PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – Summer means it’s time for some fun, but that doesn’t mean kids should stop learning or stay on top of their skills.
According to educator Leanna Calhoun, owner of Encourage, Empower, Inspire You, LLC., most kids regress in their education during the summer, so much so, that it causes teachers to move backwards rather than forwards at the start of a school year.
“Teachers spend so much time in public school, those first nine weeks, a lot of times, just going back to review because we’ve had so much slippage,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun said she’s seen that reteaching a lot, first-hand even, during a 20-year career in education.
She said that’s why it’s best for families to continue the educational process in their households over the summer.
“When our kids go back to school, it lessens some of the strain and the stress for the teacher as well as the parents,” Calhoun said.
Plenty of ways exist to keep kids engaged in learning that’s outside a traditional classroom, Calhoun said.
“Tons of educational games, tons of STEM activities,” Calhoun said. “Taking kids to camps that include environmental science and math and reading that’s more embedded in it, so they don’t feel like you’re just tossing them a book or you’re tossing (them) some math problems.”
The internet also can come into play when other resources aren’t available.
“Often times, Google is your best friend,” Calhoun said. “Yes, it’s overused, but it can be very helpful for parents.”
Calhoun said it was important not to put too much pressure on children who are trying to learn. She said a little encouragement goes a long way.
“Build courage first,” Calhoun said. “Then, it opens up a whole new pathway in their mind to be able to receive any information that you’re giving,” Calhoun said.
For older children, Calhoun suggested putting them in a group setting and giving each child a responsibility that can be a learning lesson.
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