SUMMER READS AND FAMILY FUN CALENDAR

Reading is like anything else. The more you do it, the better you will become. Here are a few ideas to get children started on a summer reading adventure.

Library Card
What better gift can you give your students at the end of the year than a library card? Take a field trip to your local library or ask the children’s librarian to visit your school and describe all their summer reading activities.


Summer Reading List
It’s easy to do an internet search and find a suggested reading list for your grade level. Parents would probably appreciate this when helping their child choose books to read over the summer.

*I think this summer reading challenge at Scholastic.com is perfect for any reading level:

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/reading-challenges-kids.html

This summer’s reading challenges will encourage kids to expand their learning horizons this season and beyond. Packed with fresh new ideas for summer reading fun, your child will be inspired by the limitless wonder found in books. Variety is key to encouraging reader engagement — for young readers, reluctant readers, and avid readers alike! 

This reading challenge consists of 10 badges for children to color in as they complete each reading goal. With fun-filled stories to read on-the-go and bright new books to enjoy under the sun, who says summer reading has to feel like a chore? 

Family Fun Calendar
Here’s a summer calendar that you can run off for your students. Glue it to a heavy piece of cardboard and attach a string so it can be hung up in their home. Read over the activities to motivate your students, and then let them decorate their calendars with markers or crayons.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2014/05_May_css/pg05.html

Bucket of “Fun” 
You can buy sand buckets or just use a plastic cup like I did. Punch holes and add a pipe cleaner handle. Let children decorate their “buckets of fun” with markers, stickers, etc.

Make a list of activities that children can do with their families over the summer to reinforce skills you’ve worked on during the school year. Cut into strips and place in the buckets. Send the bucket home with a note encouraging the parents to let their child select a strip each day and do the activity.

Some examples might include:
Read a story with your parents. Tell what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. What do you think will happen next?
Play a rhyming game. How many words can you think of that rhyme with "can"? "Pot"?
"Book"? "Coat"? "Sheep"? "Like"?
Trace around your hand and your foot. What can you make out of them?
Count as high as you can. Can you count by 2's, 5's, and 1O's?
Ask your parents to teach you a song they learned when they were your age.
Look in your kitchen pantry. How many labels can you read?
How many ways can you move? Can you hop, skip, jump, gallop, tiptoe, walk
backwards?
Can you draw a circle, oval, square, rectangle, and triangle? What other shapes can
you draw?
Write a special letter to someone in your house.
Look at some of your baby pictures. How have you changed?
Find something that begins with these letters: B, H, S, M, L,
Draw a picture of your neighborhood.
Make a list of 5 things that are non-living. Make a list of 5 things that are living.
Do you have a library card? Visit your library and check out some books.
Do a job around the house.
Write your name on a piece of paper - first, middle, and last. What are your initials?


End of Year Letter
Give parents with a positive lasting impression by sending a letter similar to the one below. It might be thoughtful to send a picture of their child along with the note.

Dear ______,

Lucky me to get to spend this special year with your child! (Child’s name) has worked hard and has grown in many ways. One of my favorite memories is (something unique about the child).

I appreciate all the support and encouragement you have given (child’s name) at home. Behind every great student is a great family!

Saying good-bye is bittersweet. “Bitter” because I will miss (child’s name), but sweet because I am so proud to have been a part of his/her life! Please keep in touch because I know the future holds many wonderful things for your child and your family!

Remember to read and laugh every day this summer!

Fondly,

FAMILIES THAT PLAY TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER!

“Parents are their CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER.”

Dear Parents,

You’ve heard it said that “play is the child’s work.” This is so true! They have a lifetime to be a grown up and work, but only once to be a child. The good news is that as you play with your child you are actually laying the foundation for learning and life. Children don’t need more “stuff.” What they want and need most is time and attention from you! The important thing is to follow your child’s lead as you create special memories! Here are some “play activities” to get you started:


Read a book.                       Tell a joke.

Exercise.                               Sing a song.

Play hide and seek.               Hum.

Say a nursery rhyme.            Play a card game.

Talk.                                       Make a puppet.

Juggle two paper towels.      Swing.

Sit on the floor together.      Build something with blocks.

Blow bubbles.                      Go outside and take a walk.

