summer ready

There's something about making a list, and checking things off that makes me a happy gal. In our hallway coming in from the garage, we have an old board that came off of an ancient piano...we didn't want to throw away the piece of history, so we turned it into a message center. I decided to make a summer wish list. I am hoping to one day have a chalkboard in the kitchen area when the kids are a little bigger and they can write and doodle and make their own lists. :)

I've been asked, by a few, for some ideas on summer learning to keep little minds on track, so when August comes around, they aren't in "la-la land". Here are my top three suggestions.

1. read

2. read

3. read

Here's a great article on the importance of reading aloud to your child...even from birth.

Suggesting something different is always fun...read to your dog :)

Attend story time...

Can't get them to sit still to read a story? Make a book on your own. All you need is a few sheets of paper, crayons and a stapler!

Make it easy:

Look at picture books, talk about the pictures

Go on a picture walk...ask questions based on the pictures..."what do you think the story is about?", "what are the characters doing?"

Make it hard:

Once you've read the book, have them draw a picture of their favorite character, or their favorite part of the story.

Fold a piece of paper into thirds and label at the top: beginning, middle, end. Then, have them draw or write what happened in each part of the book.

Act out the story- gather props!!

Keep a journal. Each night, before bed, have them write/draw about their favorite part of the day. If they are just learning to write, you can always write, in quotes, what they tell you.

What do you do to make reading fun?

Happy Summer!