Summer vacation means a break from school, but that does not mean that students should take a break from learning. The summer offers a multitude of learning opportunities.
Summer Math
Highlight the math in every day activities. When shopping, help kids calculate change or discounts. When watching a baseball game, talk about what players' statistics mean. When cooking, try halving or doubling a recipe.
Please send in pictures of your child “doing math in every day activities.” The pictures will be posted on our Baldwin homepage. Send an email including the photo to Lisa Waters, Web Manager, at
[email protected] Include your child'sfirst and last name and perhaps a fun sentence about how your child is applying math.
Read short math stories together.
Visit the library and read books with a math twist. Our local librarians would love to recommend books for any grade level.
Play math games. Games like Yahtzee, Racko, Blokus, Monopoly, and Set all rely on skills necessary for math, such as counting, categorizing, and building. Even playing with blocks and assembling jigsaw puzzles can help kids learn spatial skills and recognize patterns.
Find small ways to practice math at home. While worksheets alone won't solve summer math slump, small amounts of practice with basic formulas can help. Problem-of-the-day math calendars are a great way to practice basic math problems on a small scale.
Here is a link to our Math Calendars by Grade Level >>
Hard copy math calendars were distributed to all rising 1st through 5th grade students. Please bring the calendar journals to school by September 14th.
Summer Reading -- 20 Minutes a Day!
Students are expected to read at least 20 minutes every day during the summer. Students can keep track of their minutes and books read on the
CPS Summer Reading Log that was distributed to all students via hard copy or through an easy to complete form at the following link:
http://goo.gl/forms/qFblPrlFqa
Please support your child in finding time to read every day!
All summer reading calendars/logs or google forms should be completed by September 14. Students who participate will be acknowledged at an All School Meeting.
Graduating grade 5 students should check the Cambridge Public Schools website for Rindge Avenue Upper Campus reading expectations. They are also encouraged to blog about the books they are reading at
http://usreading.blogspot.com/
Summer reading information and book suggestions >> :
Summer Reading Tips for Parents
Avoid the “summer slide” that many students experience by encouraging your child to read 20 minutes every day. Just as in playing a sport or an instrument, regular practice is necessary in order to maintain skills and continue improving. Below are some tips for keeping your child reading during the summer.
- Create a regular summer reading routine. Read or be read to 20-30 minutes every night or morning
- Talk with your child about what s/he is reading. A few conversation starters are: Tell me about what is happening in your book. What do you think the author's message is? How would you describe the main character? What did you learn? (nonfiction)
- Become a “regular” at the public library. Use the librarians as a resource to help you choose books.
- Encourage your child to choose “just right” books – not too easy and not too hard.
- Read as a family - model the importance of reading for everyone in the family!
- Take books along on trips - listen to an audio book as you are traveling in the car.
- Limit your child's TV viewing and video game playing - read a good book instead!