We don't require anything academic from DS10 at home over the summer. There are things that he'd much rather be doing. He usually ends up reading some each day, but not while there are kids to play with and things to do outside. Most of his reading is done in the car or after he's come in for the evening.
We did sign him up for a 4-day program that was really awesome. Heavy STEM stuff which is right up his alley. However, it was like pulling teeth to get him to go the first day. The program was very hands on and, by the second day, DS admitted he kinda liked it. I've been trying to figure out why DS is so opposed to doing anything that he deems 'educational' in nature even if it promises to be fun (they built/launched model rockets, for example). All I can come up with is that he's spent so much time being miserable in school that he imagines any type of 'structured' class will be the same way.
I'm a tad bit envious of all the camps and things that it seems other kids are looking forward to and doing. I'd love for DS to *want* to take part in some of these, but no dice so far. The other day he told me that he preferred to learn things on his own - he doesn't want the classroom type stuff, but just give him a book and he'll figure it out on his own. I hate to think that his school experiences have helped to formed this attitude.
