For example, here is a scenario… “Jane” decided that she wanted to spotlight SPAIN. She found several books about SPAIN and even a travel guide and journal from DK! She then mapped out a “wish trip” from Barcelona to Malaga. Next, Jane went to the library and found a Spanish cookbook and chose to make a recipe for paella. She also found a Spanish dictionary and young reader books to help her learn basic Spanish vocabulary. Because she was learning “with intention”, Jane was able to listen to watch Flamenco dancers, and play “futbol”! She then watched TV shows in Spanish and tuned in to Spanish-language radio shows!
DRAMA CAMP- from STORYBOARDING TO FILMING
Do you have a future thespian in your home? Perhaps a screenwriter? Or videographer? Equip your kids with the skills to create a storyboard to start creating a play, or script for a TV program or film, and let them use their creativity to figure out the rest (like sets, costumes, etc.). Remember, the TV show The GOLDBERGS and how Adam Goldberg would enlist his family and friends to be part of his videos? Well, Adam is now a very successful filmmaker and it all appears that he started with what and who he knew- his family.
In this interview, Steven Speilberg talks about his early start to making movies prompted by his dad.
How to get started? First, your kids need to understand what is a storyboard and its purpose. You can find much information about that here in this video. Using tools such as CANVA and STORYBOARDTHAT can help to organize and create storyboards. What is amazing about this creative outlet is that children of all ages can integrate several skills. They need to read, write, and use many executive functions such as organization and being flexible. (If first you don’t succeed… try, try, again!)
Hint: Graphic storyboards and comic strip makers can multiply the attention span for this kind of activity. Free to download the “boards” I have created below.
YOUNG AUTHORS
Along the same line as ‘Drama Camp” is helping a child find their inner “author”. Perhaps they want to create a book (and even self-publish- such as on Amazon). Or they wish to begin a blog (yes, WordPress allows kids to write here.) There is no limit to the ideas a child conjures that are worth writing and being read!
More fun ideas!
Create a family trivia game – your child can design their own board game based on family trivia! Topics can be as follows: 1. WHO SAID THIS 2. WHO BOUGHT THIS. 3. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? 4. FAVORITES (favorite book, color, places to visit, etc.)
Download the PDF here to make and copy your own trivia game.
