Tutor Tips
STOP SUMMER BRAIN DRAIN
Research shows that, on average, students lose one month on achievement test scores over summer vacation. But, your child doesn't have to spend the summer stuck in reverse. Here are a few tips to help parents kick off a learning-filled summer, and help close the learning gap
- Keep lots of books around and make regular trips to the library. Most libraries schedule special summer events for kids. Sign up your family!
- Think about what your child may be learning next year when you plan the family vacation. Talk with teachers to find out what they'll be covering in class. If it's a unit on the civil war, for example, you may want to schedule a visit to Gettysburg
- Keep math in mind. Since students lose more math skills than anything else over the summer, try to do some special planning to find math-related activities
As school is nearing an end for this year, perhaps your child hasn't attained the goals you and his teacher set for him. There may even be talk of repeating the grade next year. Soon, you will have to make the decision - summer tutoring or not. Consider a few thoughts that might help you make up your mind.
Remember that the child who is in need of summer tutoring due to lack of success in the classroom probably struggled all year. Tutoring provides the time for direct, one-on-one instruction to address these deficient educational areas; however, you do not want the child to believe he is being "punished" for making "bad" grades.
If you decide to arrange for tutoring, make sure that you also set aside "fun" times. Take a calendar and mark days for specific events or trips. It can be inexpensive outings like a trip to the ice cream store or the museum, a visit to a farm, swimming in the lake, or a birthday celebration at Grandma's house. Spread these activities out over the summer so that your child can look at the calendar and have those fun outings to look forward to.
If your child plays sports, arrange tutoring time around the sports. Never take an activity away that the child excels in. Very often when a parent does this, the child gives up on everything. Physical activity is an excellent outlet, and can rebuild self-esteem that may have been battered by bad grades in school.
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