Five ways to keep school skills sharp over the summer

Summer is in full swing! While summer is the ideal time to rest, relax, and recharge for the upcoming school year, it is important for children to practice their reading, writing, and math strategies in order to be fully prepared for their new grade level in the fall. As the adage says - "use it or lose it!" Rehearsing those comprehension strategies in the summertime does not have to be a lengthy or tiresome process. Here are 5 ways to engage your children's learning brains during the summer break!

1. Schedule a session! At Jill Abrams Tutoring, Inc., our tutors are available all summer long to help your students strengthen their comprehension, practice strategies, and build skills that they will need in the upcoming school year. Our 45-minute sessions are individually tailored to each student's unique learning needs. We guide your children through reading, writing, and math tasks that will hone their mastery in critical these critical skills. We make learning meet fun with our hands-on, interactive learning methodologies that promote both student achievement and engagement!
   

2. Visit the local library! Both locations of Jill Abrams Tutoring, Inc. are located in beautiful Palm Beach County, where we are so lucky to have a fabulous public library system! Did you know that the Palm Beach County Library offers a summer reading program for kids every year? Kids can visit the library, choose a book (and participate in some of the library's fun classes and activities while they're there!), and fill out their reading log to return for prizes and coupons. As a bonus, ALL Palm Beach County Library locations are offering free meals to ALL children under the age of 18 ALL SUMMER LONG! Stop by and pick up a lunch and a book. Letting children choose their own reading is a great way to get them engaged in the summertime. Whether it's a chapter book, a nonfiction text, or a graphic novel, whatever gets them interested and reading is A-OK! We recommend that all students read 15-30 minutes per day.
   

3. Practice your skills on the computer! Did you know that all of the Florida public school assessments are now computer based, including the Florida B.E.S.T. Writing assessment as of the 2023-24 school year? Being proficient in reading, writing, and solving problems on the computer is essential to your child's success in the next school year! Consider setting aside 20-30 minutes of your child's screen time during the day to do an educational game that strengthens their computer skills. We recommend educational game sites like Prodigy.com for math and Typingclub.com for typing. At Jill Abrams Tutoring, Inc., we also utilize several innovative online resources to help assist your children with their comprehension on computer-based tasks!
   

4. Make real-world connections! Summer is the perfect time to find opportunities to make learning applicable in the "real world!" Students learning fractions may enjoy helping you double or triple a recipe in the kitchen. Got a new driver in the house? Have them help calculate a budget, car mileage, or plan college costs. Check out this article from Time4Learning for more ideas about project-based learning to engage your kids over the summer!
   

5. Get creative! Creativity is so important for student learning! It motivates learning, lights up the brain, encourages emotional development, and can spark reluctant learners. Break out the sidewalk chalk or science experiment books and let your kids explore! Here is a list of some of our favorite ideas to get you started.

Just a little bit of time devoted to making sure that your children retain their incredibly valuable year of learning throughout the summer break can make a HUGE difference when the school year rolls back around! For more ideas or information, please contact us using the links and forms available on the website!