The Teacher In Me ~ Keeping the Learning Going

I'll admit it, when it comes to learning, I let go in the summer.  As a teacher by trade,  I know I should encourage my kids to keep their skills up so there isn't so much loss in the summer, but I'm just so exhausted from the school year, that the last thing I want to do is fight with my kids to do work.  So I slack off.  I'm such a bad mommy & teacher....

Not this year!  It's a summer goal of mine to keep the learning going.   
  


Reading:

This is an easy one.  Pick up a book and read.  

I base the time of reading around The Nag.  However long it takes him to read a chapter, that's how long Little Ricky needs to read.  (Not to mention that Little Ricky is like his mommy, once he starts reading, he doesn't want to put it down.)  

We recently cleaned out our home library.  We donated a bunch of books that the kids have outgrown to our school and to cousins.  Now, we have tons of chapter books left for summer reading.  Right now, the boys are working on The Magic Tree House series.  We also have plans to make it to the public library.  


Math:

The boys' teachers sent home Summer Math Packets for the kids.  They are essentially the math worksheets that the class didn't finish during the school year, so it's a nice bridge to the learning that will take place next year.   I have them work on 2-3 pages every few days. 

My husband also likes to ask them "hard" math facts (addition, subtraction, and multiplication) while we are in the car or eating a meal, so they can work on their recall.  Sometimes, if we are at a restaurant, we make up math problems for them on their "kiddie menus" for them to solve. 




Writing:

Another easy one.  We have marble notebooks that we use as journals.  We got them at the Dollar Tree.  I have them write a paragraph or two about what we did that day.  They also like to write stories from time to time.  Little Ricky just wrote a book as a gift for Father's Day.  (Totally his idea)  I also plan to work on their handwriting....it's awful!!


Science:

The boys LOVE science!  My plan is to do at least one cool science experiment every other week or so.  I also want to take them to The Miami Science Museum for the first time.  We are also planning on revisiting The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Science and Discovery.  These places should get those little scientific brains going!



I'm not saying that I'm home schooling this summer.  Just an hour every couple of days.  Mostly on the days when we don't have an outside activity planned or it seems they may just kill each other.  


What do you do to keep the learning going in the summer?  I would love more ideas!


Alexis

Someone, Please Teach This Kid to Add!

So "The Nag" gets obsessed with topics.  Lately his topic of choice is asking addition sentences.  He just started Kindergarten and wants to ask intelligent questions like his 1^st grader brother.

“Hey Mommy, what is 30+40?”

“70”

“Hey Mommy, what is 100+20?”

“120”

“Hey Mommy what is 50+10?”

“60”

It’s to the point where my oldest, Little Ricky, is also getting frustrated by the constant addition questions.  He’s at least a little more calm about it and tries to explain the math. 

“Hey Mommy, what is 40+10?”

Little Ricky answers, “40+10=50 because 4+1=5.”

“Hey Mommy, what is 20+60?”

“Hey Mommy…”

“Hey Mommy…”

“Mommy….”

I think I’m changing my name and moving to Australia.

 

Alexis

Making *cents* of it all!

Everyday when my husband comes home, he empties his pockets on the kitchen counter.  Although this annoys me because it just adds to the all ready cluttered counter, I take the change that he leaves behind and I put it in a bag.  When that bag gets full, the money is transferred to a gallon milk container.

The other day, on a cleaning binge, we started counting just the quarters from a bag in the kitchen...GOLD MINE!  That got us thinking...let's get all of our loose change from all over (the counter, car, bedside table, even bathroom?) and see how much we have.

Then the teacher in me decided that this could be a great learning experience for the boys.  They can help sort, count, and roll the tons of coins that we have.  Not to mention that it's some good child labor!

So we got to work...

Yes, he's wearing a costume!

Here's most of what we rolled....we ran out of sleeves.  Can't wait to know the total amount!

Now I'm going shopping!!!!! Mama needs a new pair of shoes!!!

Alexis