From the Principal
Suzette Williams, Principal
As summer draws near, you and your family may be eagerly awaiting a break from the daily routines of the school year. This shift from school to summer break, however, welcome, can affect your entire family. The challenge for any family lies in shifting gears to a different kind of schedule for the summer. It is a transition phase that may pose special challenges for your child, especially if he or she has learning and/or attention problems. There are steps you can take to smooth this transition and create a summer routine that benefits the entire family. Below are three practical tips for successfully shifting from school year to summer break.
- Summer Schedule: Review the summer plans you have made to date. First, think about your main concerns for summer: child care and transportation arrangements and possible learning activities such as camps or other summer programs. Then, remember to allow time for spontaneous activities—places and people to visit when the time permits or the mood strikes. It is helpful to keep a running list of these opportunities. Finally, be sure to allow some unstructured time for your child to “just be a child.”
- Healthful Snacks: Healthful snacks help children re-energize throughout their active day. Make sure portion sizes are small so the snack will not interfere with meals. There are many recipes for making healthful snacks fun to eat!
- Summer Learning and Reading: Summer learning programs offset “summer slide,” the tendency for students to regress academically when they are not in school. All students tend to fall behind in math and reading during the summer because they have fewer opportunities to practice these skills. You may want to ask your child’s teacher about local resources. In addition, joining a reading club at the local library is often motivation for young readers. The internet can also be a good resource for reinforcing both reading and math skills.
Peace,
Suzette Williams