Summer months are approaching and while it’s going to be hot outside, you probably still want to limit the amount of screen time you and your children have. Did you know that not all screen time has to be games? There are plenty of opportunities for personal and/or academic growth online as well, and many of them can be fun! Here is a small sample of what is available.
Google-A-Day (www.agoogleaday.com) asks a new question each day for you to solve. Their tag line is “There’s no right way to solve it, but there’s only one right answer.” Check it out and make it a family challenge!
Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) is another great site to use during the school year or to bump up skills over the summer. They have online classes for math, science, arts and humanities, technology, and more. During the school year, students can use this to review materials they may not have understood the first time. During the summer, it’s a great place to reinforce what has been learned before moving on to the next class – or maybe take a class that your school doesn’t offer. Try computer animation or hour of code together!
YouTube (youtube.com) offers a plethora of how-to videos from crafts to electronics and everything in between. Learn how to play the ukulele, create a papier mache hot air balloon, perform card tricks, and more. Make sure you are searching with your child as not all results will be appropriate.
If your child is struggling with reading (up to grade 6), perhaps the freereadingprogram.com can help. They offer a free online foundations for reading, language, and grammar. Help your student start the new school year strong with this program.
If your child is struggling with math (grades 1-8), perhaps the prodigygame.com can help. Prodigy is an adaptive math game, changing the challenges based on your child’s need, disguised in a role-playing adventure. Help your child build those foundational math skills while winning challenges and collecting virtual pets.
Common Sense Education has created a list of apps and programs for after-school programs and clubs – but many of these could also be used at home such as Scratch, Book Creator, Go Noodle, Geocaching, and more. You can find these resources and full reviews at bit.ly/enrich19.
If you want something more structured for your child, there are also several online schools that offer summer school options for students no matter where they are enrolled during the school year. A quick search on the Internet will provide numerous options that should be fully explored before registration fees are paid.
In addition to online options, there are also numerous STEM-related summer camps available locally, some examples include:
– Zoo Camp at the Living Desert (www.livingdesert.org)
– Desert Recreation District has several options (myrecreationdistrict.com)
– Smart Education offers several STEAM summer camps (desertrobotics.com)
It’s also a great idea to check with your child’s teacher and/or school as they may have a list of resources already determined to provide success in their specific course of instruction. Our connected world offers so many opportunities, so take advantage of them, and don’t take a summer break from learning!
