The Math Equation that’ll Keep Your Child from Becoming a Loser
Here it is:
Take 3 months of summer fun with no academic work, and subtract 3 months of lost academic achievement (this is called the “Summer Slide”).
What does that equal?
1 child who feels like a loser.
Children who aren’t academically stimulated during the summer can lose as much as three month’s worth of knowledge when school starts. It’s called the “Summer Slide,” and it’llput children behind their peers academically before they even walk into a classroom. If you don’t want that to be your child, it’s easy to fix. How do you stop the “Summer Slide?”
Make your child read.
A study conducted by Professor James Kim of the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that reading four to five books during the summer was enough to prevent a decline in reading achievement.
If you’re stumped for book ideas, here are 5 reading lists of books recommended by a wide range of educators. We’ve included the URLs for you to cut and paste into your browser. The lists are provided by education journalist Elizabeth Kennedy.
1. HAISLN 2014 Recommended Reading Lists
These annotated 2012 reading lists come from the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network (HAISLN). Eight reading lists are available in pdf format: Preschool through Kindergarten, Grades 1 & 2, Grades 3 & 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 & 8, Grades 9 & 10, Grades 11 & 12. The carefully selected children’s books and young adult books on the reading lists include recent fiction and nonfiction.
2. Reading List for Teen Boys and Teen Girls
Librarian Jennifer Kendall has prepared two recommended summer reading lists for teenagers: Summer Reading List for Teen Boys and Summer Reading List for Teen Girls, both filled with books shown to be popular with teens.
3. Brookline Reading Lists for Kids Entering PK-K, Gr 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and HS
This series of 8-12 page reading lists that you can download as PDFs comes from The Public Schools of Brookline, Massachusetts. These excellent annotated lists, prepared by the school librarians, are well-organized and contain both recent and classic books. Whether you child is entering PK-K or high school, or any grades in between, you’ll find a helpful list.
4. 2015 Summer Reading List for Students Entering Grades K-6
The list, which is organized by age, is part of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. In addition to the list, you’ll find pledge cards, reading logs and achievement certificates. And pledge cards, reading logs and achievement certificates are also provided in Spanish.
5. Boston Public Schools 2014: Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 Book Lists
There are links to five reading lists on the Boston (Massachusetts) Public Schools’ Summer Resources page. The lists include: Grades K – 2, Grades 3 – 5, Grades 6 – 8 and Grades 9 – 12. Download the appropriate book list flyer for your child. Although the book lists are not annotated, they are divided into categories.
And don’t forget that Miracle Math Coaching offers Summer Camps that have gotten rave reviews from parents and students. The camps make Reading and Math fun and even introduce young people to outdoor “brain building.” Who knew that exercise made you smarter? Campers are also learning skills to help them conquer the Common Core when school starts again.
Sign up today. And feel free to call Deanna directly at 707-398-3474, ext. 1 to learn more about Miracle Math’s academic coaching services. Miracle Math Coaching is an award-winning, student-focused service with a track record of boosting academic achievement.
