Ask a Teacher |
| Q: There are so many different classes, camps, and activities available for my children to sign up for this summer. Can you recommend what you think is the most beneficial? A: You and each one of your children need to sit down together and make those decisions. Let your child try something different he/she has never experienced. Just keep in mind that it is summer, a time of relaxation and fun. Then, try to add this as a summer activity. You know your children and their personality characteristics. Together decide on one characteristic that can be improved. An example might be “finishing what you start” or “listen, really listen, to others when they are speaking." Have each child make a list of ways he/she can develop in their area. Make a chart with every vacation day on it. At the end of the day each child can record what he/she did to work on his/her goal. (Repeating an action causes the action to become a habit.) Decide whether you all want to discuss the chart each week or every two weeks. In August you will be proud of the growth of more than just your garden. Your children will feel proud of their accomplishments, too. You can use this same technique to work on an academic area that is weak. Spend 30 minutes a day working on skills to enhance that subject. When school starts in the fall, your child will have an easier time mentally retrieving those skills. Let this be the summer your children grow in all areas. |
Nancy has been an educator for 30 years and is currently a special education teacher.
She is the former Center Director of LearningRx in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has
received local, state, and national recognition for her development of Downfeld
Phonics, a multi-sensory reading program. Nancy also wrote curriculum for an
educational technology company.
Nancy is a single mother of three children: one with learning differences, one gifted,
and one who has to work for his grades. Not only does she know what it is like to teach
all these different learning styles at school, but she has the experience of dealing with
all aspects of each twenty-four seven.
She is the former Center Director of LearningRx in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has
received local, state, and national recognition for her development of Downfeld
Phonics, a multi-sensory reading program. Nancy also wrote curriculum for an
educational technology company.
Nancy is a single mother of three children: one with learning differences, one gifted,
and one who has to work for his grades. Not only does she know what it is like to teach
all these different learning styles at school, but she has the experience of dealing with
all aspects of each twenty-four seven.
Copyright © 2010 Nancy Downing. All rights reserved.
Photo © Raycan | Dreamstime.com
| Summer Activities |
| by Nancy Downing |
