If you are working ft, how much "school work" are you doing over the summer?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I know there's a loss of knowledge over the summer and the dc are in primary. If anyone works ft over Summer, what and how much practice stuff do you fit in over these six weeks?

They are going into y6 and y3 when they go back. Anything I should aim for apart from getting them reading lots (dc1 a bookworm so that's easy).

I don't work but in the scope of "things that don't take forever because I'm very busy" I'm trying to get DS to write a holiday diary. Just a sentence a day, maybe a picture. Figure that's pencil control and handwriting which is our weakness. Reading is as ever and we'll do Al library visit to mix it up. They'd often taking challenges online so they could log their books which might help if they like to read the same stuff a lot. Over promised we can do science experiments at the weekend which will hopefully use maths and writing

Following as I'm looking for ideas myself (8 year old son going into Yr 4 in September) . The holiday diary is a good one, thanks for that. My plan currently is to have small chunks of study time rewarded with screen time. Mine needs to work on english mainly but I'd like to include some coding (code.org free training modules and maybe a physical project but I haven't had time to plan anything yet)

None whatsoever.

The summer break is just that, a break.

We don't do any practice of anything. We do do things DD enjoys which could also be classed as educational. So go to the library regularly, play card games or darts that may involve mental arithmetic, visit museums, write postcards or keep a holiday diary. This year have bought her a scrapbook to stick in photos and write about them etc.

None. I encourage a bit of reading, but that's about it.

None.

If I didn’t work I would do none.

We will keep up with reading and both my DC like to write. School factor this in on their return and often revisit topics to consolidate learning.

The summer holidays are time for children to have a break from formal learning. There are plenty of other ways they will learn informally. DD is for example at a club where there is a tuck shop. She needs to work out what she can buy with her money.

Lots of arts, crafts, creative writing and junk modelling because my kids are motivated to do that and don't get enough opportunity in term time. Otherwise we will be concentrating on physical skills, as much bike, scooter, swimming, climbing, running etc. As possible.

Worrying about this too. Mine goes backwards with learning after holidays. I was sent this for free reading books in case its useful to you: home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/free-ebooks/
If anyone has any suggestions of other good tools for primary age summer learning that would be great. Not sure when we make time to do it...!

Summer holidays are for play! I think there should be far less school and far more play. It’s how children learn! Reading. Drawing. Make believe, climbing trees, parks, swimming, play with friends, cuddles in the sofa, cinema. Beach. That sort of thing

I'll clarify, i dont see what benefit there is in hot housing your kids and making them do school work between years.

the summer break is for playing/exploring, rest, having fun, and taking a time out from all that formal education shit with books and studying.

I'd rather take them exploring, spend a night star gazing, i use the holiday time for teaching them about the world they live in, the bugs/flowers in the garden, the wildlife in the beach rockpools, read a story.. write a story.. take them out with pencils and draw stuff.. take them to museums, castles. learn history/architecture.. but in a relaxed, fun, no pressure way.

The summer isn't for text books/homework... its for re-engaging them in the world around them.

DS going into year 2 in sept. Both working FT. There’s various things built in daily. It’s different things each day but we generally have a rule around -

1. always have a book on the go (always an answer to “hey what’ve you been reading these days?”)
2. Allowed anytime use of times tables and fractions apps on ipad
3. Scrapbook for what we did yesterday/this week to lead to some writing next day (letter to grandma, instructions for making guacamole dip, poem for baby sister etc) - helping him figure out what good writing looks like and building in writing stamina
4. accompanying us to Tescos and helping working out best Bargains between own brands, yellow stickers or Clubcard prices - (working out this morning if Fred and Flo pull ups for toddler sister are cheaper by unit than Pampers Dry Nites)
5. Planned museum trips like yesterdays day at science museum
6. Science Videos - Mystery Doug, Ameoba Sisters, bite size

None of this is everyday. None of this is particularly planned. But it all feeds in I think over the summer….

Exactly what we are doing!

Seriously? Your children do school work that often in the holidays? Honestly I am really shocked by this.

For maths we will be doing baking, spend/save/ work out money for purchases, maybe some times table practice.

One of mine is struggling with phonics so will continue supporting that through the summer

your poor kids.

I encouraged reading. Depending on age, colouring or drawing. Encouraging creative things. Nothing strictly academic.
Playing scrabble, cards, backgammon etc.
Just spending time together really. Communication skills are really important- speaking and listening. So i made huge efforts to really listen when my young children spoke, so that they'd still talk to me as teenagers.
Also they learnt to leave me in peace when it was requested, hopefully without feeling rejected. We're still good at giving each other space.
Mine are all decent well rounded adults now, and solvent, so i think that was enough.

I just read that back and it sounds really smug. Sorry! Wasn't without it's ups and down at the time, but ultimately that strategy did the trick, is what I mean!

Generally just reading, but mine are both bookworms so that happens anyway. This year DS going into year 6 is doing a bit more but that's because he'll be sitting the 11+ in September.

Crikey!

I'm a teacher myself, I'm off work all summer, I don't do any formal learning with my kids. I restrict screen time, make sure I have books in the house, and maybe a few nice notebooks and pens, and then let them get bored 👍🏻

Mine quite like those old fashioned puzzle books as well (with wordsearches, logic puzzles, and sudoku etc) In fact, 11+ non verbal reasoning book are really fun!

Thanks for your honesty.. In my kids WhatsApp group the parents all say no school work until September however a few of the kids who gave been over tell a different story & it seems they are doing workbooks, worksheets etc🙄 I believe the kids!

Children can learn from life experiences/activities and play they don’t need to sit and do formal learning every day in their breaks from school. Sure there is a level of encouragement to do things that will aid school but wow.

As a child I often sat myself down to read, learn or write stories etc if I’d have been made to sit down every day for formal learning I’d have fought against it and I was a well behaved clever child.

@namechange7654 there's a lot to be said for letting them get a bit bored, I agree!

I don’t want to sound like I am having a go, but your poor children.

The summer holiday/break should be that, not a homework club. Kids need a break, and yes more than a week. It’s so unfair on them. They are only children for such a short period of time, let them be children, let them play and do their own thing.

sorry, but your post has made me feel so flat and sad that any parent would do that.

My kids are a lot older, mid-late teens, and you couldn't get them to do it even if you tried. Besides they're away for 4 weeks.