St. Anne’s School of Annapolis
Gimme a Break! Strategies for a Happy and Healthy Summer
w hat makes a great summer ?
What does it look like?
no stress, no tantrums, lots of outdoor time, free play, adventure, limited screen time, some rest, family time, vacations, less structure, games, art waking up when you want to, etc.
What does it sound like?
laughter, beach waves, breeze, busy quiet, crickets, family convos, splashing, parties, gatherings, get togethers, etc.
What does it feel like?
relaxing, sun kissed, sun tired, joyful, happy, restorative exhale, smiling while making memories, etc.
w hat else makes a great summer ?
Predictability at Home
● Bedtime- consistency
● Mealtime- consistency
Chores- more time in the summer than during the school year:
○ Unload the dishwasher
○ Feed the pets
○ Put laundry away
○ Mow the lawn
d
evice
o verload is a thing
d evice o verload is a thing
• 44% of young people spend more than 3 hours a day on social media
• 69% of children regularly receive online messages from strangers and do not tell a parent
• 44% of teens purposely wake up from their night sleep to check their cell phones at least once
what about summer learning?
What does the research say?
● Summer setback occurs in all subject areas but is most pronounced in reading
● Reading over the summer can ameliorate summer setback and can actually result in students starting off in the fall with higher reading levels than they left off with at the end of the previous year
● Reading more books helps generate increases in reading comprehension
why is reading so important?
why is reading really so important?
reading over the summer
● Expose kids to a wide range of diverse and inclusive texts
● Provide access to books that are relevant and connected to the experiences of your family
● Plan regular library trips and/or trips to local bookstores if traveling
● Stop at every Little Free Library you see
● Let kids choose what to read
● Ensure that access to books is continuous
○ Goal: Aim for 11 books (approximately one a week)
reading over the summer
● Be a reading role model
○ Read with your kids
○ Form a family book club
○ Have older sibs read to younger sibs or even the family pet!
● Read on the go
○ Listen to books while taking long car rides and discuss them
○ Read outside
○ Bring books with you while waiting
● Other ideas? Joke books and riddles, start a story aloud and take turns, pick three words and add them to the story, listen to Podcasts (“Smash, Boom, Best” or Disney Storyteller on Spotify), listen to books and read along, explore kids cookbooks and baking, etc.
math
Make it fun & keep it incidental
● Volume and mass with sand and water at the beach
● Cooking meals together or baking summer treats
● Ordering from the snack shack at the pool
● Running a lemonade stand
● Shopping for groceries or back to school items
● Using map skills to help plan trips (time, distance, etc.)
● Family game nights using math skills
● Other ideas? Garden and collect X tomatoes, save up for a shopping trip with chore money, keep track of chore money with a mini atm/bank.
writing
Keep it intrinsically motivating & child-directed
● Diaries
● Journals–each day–favorite thing each day
● Write a script for a play (e.g., YouTube Video)
● Self-directed research projects
● Packing lists for trips
● Thank you notes after family trips
● Other ideas? Send postcards when you go away, cousin pen pals, build a stationary station, build a writing center (fun pens, stickers, cards, etc.)
executive functioning
Let them “own” more & allow them to learn in a way that might not feel comfortable during the school year.
● Have them pack their own lunch for camp. Don’t rescue them if they forget it.
● Practice real vs. estimated time
● Have them update the family calendar
● Let them plan a fun family outing
have a great summer from st. anne’s school of annapolis! www.stannesschool.org