I’m curious—how many of you are working with students this summer? Many of my summers involve working with students in one way or another. For a few years, I taught a summer program for special education students. The goal of the program was to help kids maintain the skills they had learned during the year so they could pick up where they left off when they returned to school in the fall. The kids and staff worked hard, but we also had lots of fun. The summer atmosphere was relaxing, and it lent itself to activities that we couldn’t do during the regular school year. (Think sprinklers!)

Tutoring has also been part of my summers. One summer I tutored a third-grade boy in reading. (Let’s call him Josh.) That happened to be when I was in a reading master’s program, so I was glad to have the opportunity to put newly learned strategies into practice. Later, I was thrilled to hear that Josh had more self-confidence when he returned to school in the fall and that he had a terrific school year. A little extra help and attention can go a long way!

Congratulations to Audrey in Pasadena, California. She is the winner of a copy of 500 Classroom Tips, Grades K-1 in our weekly blog drawing.

29 Responses to “Students in the Summer?”

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  1. 13 Aug 2009 at 6:03 pm 29.  Brandi

    I do a summer camp as well. I find the topics we can cover to be so fun! Every year we do an ice cream unit complete with making ice cream in class and eating it for snack time. We also do an Independence Day Unit that’s so fun. Other units we do are pirates, oceans, beaches, bumblebees, and wild west.
    I run my camp from the first week in June to the middle of August and we always wrap up the summer with a slip n slide, kiddie pool party!

  2. 25 Jul 2009 at 12:10 pm 28.  Nancy

    I also like to devote my summers off to my family. We spend time together and enjoy our relaxed timed together.

  3. 24 Jul 2009 at 1:35 pm 27.  Deb

    This is my third summer teaching summer school to special education students ages 5-7. It’s half-days, for five weeks, so it doesn’t take up my whole summer, and it is definitely a change from teaching full-day pre-k during the school year. Before I started teaching summer school I worked at a summer camp for underprivileged children for five summers - also a great experience!

  4. 22 Jul 2009 at 2:28 pm 26.  Stephanie

    This is my second summer teaching summer school. As a single parent, I do feel a little bit guilty about still sending my young daughter to preschool but I think the schedule is good (for both of us)! I also enjoy working with the variety of ages and abilities that I don’t have the opportunity to work with during the year. During summer school, I work with K-6 on both reading and math skills. I love it, but I’m always ready for the week or two off before I gear up for another school year!

  5. 20 Jul 2009 at 10:16 pm 25.  Kristen

    This summer we implemented a ’summer boost’ program for our preschool children. it is three days in June, July, and august and it has been fantastic. it is so great to be able to not only see the children, but to help them keep up on basic skills during the summer. it is pretty laid back and yet it keeps them in the routine of school, i am really liking it!!

  6. 20 Jul 2009 at 9:35 pm 24.  Kathi

    Although I do coordinate Vacation Bible School for my church and teach preschool Sunday school, my summer is for my family. I feel as though they sacrifice their time with me throughout the school year and the summer is the chance for me to devote to them.

  7. 18 Jul 2009 at 11:31 am 23.  Wendy

    My summer is for my family…..it gives me an opportunity to spend some down time with my kids and hubby and to rejuvenate and get fresh ideas for the next year!

  8. 18 Jul 2009 at 9:51 am 22.  Krystal

    Since i homeschool my son while also working in the Children’s Department at a Public Library, I am with children constantly. I love encouraging children to continue reading and learning all year, especially in the summer when they have the time to read things of their own choosing! Learning in my family and at my job happens on a daily basis. That’s why we choose to do year-round homeschooling. :-)

    I also tutor students of all ages in the summertime and do outreach programs for recreation centers and for children whose families are in homeless shelters.

    This is off-topic but I would love to know how to contact others who post in these blogs. I have seen some wonderful posts that have me asking questions with no way to get answerrs. :-( I would love to learn more about Janet’s experiences with the summer migrant education program and how she is able to teach Spanish-speaking students knowing very little Spanish herself. Any tips for others in a similiar situation? I also would like to learn more about the teacher who is having moms come in to share their culture with her class. What do they usually share? How do you incorporate it into your daily learning?

    See? Lots of questions! :-)

    Is there a way that we can connect with each other through this blog? Or a way to share email addresses?
    Thanks!

  9. 17 Jul 2009 at 12:51 pm 21.  Deborah

    I worked in a program one summer for children that were going into kindergarten in the fall. The district had tested students going into kindergarten and these students fell below the mark that they needed to be at. It was exciting to see the students learn so much in this 6 week period. The progress that they made was essential to their excelling in kindergarten in the fall. I was so happy I could make a difference.

  10. 17 Jul 2009 at 10:13 am 20.  Nicholas

    For the past two summers I have taught an enrichment math games summer school class for students in grades K-2. I also tutor two boys- one student in math and one student in reading. I also lead the craft room at my church’s Vacation Bible School.

  11. 17 Jul 2009 at 9:44 am 19.  Trudi Egan

    I teach summer school, grades 1-3 with one other teacher. It’s fun to think of themes around which to organize your writing, reading, and math! Mailbox helps me so much with their great ideas, and the children love the thematic approach!

  12. 17 Jul 2009 at 9:35 am 18.  Nicole D.

    Our school is closed during the summer, and I like to use my summer preparing for the next school year. In Headstart, you can have children up to 2 and a 1/2 years, and I always like to make it different and exciting. I do, however, work with VBS during the summer. I meet all kinds of children, and they are excited to have fun.

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