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).

My children did half an hour of reading/writing this morning.
They also had friends over to play, swam in the sea, played beach games, went fruit picking, had an ice cream, park trip, table football, got bored, painted pictures, invented a dance & had a playground trip. It was a busy day, but a little holiday homework did them no harm.

I'm doing bits and bobs with DD 10. She's going into year 6 and they'll be 41 in her class from September. Even the most wonderful teacher can't cater for the needs of all 41. We need to understand that parents/carers need to do some learning at home now, it can't be left to schools alone anymore because underfunding means that there will be larger class sizes, SEN/children in crisis with less support, less resources/opportunities etc

My DD does times tables rockstars, spelling quizzes, reads, workbooks bought from The Works, alongside the usual museum trips, parks, swimming, library visits etc.

It also fills time on the days we aren't doing anything.

I had no idea anyone did school work during the holidays. I remember the wonderful feeling of no school for weeks and weeks!!

DS1 is at holiday club for most of the summer so I figure he will be doing lots of educational things there (mainly sports and crafts)

I am bringing work books for our 2 week holiday to Italy though...between lunchtime and around 2/3pm it's too hot to go outside and his cousins will all be doing their school summer homework then.

Good grief its no wonder as a mental health nurse i see more and more children with mental health difficulties.

Whatever happened to allowing children to be children without pressure to perform or meet the expectations of others.

They are kids, it’s the summer holidays. Forget formal studying, just let them play, climb trees, do arts and crafts, bake, visit the odd museum or castle. They will be working for the rest of their lives, let them have fun, they learn so much more that way.

This. I'm a recently retired teacher.

Oh. Definitely reading. Lots of reading.

That's it.

We never did a lot as DD was in holiday clubs when we worked and she just read/was read to in the evening.

On my days off and when we went away it was about having fun, exploring a museum, learning a skill or having a walk. Lots of time you can add bits and pieces. I still remember practicing time tables while waiting in a queue to get tickets for a castle (the Germans weren't good in online booking). Baking a cake or cooking together is also a great way to practice reading and maths, same with board or card games.

We did take workbooks with us in early primary and did them in a restaurant. while waiting for food.

Now she in going into Y11 and has tons for preparation work :-(

I do work but my parents Bly school work expectations of my children are that they practice their musical instruments over the holidays.

I agree with this.

DS still reads and loves doing sums so we do that as it is fun. Nothing else though

@continuousmonotonousbeep how is it sanctimonious to say you’re not doing anything?

Sounds like you’re not happy with your own choices!

@Camomila are you serious? Bringing workbooks on a two week holiday ?! What about bringing a pile of some new books for dc and let them read while they stay in when it’s too hot ?
If your dc are anything like mine , I’m sure they will be swimming and playing the whole time so what about some down time for them . No fun for anyone doing workbooks while away - and I say this as someone who’s children ( especially 4 year old ) love workbooks but at their own time and pace . Not on an exciting holiday when down time is needed for everyone

Just reading.

Might print the odd worksheet off Google if they are pissing me off and I want some peace.

No school work. Lots of trips to museums, camping, art and craft projects, baking, theatre, a couple of weeks of drama and sports camps, holiday abroad with lots of swimming. We encourage reading but that’s all. Enhancing cultural capital is what I like to call our approach 😁

DS1 has 11+ coming up so we are consciously prepping for that. Sigh.

DS2 is 6, he's just reached that point where he'll read anything he sees so we're encouraging that, and doing some mild times tables and maths in the context of everyday life, which he loves. He's a leftie and needs to build up hand strength so encouraging colouring, labels, signs, anything that involves holding a pencil.

Givemeallthegin8 I know it sounds odd but I am bringing the workbooks so DS1 doesn't feel left out with his cousins - Italian schools give summer holiday homework, and kids go to each others houses to do it as playdates (plus they are more fun "activity" ones rather than revision guides etc.)

Your poor children! That's brutal

My kids won't be doing anything formal except a bit of reading. I don't know anyone who makes their kids do schoolwork in the holidays.

@Camomila i never knew that about Italian schools. I can imagine my own dds face if she said she was going for a play date for school work 🤣 If they are the activity sheets though id imagine it’s more of a fun activity rather than “work “. I just remembered I do get my own dd 9 to do sudoku over the holidays- just to keep her brain active ! She enjoys it - for now !

I would recommend, reading, times tables and time.

Fluency in reading and times tables is so important.
Time is a very tricky skill for children to master particularly as they don't really use it or see it every day. But them a cheap analogue gue watch and one for home and practise regularly.

Schools have had to remove analogue clocks from exam halls as secondary students can't read them as they are so used to digital ones on their phones.