Summertime 'Homework'

Homework is an integral part of Kindergarten. As your child leaves school and goes off on summer vacation, it is important to remember that time should still be set aside for daily 'homework.' This time should continue, despite the fact that school is out. Continuing to spend the 20-minutes of one-on-one time with your child for four days a week will demonstrate the importance of homework and help to keep skills fresh during the warm days of summer.

1. Sentence Writing
One of the key skills to practice this summer is sentence writing. If there is one thing you do as a parent 'teacher,' then do this! In 1st grade, children are expected to be able to write a good sentence (or two or three!) on their own. If your child has had NO practice during the weeks of summer vacation, then he/she will be at a disadvantage and will have forgotten what to do!

Start by gathering together the 'necessary' supplies: a notebook or journal, High Frequency Word flash cards, and a calendar. (If you don't have storybook paper, download several sheets of Writing Paper, punch holes, and put in a binder to make your own notebook.) Now, encourage your child to write the day's date. Then, together, think of a topic that he/she can write about. If something special was done that day, for example, you went to the pool, then the topic could be:

Today you went to the pool. Tell what you did at the pool. How did you feel? What did
you like?

The HFW flash cards can be used to help with writing words. As a 'teacher' be sure to watch for HOW the letters are being formed. Things to check for: Is the pencil held between the thumb and index (pointer) finger? Are letters being formed from top-to-bottom (or head-to-toe)? Are the three lines on the paper being utilized? Is there a picture to illustrate the sentence(s)? Is there a setting for the picture? Does the picture match the writing?

If necessary, go back and review the Thinking Maps section.

2. High Frequency Words
Take out the HFW flash cards and review those words that your child does NOT know for two minutes. Simply practicing the words for a few minutes each day will keep those words in the forefront of your child's memory!

Take a look at the 1st Grade Word List and make your own flash cards. Can your child read any of the words? Make your own flash cards using this HFW flash card template.

3. Numerals
Have your child write the numerals from 1–30. Take out the numeral flash cards and review those numbers your child does NOT know. Play a Number Memory Game for two rounds. If necessary, make numeral flash cards with the Numeral Card flash card template.

4. Go to the Library
Take a visit to the local library. Find out when there is a Storybook Hour. Have your child go to check out books that he/she wants to read. Check to see which books are within his/her reading level by going onto the Accelerated Reader site (it is easy to locate reading levels with the click of a mouse!). Click ARBookFind to find the reading level of a particular book. Books that fall within the 0.3 to 1.8 levels should be about right. The more your child reads on his/her own, the better reader, writer, and speller he/she will become.