No More Teachers, No More Books – The last month of the school year is a time to prepare for Transition

Only about a month to go until school is out. For students, teachers and parents alike, the last weeks of school can be both exciting and challenging. Students are looking forward to the summer break and, as a result, their interest in schoolwork may wane. Teachers are completing the strenuous state assessment tests and now have a classroom of students more interested in summer than science. For parents, the end of one school year signals the impending start of another one. So, how do you ensure your child is ready to tackle the next grade?

The end of the school year is really a time to prepare for transition - the transition from one grade to another - but also the transition from in-classroom learning to the continuous learning that takes place outside of school.

At this time of year, Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, advises parents to focus on three areas - helping their children make the most of the final weeks of school, knowing what the next grade level will bring and looking for ways to inspire learning during the summer break.

What Parents can do to make the most of the last weeks of school and prevent the Summer Loss

Take advantage of the final days of the current School Year
• You can help your children review by asking them to show you what they’ve learned or by working through homework problems together.
• Schedule a last meeting or discussion with your child’s teacher. Identify successes and challenges.
• Help your child stay motivated about school so he gains the full benefit of his final days in the classroom by putting a reward system in place.
• Have a conversation every day about school.

Know what the next grade level will bring.
• Speak to your child’s current teacher or a teacher in the next grade about the upcoming curriculum.
• Ask about new subjects and changes in focus. For example, in 4th grade, students usually begin to “read to learn” rather than “learn to read.” If your 3rd grade student is struggling with her reading, this summer would be a good time to focus on improving reading skills.
• If the next year will mean a change in schools - such as entering high school - take advantage of orientation sessions where you and your child can learn more about the new school.

Design summer vacation activities that are both fun and educational
• Continue reading throughout the summer. www.bookadventure.com. Book Adventure is a free, Sylvan-created, interactive, reading motivation program. Students choose their own books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading.
• Plan family activities that are fun, interactive and educational. To help families get started, Sylvan Learning offers a free activity booklet entitled, Family Learning Fun. The booklet provides seven different ideas and activities that will help sustain and renew your children’s interest in learning and discovery. It is available in the “Resources for Parents” section on the Sylvan Learning Web site.
• Develop writing skills by writing or emailing pen pals.
• Register students for summer camps. To make the most of summer, look for camps that provide an academic focus. Programs should offer a broad selection of courses built to suit individual needs while targeting specific subjects and offering a small group environment. When selecting an academic camp, look for programs with:
o Proficiency in the subject of your choosing
o Tutors with experience teaching children the same age as your child
o Flexibility in scheduling