This March our students were thrust into virtual classrooms—a change that proved to be more than challenging for families. After months of haphazard homeschooling, while simultaneously working from home and managing the needs of the household, many parents are now concerned that their kids are not on track for next school year. Bonnie Kole, M.Ed., a local educational advocate and reading specialist, offers tips to keep kids learning this summer.
1) Don’t be so hard on yourself! Don’t feel the need to do something educational throughout the summer. The most practical way to address the summer/pandemic slump is to view all activities as a chance to learn something. Ask your children to learn one new fact a day and share it with you. A trip to the shore or a trip to the store will present opportunities to see math, literacy, science and social studies in real life.
2) Have a schedule! Even a relaxed summer schedule is essential. Reading, for example, should be part of an everyday routine; however, if your child avoids reading, the summer is a good time to find out why? Work with your children to create a schedule that reflects what they want to learn.
3) Reach out to an educator! If you have concerns about your child’s academic readiness for the next school year, contact an educator for suggestions or academic help.
Bonnie works with families on a variety of educational matters, including IEP issues, out of district placements, bullying, reading/writing difficulties and social-emotional challenges impacting academic growth.
Contact Bonnie (908) 295-4701 or brkole@gmail.com