Does Anyone Do Schoolwork with Their Kids in Summer?

We love to read year round.
The nice thing about the summer break is you have nothing else that gets in the way of reading as much as you want.

We do. My soon to be first grader has morning reading and workbook sheets and then anything interesting I might find on line for him/us to do.

Yes. My kids are required to read for 1 hr a day (12 yrs old). they also review math in workbooks based on their previous grade so they can get back to school and remember what they did the previus year. I also have them talk about what they are reading and they give awesome explanations. I have yet to hear them just say what happened in the book. They usually go into full explanations of the story and add their own interpretation so I know they understand what they are reading. I tried once to have they write their thoughts but after working all day and then trying to do things once I get home it was just too hard to read their short versions so I know they underdstand what they are reading.

We didn't do "schoolwork" in a structured manner at all. She has been reading every day because she likes to. When she had a book store gift certificate to spend, she bought a book on the human body, for example. We've been to museums, because we like to go. She has a piano lesson each week, and karate continues through the summer.

Summer is also time for horse camp, theater camp, sailing lessons (new this year), and lots of bike riding and trips to the beach and pool and exploring the outdoors and playing with friends and the dog.

In previous summers, we've tried summer school and worksheets, and other things. Kids learn just as much or more by playing as they do by sitting and filling out worksheets. My daughter scored in the 99th percentile in all her end-of-year tests, so I'm not worried how she will do in 4th grade.

I recommend the book "Nurtureshock" for all it's valuable information on child development, and one chapter is devoted to the scientific research that explains how very important free play time is to children's development.

We do a lot of activities, but not necessarily worksheets. It's not as structured as what you do, but we don't have a TV and play lots of games, physical activities, crafts, and learning together like fractions when cooking. I'm very influenced by Montessori, so we do a lot of hands-on experiential learning. When the kids ask a question (for instance my son was recently curious about snakes) I get books at the library and look up videos on youtube so we can learn as much as possible about the subject. We've been talking and reading about positive attitudes lately (Have you Filled Your Bucket Today was a wonderful book that opened up a lot of dialogue).

I would say we always had "work books" and fun puzzle books and of course our daughter has always devoured books, so she on her own always thought they were fun to use..

We also kept a bag of them in the car so we would use them at Dinners out.

We also had fun games that were educational, but did not feel like it, We loved the question and trivia cards for road trips. .

Our daughter naturally liked school and always worked hard, so I did not want to burn her out. Her classes during the school year were intense enough. I wanted her to have a rest from that sort of structure in the summer.

Yes, my husband and I are both teachers, and we have our daughter do a little bit of math each day and at bedtime she reads to us and we read to her. Besides the structured time, we focus on other educational opportunities too, like visiting zoos and museums, getting out into nature, etc. as well as staying physically active by swimming, dance class, biking, etc. I do let her have some computer time too, only on sites that have at least some educational value... there are a ton of free math game websites for your kids ages. I try to keep a balance and make it fun so that she doesn't end up hating school.

Well we read at least one hour per day no matter the season, and during the summer my 6 year old attends storytime with myself and my 3yr old and we attend the library summer program.
We don't have a structured "learning time" or specific tasks or worksheets that must get done. But our whole day is basically about learning, we homeschool without calling it that ;) We do puzzles that include alphabet, seasons and numbers, color with chalk and label our drawings, we make masks and put on shows, we sculpt with playdoh and paint on the easel, we play baseball and go to the playground, and when my kids want to (about once or twice a week) we do workbook activities. They also have daily routines to help out around the house and lots of family time with extended family.
Honestly I think that school is too much structured time and while we follow a basic routine and structure at home, I don't want my kids spending their summer sitting in front of repetitive paperwork like they do the rest of the year.

My kids read over the summer because they enjoy reading. Why make them do worksheets? Schools spend the first month doing review anyway...it seems redundant to me. Summer just isn't long enough to do all the fun things they want to do. That said, we go to science centers and other places where they are learning and having fun at the same time! Everyone has their own vision of what summer should look like I suppose.

Way to go! I've taught elementary and currently tutor privately (after running a tutoring company). Summer is one of my busiest times to work! Kudos to you and all the parents who do SOMETHING with their kids, even if it is to take them to the library once a week.

Imagine taking over 2 months off of your job and then be expected to jump in and be tested right after you return. And it isn't like the skills you are working on are not necessary for LIFE! Again, good for you!

C.:

yes. we've been doing basic work - social studies, math, reading....

I don't do it every day and need to make that a practice....i can't let them get "sucked" in to summer and all the knowledge sucked out! :)

YOU GO!!!

We are doing weekly tutoring and starfall.com and time4learning.com. The second site was recommended by a friend that's a Principal. There is a membership fee for time4learning.com (cheap the first month) and starfall.com is free. I don't want my soon to be first grader forgetting what he learned. His writing is getting sloppy and reversing some numbers...yikes!

