Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School Summer Academics - how much to push???

Hi, Just wanted to get an idea of how much academic work everyone does at home during the summer? My kids are best friends with a family across the street that does several hours a day (parent driven, not child led. The kids resist it but parents push it.) I think it's mostly a cultural expectation of their household.

My kids are in a GT classroom and work very hard all year. They like to run, ride bikes, build forts, etc. in the summer. They do read every evening.

Beyond that, I guess I'm feeling guilty and comparing.....oops. Do you all push the kids to spend time daily on academic skills during break? I know the majority of GT kids would probably not resist this too much so maybe most of you don't have to push it?

Just wondering...

Thanks!

We homeschool, but live in a neighborhood full of kids that attend school. I have things available to do this summer. We practice music, read aloud, and have some things laying around for hands on science. My 9 year old reads for at least an hour a day unprompted and his kindy sister now carries a book with her constantly. We do a reading program. But nothing really is mandatory (other than music - we are doing lessons this summer).

If kids WANT to be out side, playing, and socializing at this age, I'm all for it! Now going into our 3rd year of homeschool, I've seen the kids make leaps over the summer in some areas without any effort on my part. And some of those leaps are in social or athletic skills which are important too.

I don't think you should feel guilty at all if your kids are working hard during the year and doing well. Enjoy your summer!

I don't push at all. DS6 does pick up some of the work books I have bought him (he asked for them), for pleasure, but I don't force it one bit. As much as I want him to grow academically to his fullest potential, I also want him to be a 6 yr old while he still can. DD4 wouldn't do anything academically if I tied her down and glued her eyes to the book or what have you!!!

No pushing here either - if he wanted to do no academics that would be fine. (I doubt it'll happen, though: he tends to make leaps over holidays.) The one thing I will encourage is typing practice, because it would really help if his typing gets good, and there's not much time during term for this; and of course I'll insist on piano practice and a little helping round the house. [Future tense as we have several weeks of term still to go here!] Lots of time for relaxing, bike riding etc., though.

My DS7 already informed me he is off for the summer. I will try to get him to do a worksheet here and there.

My DS5 has been out of school for two weeks, and I was starting to worry about him forgetting math facts over the summer, so just last night I dug out a third grade workbook that someone gave him as a gift months ago. I merely opened it and left it lying in his view in the family room, and by bedtime he had completed several pages and was whining because he wanted to stay up to do more. This morning he asked if he could do a few more problems before we took him to summer camp. So, I would suggest simply making materials available. That might be all it takes.

NONE!! well, at this age they have summer reading assignments but that's all we'll do.

I make her practice her cursive handwriting about 5min 3 times a week.

She's an avid reader and does Aleks on her own at her own pace.

This is exactly how my DS6 is.

Our family just came back from a wonderful trip. Since this week, I signed up few summer camps (math, science, cooking) for DS8 and DD6. They prefer indoor activity with partial academic involved. One activity I want to push them a little bit more is swimming. They only attend swimming class in summer. I always keep some books from library at home. They read books whenever they want. Otherwise, this is the third year I signed up EPGY for my DS and the first year for DD. I am planing to encourage them to do 3-5 sections per week, 20 mins per section, not mandatory. Their piano lesson and Chinese class are off in summer. The rest of time, they are free to play with friends, video games, or any other activities they want.