DOWER STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT INFORMATION

1. Why is it important for kids to read during the summer?
2. Does reading need to be done in one 30 minute setting?
3. What should my student read over the summer?
4. Where can I get reading materials?
5. How can I motivate my child to read?
6. What about math?
7. Count count count
8. Math Facts
9. What are other ways to learn?
10. What about physical activity?

Why is it important for kids to read during the summer?

Any skills we have that we don't use, tend to lessen over time.
How many people start to lose muscle and tone when they stop
working out? It is also hard to get back into the routine if we stop
exercising for too long.

Many of our younger readers are still getting new "sounds
letter combinations and words" into their "brain muscles".
Without a chance to use those "reading muscles" the strength they
had developed starts to go away.

Reading 30 minutes a day, 5 days each week, over the summer is
equal to about 20 days of reading class.

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Does reading need to be done in one 30 minute setting?

No, reading for short periods throughout the day is great! Ten
minutes here and there can easily add up to more than 30 minutes of
reading a day!

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What should my student read over the summer?

Anything you can get them to read!

Is your child interested in sport? fashion? comic books? video
games? travel? animals? movies?
Then have them read about what they love. There are lots of maga-
zines,books, newspapers, websites, and more about things kids love.

Sometimes, reading from the computer doesn't feel like "reading"
to kids, it's just computer time. Or reading the comics in the news-
paper is fun.

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Where can I get reading materials?

The Lakewood Library! Free books, audio books, DVDs, magazines to
read and enjoy.

It's fun to get books and the audio book to go together so you can
read and hear a story.

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How can I motivate my child to read?

One way is to have them earn TV, video game, computer time by read-
ing. 30 minutes of reading equals 30 minutes of TV.

Another way is the Lakewood Library summer reading program. Kids can
earn prizes for reading and visiting the library over the summer.

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What about math?

Have your child help you figure out the cost of things over the sum-
mer. Have them help you count items for a picnic. Have them compare
prices at the grocery store.

Talk to your child about how you use math everyday. "10 gallons of
gas will cost about $38 because I multiplied 10 x $3.79." Explain
how you estimate cost, "$3.79 is close to 3.80 or $4.00"

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Count count count

Kindergarten/1st grade -- count by ones, count backward from 20,
count by 10s, 5s, 2s.
2nd/3rd -- count in the hundreds and thousands, count by 3s, 4s, 6s,
etc.
4th/5th -- count by different multiples...7,14,21,28,35...etc

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Math Facts

Kindergarten/1st - work on number recognition. Match written numbers
(numerals) to amounts (7 to seven crackers)
2nd/3rd -- work on basic addition and subtraction facts up to 20
until they are automatic (you don't have to count on your fingers to
know the answer)
4th/5th -- work on multiplication facts up to 10 x 10. Learn the
division facts that match the multiplication facts. After all,
division is the opposite of multiplication!

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What are other ways to learn?

Children learn a lot from observing things!
Go to the park and observe the trees. Go to the beach, discover
shells and rocks. Go to the zoo, nature center, library events, mus-
eums. When you travel, have your child identify where you are on the
map. Collect brochures to read about places to go in our area.

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What about physical activity?

Summer is a great time to be active! Go for walks, ride bikes, swim,
hike, play sports, play tag in the park, run and climb at the play-
ground.

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