And I thought I was the only one! lol! I do the same! I went to Costco and picked up some work books for my 8 and 3 year old to work on. They also read on a daily basis-which they enjoy, we also do flash cards for our 12 year old-multiplication-division, we make a game out of it which makes it more fun. Last summer I had a private tutor come out to our home and tutor the kid's but since this summer has always been "on the goooo!" I didn't do a tutor. I also got those notbooks for my son to practice his cursive writing. I have had some mom's in our neighborhood tell me that I should just let them enjoy their summer without doing any "school" work but if my kid's enjoy it why not? Rember, in 3 month's they can forget ALOT! It sounds like your doing an excellent job! I never looked at it in a negative way, beside's my oldest had been an honor's student and in honor's classes, my son has been doing advanced work and even helping out other classmates! Nothing better then learning something new on a daily basis!

Yes, I have a 16 yr old in all Honors and AP classes.

She is reading required material now because there will be a test on it the first week of school.

YES my DD hates it, unless it is math but i told her i want her to be prepared for 1st grade and not have to stuggle. Weekends we dont but we try to get in at least 3-4 days during the week, even if it is just one page of math, one comprehension and one reading.

Nope! My girls are 7 and 9, and of course they read over the summer (but that's not really work) I want them to be carefree and enjoy the summer. We're pretty much submerged in water every day anyway, where the Math worksheets just wouldn't hold up! A lot of my friends do workbook pages with their kids though. Different strokes for different folks. I highly doubt my kids will suffer.

Yes, I do with my kids.
Everyday, and on the weekends.
! hour.
Reading 20 minutes. Just like how their school requires.

In fact, my daughter's next grade level Teachers, sent home, before school ended, a sheet listing of what they what the incoming 4th graders to study, over the summer.

My daughter is 8. I don't make her do a TON of schoolwork over the summer, but I have her do some. Max time is 1 hour.
My son is 4, and he is doing math, and various workbooks too. But only for a few minutes.

We just did a few sheets that his OT therapist sent home. He did more than I planned on. When he gets on a roll he just goes.

He spent more time tracing shapes than playing with Playdough. THAT was shocking to me because that's what he initially wanted to do. So much for rewards! :)

yes but not as structured as you ;( ........we do a little everyday but my kids are 4, 5, & 7, so it's very hands on with each of them which is chaotic.....but I will be more structured when they are older

way to go, you motivated me

I try but I work full time, my husband works full time plus and we have 5 kids between the 2 of us so im lucky my house is still standing! Good for you though for doing it! My older 3 can pretty much do their own thing but my 4 year old still needs me to be right there with her and I just don't have the time:(

Updated

I try but I work full time, my husband works full time plus and we have 5 kids between the 2 of us so im lucky my house is still standing! Good for you though for doing it! My older 3 can pretty much do their own thing but my 4 year old still needs me to be right there with her and I just don't have the time:(

I did when my kids were in elementary school. They enjoyed the little bit of structure... I'd tell them what they needed to accomplish for the week and sometimes, they'd just sit and do all the workbook pages on one day. They read every day...
Once they hit middle school, they got busier in the summer with camps and music lessons and such, we didn't do the worksheets, but we always did the reading.
YMMV
LBC

Yep. Every summer, we work through workbooks to review what they learned through the previous year. Otherwise, they forget too much and have a tough time at the beginning of the school year. It only takes about 45mins - 1hr right after breakfast, then 1/2 hour of reading, so it's not like they're missing a bunch of fun summer stuff due to "work". We've been doing this every year since kindergarten and it's really helped them.

I usually would not - at least not a structured way - over summer... but my daughter's private school requires a 60 page workbook to be completed and turned in by the 2nd day of returning to school O.

Yes. You'll find more and more parents are doing so. It's important to help children retain what they've learned so they don't lose some skills over the lazy summer. My kids read over the summer. My 6 year old triplets do reading, worksheets and write in their summer journal. We are not consistent daily because I want my kids to enjoy the summer as well. But we do it often enough to keep their skills up. And one of them is a bit behind so he is learning more to catch up. My kids did summer camp at a church last week in the horrible heat. They did not do school work. They had a break that week. On days that we will be out and about they can skip it. I don't want it to be work and them hating it so they do it but not every single day. They don't do it on weekends either when Dad is not working so we can enjoy our summer weekends together as a family. I do throw in things though through play that they are not aware of. For example, the kids take turns helping me cook so we read the directions on boxes and bags of food, they measure out things, etc. Little things like that teaches and keeps their skills up and they're not even aware they're learning cuz they're having fun and bonding with Mom. We have stacks of cards for animals and states and bugs and what not and we'll sit together and look through cards for fun but they're also learning about it all too and don't realize it cuz we're having fun with it all. We'll also watch learning shows that are fun. We always have conversations during and after and talk about things.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I do but it is not as organized as what you do. If we have some free time, we do some worksheets etc. After reading your question though, I am motivated to do more....

We didn't because she has all A's and was burnt out from the testing.
We are slowly getting into the swing of it and I wish I had said "Two weeks off, then back to work." We have banned the tv for a week to break the habit. I would LOVE to have a house with no tv, but hubby loves sports, so I am redirecting her.