School is starting back up soon, and already started on August 1 at a few schools here in Colorado Springs. However, I promised in my last blog post to share some of my favorite tools for use at home to avoid summer learning loss. So, if you have a few weeks left, you might want to give these a try. Of course, these suggestions could also be used throughout the school year or next summer. Here they are:
My favorite tools for HANDWRITING:
This handwriting worksheet generator is completely customizable. You enter the text you’d like your child to trace or copy on the line below. You can enter up to 2,000 characters and choose printing or cursive, font size, etc. Sometimes I will have students dictate a story to me, as it’s more fun to work on writing about a subject they enjoy.
Here is a site with helpful tips for correcting improper pencil grip.
There are several types of tools to correct pencil grip. Some are more comfortable than others. If you don’t want to take a chance on an online purchase, you could visit your local teachers’ store with your child to try several before buying his or her favorite. This is a good tool to help kids learn to hold pencils in the correct position:
These don’t really help kids write, but I thought I’d mention my favorite brand of wooden pencil. These write smoothly and erase more thoroughly than other pencils. They don’t leave a smudgy mess after erasing. They are more expensive, but I have found that you do “get what you pay for” with pencils. Last year, Costco also sold them in bulk.
My favorite tools for MATH:
Students often lack a math textbook at home over the summer. This is a fantastic math worksheet generator for most any topic in math, K-12. Another great aspect is that each worksheet prints with an answer key, so parents can check their child’s work.
My favorite flash cards are made by Trend Enterprises, because they have only one problem on each card (the problem is unsolved on the front, and shown with the solution on the back). The reason I prefer this style is because you can sort the cards into piles (“done” and “keep practicing”) based on if the child knows the math fact quickly or if he or she has to stop and calculate the answer. You can return one pile to the box and keep the other pile in a ziplock bag, so they only have to work on the “keep practicing” ones until those, too, are retired to the box. Kids can even use these by themselves (in a car, for instance). They can quiz themselves and check their answers by flipping the cards over.
This link is for 4 sets in one bundle (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). However, there are also sets of single operations. Another option that is more expensive is the version of the same brand of cards that includes the words “all facts.” The difference with “all facts” is that two cards are included for each problem, because they can be presented in 2 different orders. For instance, 2+5 would be on one card and 5+2 would be on another card. Here is one example. They have sold a bundle of all four operations in the past, but I’m only seeing individual sets on Amazon right now.
My favorite tools for GEOGRAPHY:
I love these printable maps of every continent. You can choose outline maps (political) or maps that include the landforms like mountain ranges and rivers (physical). Print and have your child fill out the states, countries, capitals, or landforms.
Writing long names on small areas of a map can be difficult, so you can also write numbers on each state/country. Have your child write the names corresponding to each number on a separate sheet of paper. Here is an example of a numbered map, already done for you, with answer key. Stack the States is a fun app that helps kids learn the shapes of states (but not their positions on a map). In the game, they try to rotate and drop the irregularly shaped states into a stack that won’t topple over.
Enjoy Learning U.S. Map Puzzle is an app to help kids learn the shapes and positions of each state. There is a timer running as they drag and drop each state onto the outline map. They can try to beat their previous time each time they play.
World Map Quiz is a fantastic app where you are given a blank outline map of a continent. If it says “Find Egypt,” you touch the country on the map and see if you got it correct. It keeps score and will cycle back through some of your missed answers, to see if you can get it correct the next time. It can also quiz you on capitals, landforms, flags, etc.
World Quiz by Michal Majewski is for Apple devices only. You can then play one of two ways: 1. By having it highlight one country in blue and you select the correct country name from a list of four options
2. By having it highlight four different countries and provide one name. You select the highlighted country that corresponds to that name.
There are also capital and flag quizzes.
All of the tools mentioned above are only for a few subjects. Please share in the comments below if you have found any tools, websites, or apps your kids enjoy that help prevent summer learning loss. I hope you have a great rest of your summer!
