Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Summer Work Suggestions

Hi Everyone,

I have been trying to look through all of the great info in the forums, but I haven't had any luck finding precisely what I'm after. I'm trying to find some sort of workbooks or program to do at home over the summer with my kids.

DD6 just missed qualifying for the gifted program here because she bombed one subsection of the WISC-IV, so so these purposes think of her as MG. Her biggest strength is quantitative, weakness non-verbal, reads above her grade level (I'm thinking of having her take the DORA to see how far), and she is finishing up 1st grade.

DD8 is bright (not gifted), not as strong of a reader, more quantitative but hated her math teacher this year so didn't do as well in her high-ability class. She is a really poor test taker - refuses to take the time to read questions carefully and frequently underperforms on tests in general. She is finishing up 2nd grade this year.

I'd like to find something we can all work on together for an hour or two a day over the summer that will build on their strengths and help with their weaknesses. I'm interested in really trying to (gently) push them to another level, because I feel like all school year we are so busy that we hardly get to anything. At the same time, I'd like it to be fun and engaging.

Any suggestions? I'm a future secondary math teacher, so I'm willing to do some "lesson planning" on my own, but I'd like some kind of program to use as a base.

Thanks for any help!

My DD is enjoying IXL math, which has enough breadth of material that there's plenty to do that doesn't duplicate what was covered in school. My DD is also one who doesn't read carefully (and makes careless errors), and the immediate feedback from IXL reminds her to read.

Thanks AlexsMom! Definitely something we could try since it's not too much of a financial commitment. I could see it being a good tool.

I just looked at the link for IXL math. I had never heard of it. Might be something I consider for over the summer. My kids already get a math book they have to do over summer and return to school when they go back, so this will be a great addition. Does it allow a child to move along above level too?

As another source, my DD loved the Flashkids Gifted workbooks. They have a lot of logic problems and analytical thinking vs. just basic math problems. The reading and english were good too. I got the books at B@rnes and N0ble. We got them two years in a row. I found the basic summer bridge books much too easy, but these, since they were intended for gifted, were a little harder (not hard, but fun and colorful, and somewhat higher than the grade level books).

Oh, and we love the Life of Fred math books too! They are fun and entertaining!

Yep, you've got unlimited access to all the materials (pre-K to 8th grade).

Type math mammoth into YouTube. She has a variety of free math videos. She also sells little targeted workbooks for the type of problems you choose.
I haven't bought the workbooks, I really like her videos.

Thanks everyone! Keep 'em coming!