Cut pictures out of magazines.      Skip.

Play a board game.              Skate on paper plates.

Count.                                  Look out the window.

Go on a nature walk.              Make a wish.

Jump or hop as long as you can.      Do a job together.
    
Play a memory game.          Write a letter.

Cook something together.      Do a finger play.

Work a puzzle.                      Make a band of pots and pans.

Pantomime.                          Guess who I am? Play “I spy.”

Draw a picture.                      Read the funny papers.

Put on a puppet show.          Go to the library.

Make a book.                      Make a card for someone.

Play a rhyming game.          Play with play dough.

String pasta or cereal on      Draw with chalk on the
dental floss.                          sidewalk.

Play follow the leader.          Make silly faces in a mirror.


Draw a picture.                      Put on some music and dance.


*Hint! Cut these suggestions up into strips and place them in a sack. Let your child choose a strip and then do that activity.




Tic Tac Toe at Home
Use a frame similar to the one shown with activities children can do with their families. Can they get three in a row or do they want to do the whole frame?

TIC TAC TOE HOMEWORK

“Parents are their CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER.”

Prepare activities that will encourage parents to continue to extend learning beyond the screen.

Tic Tac Toe at Home
Use a frame similar to the one shown with activities children can do with their families. Can they get three in a row or do they want to do the whole frame?
                      

*Adapt the tasks below to the age and ability of your students to create tic tac toe frames each week.

Read a book.
Tell a joke. 
Exercise. 
Sing a song.
Play hide and seek.
Hum.
Say a nursery rhyme. 
Play a card game.
Talk. 
Make a puppet.
Juggle two paper towels. 
Swing.
Sit on the floor together. 
Build something with blocks.
Blow bubbles. 
Go outside and take a walk.
Cut pictures out of magazines. 
Skip.
Play a board game. 
Skate on paper plates.
Count. 
Look out the window.
Go on a nature walk. 
Make a wish.
Jump or hop as long as you can. 
Do a job together. 
Play a memory game. 
Write a letter.
Cook something together. 
Do a finger play. 
Work a puzzle. 
Make a band of pots and pans. 
Pantomime. Guess who I am? 
Play “I spy.”
Draw a picture.  
Put on a puppet show. 
Make a book. 
Make a card for someone. 
Play a rhyming game. 
Play with play dough.
String pasta or cereal on dental floss.
Draw with chalk on the sidewalk.
Play follow the leader. 
Make silly faces in a mirror. 
Draw a picture. 
Put on some music and dance.
Give each other a back rub.


Monthly Activity Calendars
You can also download monthly activity calendars on drjean.org.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2011/07_Jul_css/pg03.html

JIGGLE - JUGGLE!

ARE YOU GETTING A LITTLE RESTLESS?  HAVE YOU GOT THE FIDGETS?
OVER THE NEXT WEEK ON MY BLOG I'M GOING TO SHARE MOVEMENT
ACTIVITIES AND BRAIN BREAKS FAMILIES CAN DO TOGETHER.  
YES, THEY'LL ALL BE SIMPLE, EASY, AND FUN!! 
TODAY, LET'S JUGGLE! 

What do all these things have in common?

They can all be used to juggle!

International Jugglers Day and World Juggler's Day was April 18th, but in case you missed it I thought juggling might be something fun to try at home today.  Common objects jugglers use include balls, clubs, swords, plates, rings, and flaming sticks.  However, you can learn to juggle at home using wadded up paper balls, tissues, or scarves. 
 
Why?
Juggling is fuel for the brain because it requires you to cross the midline, develops eye-hand coordination, and can improve focus and self-control.

When?
Juggling can be a great brain break in the classroom or an activity to entertain children on a rainy day.  It can be done inside, outside, or in a small area.

What?
You can uses wadded up sheets of paper, tissues, sponge balls, or juggling scarves. (I made my own juggling scarves by cutting 10" squares out of netting.)

How?
Begin by having children wad up a piece of scrap paper. Can they toss it and catch it? Can they play catch with a friend? Can they toss it, clap, and then catch it? How many times can they toss it without dropping it?

Practice tossing the paper ball from the right hand to the left.

Add a second paper ball and let the fun begin!