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Fight the “Brain Drain.”

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Studies suggest that over the summer, youngsters can lose over half of what they learned in school. For resources, information, and ideas to keep the mind active, engaged, and learning this summer click here.

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Meet previous Microgrant recipients, learn about their projects, and exchange educational ideas:

Teachers compete through community votes for $200 plus a Flip Video camera.

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Topics » Teachers Tell » What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
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What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
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What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
6/2/09 4:49 PM
What teaching materials and/or activities do you use to keep students learning during the summer?

Teachers are masters at locating the best resources and teaching tools for their students. We were so inspired by our Summer of Learning Microgrant applicants that we want to continue the conversation with everyone in the community. Add to the post by suggesting your favorite summer teaching materials and/or activities.
RE: What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
Tags: reading
6/6/09 11:59 AM as a reply to William Goodwin.
I recently had a Principal in Orange County Public Schools (FL), recommend the website: www.goodreads.com to keep students engaged in reading year-round. It is kind of like a facebook for readers. I love it!!!
RE: What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
6/13/09 2:12 AM as a reply to William Goodwin.
When I was in the classroom full time I encouraged students to read, read, read, and read some more! As an effort to foster a love for reading, I asked students to email me the plot of the novel they read, whether they would recommend the book to someone else and what their favorite part of the story was. Not all of the students took up the challenge to read and email me the responses but some did and I hope it spurred a love for reading. I still correspond with some of those students and have written college recommendations for former via email and love the extended contact of the teacher/student professional relationship beyond the classroom walls.
RE: What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
6/18/09 3:43 PM as a reply to William Goodwin.
At the end of the school year, I provided a to-do list for my students which included plenty of reading and math activities. One of my favorite subscription websites for 2nd grade is www.raz-kids.com. The students log in, read stories online, listen to reading, and if their computers are capable, they can record themselves reading the stories and play it back before taking a quiz on the content of many of the stories. They earn star points and can use the points to "buy" items to decorate a space rocket.

Another standard primary level website to visit is www.starfall.com.

We are also participating in The Pet Shop Pals Summerfest through www.letterpals.org. They even offer a home school group for those who did not hear about the pet shop Efriends letter reading and writing program.

I gave my students a reading log to keep over the summer, and at the end of each summer month, I will post a note on my website with instructions and examples for graphing the book genres the students read for the month. Then they can use the graphed information to determine the maximum, minimum, median, mode, and range of the genres (as introduced in our 2nd grade Everyday Math curriculum). Additionally, there are math questions posted on my website to encourage thinking and problem solving skills practice.

When all else fails, pull out a deck of cards and play some fast fact games based on "War." Number Top-it can be played with addition, subtraction, and multplication facts.

~Mrs. Womersley~
www.teacherweb.com/FL/holyfamilycatholicschoolstpetersburg/womersley
RE: What do you use to keep students learning during the summer?
Tags: library
7/21/09 12:24 PM as a reply to William Goodwin.
As a high school library media specialist I lamented the shelves of books collecting dust for the weeks of summer vacation. So I requested permission from school administrators and opened summer circulation to students and staff. During the last two weeks of school any student or staff member in good standing (incentive for some students to return overdues...) is welcome to come into the library and check out up to ten books or audiobooks for the summer. These items are due on the Friday of our first week of classes. This is entirely recreational reading--does not cover any course required reading. The very first time we made it available we checked out several hundred items. Not bad for lazy days of summer!
 

Our community has spoken. The following ten teachers will receive $200 and a Flip Video camera to jump-start their “Summer of Learning” projects. We’ll soon share videos of their projects and activities. Thank you to all who participated with submissions and their votes. WeAreTeachers is proud to give back to our community through our WAT Microgrant program.