Transcript

Hey, teacher friend. Welcome back to the Teacher Support Network podcast. I'm your host, Antoine McCoy, and today's episode is all about something that sneaks up on teachers and parents every single year- summer break. Yep. You know, it's coming, or in your region, you're already in the midst of it. And while the kids are ready to party, we know that the learning doesn't have to stop even though the school year has. 

So today I've got five simple, low cost, or free, fun ways to keep kids learning all summer long without turning your home into summer school. So, you ready? Let's go. 

So the summer learning slide, let's talk real quick about that.

So what's the summer learning slide? Well, it's that dip in academic skills that can happen over long periods or long breaks from school. And it can happen, especially in the areas of reading, math and writing. And for our students who have learning disabilities or have learning difficulties that slide, well, it can feel like a whole rollercoaster.  But here's the good news, fam.

You don't need expensive programs, full lesson plans or expensive activities to keep kids sharp this summer. Just intentional, joyful learning moments that they connect with and are easy for you to organize and manage. And I've got five that I believe are classroom approved and family friendly. So here are my top five summer learning ideas that you can use with your kids this summer while they're at home.

So let's look at summer learning idea number one, library adventures. So hit up your local library, y'all, I mean, most have summer reading programs, they have story times, and they have weekly activities and events for younger kids and even teens that are free. 

I know in my area each summer I used to enroll my daughter in the summer reading challenge and she got a chance to choose books to read and when she read for a certain amount of time, and each time she read and hit a milestone, she was able to claim a prize, like a free book, a movie pass, a coupon to a local eatery, and so forth. So it was something that really kept her motivated to read and put some extra time into reading during the summer. She loved it. And it was something that became part of our summer routine and weekly rhythm.

So why does this work? Because it keeps reading fresh and fun. No pressure, just discovery. Kids get to choose their own books and it can build vocabulary, comprehension, and just a better love for reading and a love for reading books in general. So try a library adventure this summer and go to your local library and see what they have to offer.

So let's move on to summer learning idea number two, easy recipes and cooking. So let kids help in the kitchen.They can help reading recipes, measuring ingredients, and just seeing what happens when they make something from a bunch of different random ingredients and putting it together into something that's yummy and something that they created.

I mean, let's think about it. That's real life STEM involving math, reading, and science. Why does this work? Well, it builds confidence. It strengthens math skills. It teaches teamwork because they have to work together with you and maybe their siblings.  Plus you get yummy snacks and maybe even lunch or dinner out of it.  It's a win-win for everyone. So try some easy recipes and some summer cooking with your kids and see how that goes. 

So let's move on to summer learning idea number three, nature walks, which really can translate into real world science labs. So go outside. It's the summer, go outside, get into nature. Take a walk, collect leaves or bugs or rocks, anything like that, and ask on these nature walks, “what did you notice? What do you wonder about?” Do a scavenger hunt for things in nature and in your surroundings. 

Why does this work? Well, because it sparks curiosity. It helps build observation skills within kids, and it gets kids connecting with the world around them. Plus kids are getting outside and they're getting exercise. It creates a space where they can detach from electronic devices and other forms of media that really compete for their attention all the time. So, summer learning idea number three, nature walks, encourages you to get outside and enjoy the surroundings.

So summer learning idea number four, I call it “do it yourself camp at home.”  DIY camp at home. So with this, you pick a theme for the week, like maybe art week, space week, another week, maybe nature week, kindness week. You get to choose. That's the creative part of this. It's kind of like a different type of camp experience each week that you do it in your home.

You can build crafts. You can watch videos, or you can have them draw and journal about the activities, so you get some writing in. Kids can even make fun camp badges once a week once activities are completed to show what they've learned and what they've accomplished.

Now, why does this work? It keeps things fresh and structured. It's great for parents working from home or teachers trying to enjoy their own summer break, but you are also planning some activities for your kids as well.  So, this might be a good idea to use in this situation. And it mixes it up so it's kind of fresh each week.

Let's move on to summer learning idea number five. I call this one, Acts of Kindness projects.

So with this, you can have kids write cards for folks at a local nursing home or maybe people sick in the hospital. You can go to a local park and help clean up a certain area or maybe bake something yummy for a neighbor. Maybe somebody who might live alone and who might not have people who visit them all the time.

Why does this work for your kids and why is this important? Because it helps build empathy within kids. It strengthens their writing skills, and it reminds kids that their voice and their kindness matters to others and to just not think about themself, but others around them as well. 

So before we wrap up, here's a bonus tip I just couldn't resist leaving out.

So the bonus summer learning idea I want to give is this- I call it Dollar store learning kits. So with this, grab a basket. Go to your local dollar store. Grab a basket.  Load up on flash cards, mini puzzles, crayons, notebooks, stickers, and simple crafts. You can rotate the items weekly to keep it fun and keep it fresh, and it's a very inexpensive way to kind of get out, but also to do some fun things and be creative with it.

It works because it's screen free. It's low cost and kids feel empowered with their own tools that they come up with and they're able to purchase themselves. Plus, it builds independence, focus, and fine motor skills in those kind of sneaky, smart ways. So try creating dollar store learning kits.  I'm sure most places have dollar stores somewhere in your region.

So here's your summer challenge. Pick one activity from today's episode and try it out, just one. Then share it with a fellow parent or teacher who needs a little inspiration and some practical ideas this summer to keep their kids engaged and the learning fresh. After you try one, maybe you'll go back and try another. 

This is just a resource for you with a bunch of ideas that can help get that summer learning, continuously going without it feeling like school. And after you choose your I idea, leave me a comment as well and just tell me what you picked and how it worked out with you and your kids.

Finally, before we go, if you want more tools and inspiration for yourself like this, then head to the show notes for this week's episode and look under the resources section for a way to stay connected with me through our weekly Teacher Support Network Newsletter and just other helpful resources related to this episode.

That's it for now. I hope you grabbed some good ideas for the summer for you and your kids.  So, until next time, be encouraged. See you next week.

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