Summer Learning Made Easy: Fun, Simple Tips for Parents

Summer has arrived in Phoenix, and kids across the valley are ready for all the fun that comes with a break from the school-year routine. While a chance to reset and reconnect is essential, parents and educators know how critical it is to balance a well-deserved break with opportunities that nurture and sustain their learning from the past year.

The "summer slide" is a real concern for many families, but keeping their academic skills fresh doesn't have to involve mind-numbing flashcards and boring drills. There are countless exciting and engaging ways to reinforce reading, writing, and math skills, so students of all ages can jump back into school feeling confident, not burnt out. If nurturing those executive function skills is also on your radar, there are ways to make that a part of the summer fun as well.

READING: FOR THE LOVE, NOT THE REPORT!

Summer is the perfect time of year to foster a love of reading without any assigned pages or book reports. Even the most reading-resistant kid can get excited! Here are some quick ways to embed reading into your family’s ‘vacation mode’:

• Library Adventures (and not just for books!): Our local Phoenix libraries are treasure troves of free programs, story times, and summer reading challenges. Let your child choose any book, comic book, or magazine that captures their interest - no judgment. The goal is to get them reading something that they chose for themselves.

• Audiobooks on the Go: Whether it’s for long car rides, hanging out by the pool, or even during quiet playtime or bedtime, audiobooks are a fantastic way to make reading a natural part of your child’s day. They effortlessly expose kids to new vocabulary and share stories without the visual strain.

• Family Read-Alouds: Children of all ages - even teens - generally love being read to. Try taking turns reading chapters from a longer book, or explore a collection of short stories or poetry together. Even better, talk about what you read during and after reading; these conversations help strengthen comprehension and create shared experiences.

• Real-World Reading: Point out signs, browse recipe books, or ask your child to read the instructions for a new board game. By taking advantage of the ways that reading naturally occurs in the world around them, they discover that reading is a valuable life skill, not just a school subject.

WRITING: FOR CREATIVITY, NOT AN ESSAY!

Writing doesn't have to mean academic essays and formal assessments. Even if your child says they ‘hate writing’ during the school year, summer opens the door to rekindling their enthusiasm. Here are a few to get you started:

• Summer Journaling: Give your child a fun notebook and encourage them to jot down their daily adventures, thoughts, or observations. No pressure for perfect grammar – just get those ideas flowing!

• Creative Story Tellers: This can be prompted (with numerous story-starter ideas available online) or given free rein - simply provide a notebook with space for pictures and written text, and see where their imagination takes them.

• Recipe Writers: Have them help you write down a family recipe, or even create their own silly concoction. This can help enhance math skills while navigating measurements as an added bonus.

• Thank You Notes: There are so many benefits to practicing gratitude, penmanship, and writing skills in one go! If your child is an artist, have them create a drawing as an accompaniment to their written expressions of appreciation. 

MATH: FOR REAL LIFE, NOT THE TEST!

Math is everywhere, and summer is the perfect time to highlight its practical applications. This is especially true if you can connect math and play as the powerhouse couple they are!

• Cooking and Baking: Measuring ingredients is a fantastic way to practice fractions and understanding quantities. Doubling a recipe? That's multiplication!

• Shopping and Money: Encouraging math skills through money is a highly effective way to connect their learning to the world around them. Have your child help with the grocery budget, calculate discounts, or figure out the change you should receive.

• Board Games & Card Games: Many classic games like Monopoly, Uno, or even simple dice games involve counting, strategy, and basic arithmetic.

• Time Teller: Help them keep track of time for activities, calculate how long until dinner, or understand schedules.

• Sports Statistics: If your child loves sports, explore batting averages, points per game, or other fun stats.

The goal of summer learning isn’t to ‘school’ children during their much-needed time away - it’s to keep their curiosity, critical thinking skills, and thinking brains active and engaged. The more natural and enjoyable these experiences are, the better!

This fun and low-pressure approach reinforces essential reading, writing, and math skills while also encouraging a positive attitude towards learning. If you ever feel like your child could use a little extra support or a more structured approach to maintaining those executive function skills, Peak Academics is always here to help.

Written by Brandi R.

Beyond Bribery: Real Ways to Get Kids Excited About Reading

When a child says they “hate” reading, parents and teachers naturally push against that frustration. Although the fight is well-intentioned, forcing them into it via conflict can unfortunately worsen that resistance. To make matters worse, parents facing this challenge are far from alone, as the percentage of children who read for fun continues to drop and is now at its lowest since the 80s.

Rebuilding a positive attitude toward reading for a child with negative associations is both challenging and essential. It can also be particularly tricky, as encouraging reading differs from other forms of behavioral change. For example, incentivizing reading can have the opposite of its desired impact. Despite an initial increase in frequency, it is associated with a reduction over time and even decreased reading comprehension.

Reading improves cognitive development, critical thinking, emotional well-being, and academic success, so its loss is deeply felt in the classroom and at home. Instead of falling into the power struggle trap, here are some effective but subtle strategies that can re-introduce a love of reading without pressure or bribery. 

ADDRESS THE ROOTS OF RESISTANCE

Firstly, what is it about reading that children seem to ‘hate?’ Knowing and responding effectively to your child’s unique reasons can make a world of difference. Common answers often include boredom, difficulty understanding, pressure to read what they don’t enjoy, lack of interest, struggles with focus and attention, and a general sense of frustration rather than enjoyment. Once the ‘why’ is clearer, so are the next steps.

