Children need constant
stimulus to keep them engaged in learning and motivated to read and write.
Children need constant stimulus to keep them engaged in learning and motivated to excel. According to Teaching Strategies, a sponsor of the National Association for the Education of Young Children states, "children who have strong social and emotional skills and a positive attitude toward learning enter school ready and motivated to learn." Communication skills, which consist of comprehensive oratorical and writing skills, are critical components of a child's development. Writing depends on the use and understanding of speech, which necessitates the command of language. That, in turn, requires brain development, which is stimulated by sensory-motor structures (or hand and eye coordination), as noted by Dorothy Latham in her book "How Children Learn to Write." Reading is a fundamental component of developing comprehension and should not be abandoned during the summer. Activities parents plan and implement during educational breaks can promote the stimulus needed to enhance skills in comprehension and written expression.
Instructions
1. Build the child's confidence by increasing his vocabulary. Words are powerful tools that enhance the child's ability to express himself. Knowing when and use them effectively promotes mastery of language and expression. Purchase a vocabulary book that has a daily approach to building vocabulary and is age appropriate. Have the child complete it twice during the summer break to ensure understanding and mastery.
2. Exchange telephone time with writing labs. Designate at least three hours a week to improve the child's writing skills. Create writing assignments that focus on current events or new vocabulary words. The goal is to keep the child attentive to learning, while developing vocabulary, critical thinking, reading comprehension and writing skills.
3. Inspire the child to learn by exposing her to new experiences. Take weekly trips or family outings to cultural or foreign destinations. Although many budgets are tight, nearby destinations such as zoos, national parks and museums are inexpensive and educational. If foreign travel is preferred, consider participation in church missions or outreach programs that sponsor inexpensive trips to countries such as Haiti that need volunteers for recovery efforts. Children are naturally curious, and as they explore and investigate their surroundings will be prompted to ask questions (who, what, where, why, when and how) and formulate relationships between their discoveries and their previous knowledge. Where there are gaps, they will seek new knowledge.
4. Develop a routine for learning in the daily schedules. Most children, from preschool to adolescent, have been trained to follow a schedule, and separating them from this cycle during summer breaks interrupts the learning process. Because of the incremental nature of learning, as noted by Latham, parents should develop a solid understanding of the child's ability to comprehend new concepts and their pace for developing mastery by observing their study patterns. Assign specific summer reading assignments, being mindful of the time limits of the assignment, method of delivery and number of selections. Use the travel time between destinations, along with early mornings and late evenings, for these activities. Purchase books, CDs, and other media for them to read in the gift stores before leaving travel destinations and encourage the children to write a summary of their recent exploration and present it to their class. Children are more inclined to read or pursue knowledge from a book immediately after direct engagement in the activity.
5. Reward achievements with tangible items. Although children are naturally inquisitive and instinctively seek the approval and acceptance of their parents, tokens and incentives help to create and sustain interest. Purchase an electronic reading device to promote reading and writing. A personal sacrifice that benefits their future could translate into enhanced classroom performance.
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