For example, if a child feels that reading is too difficult, they may have had to work with content too far above their reading level. Repeated experiences with this may have unintentionally ‘taught’ them that reading is ‘too difficult’ and inaccessible, so they have chosen to avoid it instead. A reading assessment to determine their current level can make it easier to identify material appropriate for their unique needs. Generally speaking, content should be at or just above the current level to promote skill growth; however, if the goal is to reverse the damage of negative emotions and limiting beliefs, it can help to start at or just below until they demonstrate a renewed sense of confidence and optimism.

If they struggle with focus or attention during reading, this could indicate a different learning style or executive functioning skills deficit. Understanding what these are can help inform the most accessible and supported ways for a child to engage with a text. For instance, some children do better with audiobooks (and don’t worry - audiobooks aren’t “cheating,” they produce nearly identical benefits to reading visually). On the other hand, children who struggle with executive functions and attention may prefer to own physical copies so they can annotate and engage more interactively with what they’re reading. 

MAKE READING PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The more unobtrusive and natural reading feels, the better. Fortunately, there are some very easy ways to make this a natural extension of their everyday lives:

• Make weekly trips to the library, giving them the freedom to browse independently 

• Visit multiple bookstores and choose a favorite (thrift stores often have robust book sections with books for $1-3)

• Bring books for long lines, car trips, plane rides, and vacations 

• Keep books everywhere: in the car, around the house, and always within reach

• Model reading for pleasure as often as possible

• Create a dedicated reading space with favorite blankets, special lights, and extra pillows

• Establish specific times, such as the drive home from school, the last hour before bed, or Saturday mornings (this should ideally apply to the whole family!)

• Read together as a bonding experience - taking turns reading aloud or snuggling with separate books (here are some additional tips to also improve comprehension)

• Encourage rereading of favorite books, which helps strengthen speed and accuracy while also building more confidence 

WHAT COMES NEXT: GAINING MOMENTUM

Once the reasons have been thoughtfully addressed and reading has become a more positive experience, here are a few ways to foster even greater levels of engagement:

• Make connections between things you’ve read and your child’s unique ideas, passions, and experiences

• Explore genres to discover their favorites: nonfiction, fantasy, sci-fi, graphic novels, etc.

• Find a series that captures their interest, which can promote a sense of comfort and familiarity, enthusiasm to read more, and opportunities to buy more as gifts

• While at the bookstore, collaborate to find a few books to give as gifts for someone else (ie. a recipe book for Dad to use with the new grill, or a book themed around an upcoming holiday to share with a younger sibling)

In conclusion, by addressing the reasons behind a child’s resistance and cultivating an environment where reading feels like a natural extension of their day, parents and educators can help them rediscover the joy of books. It is critical to approach the journey with empathy, acknowledging that every child is unique and will require different strategies. While it can be challenging and require a great deal of patience, the ultimate goal is for our children to hopefully embrace reading as a lifelong passion.

Written by Brandi R.

Foundations of Reading Success: Phonological Working Memory

Working memory is an executive function used to complete daily tasks. Strong working memory skills help students recall and apply information over shorter periods of time. Many of these skills are applied in daily routines such as following 2-3 step directions and responding to questions. And while these skills help children perform day-to-day activities, they can also support children’s reading proficiency. One key component of a working memory model is the phonological loop, also referred to as the phonological working memory. This component helps the brain understand, retain, and reproduce sounds spoken, or written. With a strong phonological working memory, children can increase their vocabulary, process information, and develop reading skills. 

There are many different ways to practice phonological working memory by focusing on phonological awareness skills, like rhyming, blending, segmenting, and deleting/changing sounds in a spoken word.

Nonsense Words

Nonsense words are often called pretend words, or fake words, such as fep or tig. These words are often used to test students’ working memory and reading skills. Children can practice these at home with nonsense word lists. Nonsense words may follow a specific pattern like CVC, CVCe, vowel teams, and more! Your child can practice nonsense words by reading them aloud, repeating them, blending sounds, or segmenting all of the individual sounds. 

Blending

Blending and segmenting different word parts can be tricky tasks for beginning readers, second language learners, and students who are struggling with phonological awareness skills. Blending can sound different for each child based on their abilities. You can practice blending with your child by saying individual sounds in a word (like /b/ /a/ /t/) and asking students to blend the word to make (bat). This same skill can be practiced with syllables (/cup/ + /cake/= cupcake). 

Rhyming

Rhyming words can be practiced through repetition, selecting, and producing. Students can simply repeat rhymes back to you, decide if two words rhyme, say a word that rhymes with a given word, choose the rhyming words in a sentence, or even find the odd word in a group of rhyming words. There are plenty of different ways to practice, such as family packs or games like Bingo!

Sound Manipulation

Adding, deleting, and substituting are all types of sound manipulation children can practice to work on their phonological awareness. Adding refers to the ability to add new sounds or syllables (add cake to cup= cupcake), deleting is when children are able to remove sounds from a word (say stuck without s), and substituting refers to changing sounds in a word (say chip, then change ch to sh). This skill is considered to be more advanced and may take extra practice! Playing games that support these skills will help children succeed in their classroom, at home, and while reading independently.

Phonological awareness and working memory are skills that can be developed simultaneously, but are both important for your child’s reading success and overall development. These skills are often assessed during report cards and on reading assessments in school. The more children practice at home, the more advanced their reading may become.

Written by Ami Z.