Summer Learning

How to Keep Kids Learnng on Summer Vacation

As parents and students get ready for summer vacation, how can they ensure that learning continues during the time off? How can they work to keep lessons learned at the top of the mind while out of the classroom? How can parents and students spend the summer months tackling learning issues that need to be addressed before the school restarts in the fall?

Paul Yellin, national director of the Student Success Program of All Kinds of Minds, was online Thursday, June 1, at 10 a.m. ET to help parents keep their children learning over the summer without driving them crazy.

All Kinds of Minds is a non-profit institute that helps students who struggle with learning by providing programs that integrate educational, scientific, and clinical expertise. The New York based Student Success Program offers clinical assessments for students with learning difficulties.

Yellin is former director of the Chapel Hill-based Student Success Center, which provides individualized assessments of grade 1-12 students and learning plans that can be used by parents and teachers. A native of New York, Yellin is also Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine.

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washingtonpost.com: Dr. Yellin will be with us shortly. Sorry for the delay.

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Silver Spring MD: My son struggles in school but gets good grades while my daughter (who is two years younger) breezes through without a problem. What advice would you have for a parent in this situation especially when ther report cards arrives this summer--I want to be encouraging to both my children without trying to make daughter feel superior.

Paul Yellin: I think reassuring each of them that you love and respect and value them--and that is unconditional is always a good starting point. Also--each of them has their own mixture of strengths and weaknesses--and need to see themselves in that context. In other words--even the child that is having an easier time right now has areas to work on--and the child who is struggling needs to be reminded that adults get to practice their specialties--so even if school is challenging now--they will have lots of opportunities to find an area in which they can excell.

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Germantown, MD: As an elementary school teacher, my best advice would be to have your children read each day. Make sure that you allow your children to choose what they want they want to read. This often makes reading more enjoyable and when children are allowed to choose, they become more invested in what they are doing. To practice math skills, allow your children to see how math is used in the real world. Cooking with your kids is a great way to practice fractions and measurement, and shopping or dining out is a great way to help children learn about money. Make learning fun for your children and they will continue to learn throughout the summer and be prepared for school in the fall.

Paul Yellin: I love your approach. I would also add that it is important to provide your child an opportunity to practice an area of interest or affinity that they may not have a chance to during the school year.

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Hickory, NC: What are some ways to help a very active six year old boy learn how letters sound? He just finished kidergarten.

Paul Yellin: Reading to him every day is an excellent way to begin. Also labelling things at home and repeating sounds. Make it into a game. What letter does "..." begin with---

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Alexandria, VA: I have a 15 year old daughter who has ADHD and has to attend summer school. I am trying to find ways to engage her beyond summer school (she only has to take math) and incorporate reading and organizational skills. Is this program something I should look into?

Paul Yellin: Our website-www.allkindsofminds.org has a lot of useful and interesting information. All Kinds of Minds is a national, not for profit organization. We focus on bringing together the most recent information from clinical, education, scientific and behavioral domains into programs to help struggling students find success in school and life. Our Schools Attuned Program works with teachers and schools to help them better address the normal learning differences they encounter. I am a pediatrician that directs our clinical program--we provide assessments and ongoing educational care--specific learning plans for families and schools.

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McLean, Va.: What is this crap with some school districts getting rid of summer vacation? This is crazy! Where is the vacation lobby? Disney and the rest should be suing these school districts.

Next to go will be recess.

Paul Yellin: I think we all need some down time and agree with you.

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Silver Spring, Md.: My kids are already signed up for summer camps, but I'm concerned that some are just babysitting services and really don't do much to engage kids. How do I make up for that after I'm done with work every day, and for next year, what do I look for in a camp to avoid the babysitting syndrome?

Paul Yellin: There are national organizations that review and rank camps. Visiting the camp and speaking with the director to learn about their program is another way to find out. Also speaking to other parents or pediatricians in your community can be helpful. In any case--providing your child a chance to share his or her day with you when they get home--and also encouraging them to read over the summer will help enrich whatever their camp experiences will be.

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Bethesda, Md.: I am a working professional and interested in providing free tutoring. I did call a few schools closed to my home but they all said they do not have such a program. Where can I find such programs in maryland especially in Prince George's county. I have some free time during summer because I also go to school for my graduate degree.

Paul Yellin: Sorry-I am in NY and don't know.

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NAEYC ideas for summer learning: Paul, thanks for hosting this chat. The National Association for the Education of Young Children has several articles with ideas for summer learning activities for young children, including "Stress Free Summer Activities" --

http://www.naeyc.org/ece/1998/11.asp

Alan Simpson, NAEYC

Paul Yellin: I'm not familiar with your organization. Please email some info to me-

pyellin@allkindsofminds.org

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Arlington, Va.: Hi, Dr. Yellin. I'd love to check out camps in advance, but so many operate only in the summer and are difficult to reach in the winter when signing up. I have children with some learning disabilities and would love to put them in specialty day camps but am scared to do it without more knowledge.

Paul Yellin: Have you checked out the American Camping Association website? Also--there is a NY based organization called Resources for Children with Special Needs--that publishes a directory. It is NY focused but includes sleep away camps outside of NY. Also--any local schools or associations that address needs of children with learning differences generally will have suggestions re: local campsl that are good.

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Regarding: Down Time: Can you talk (type!) a little about the importance of time in which kids seem to be doing very little? Not staring at a TV screen, but mor like an hour spent bouncing a ball against a wall. Thanks.

Paul Yellin: I think that is a great question--and definitely think kids need time just to be kids. Bouncing a ball against the wall--playing an imaginary game--having time to think and experience their surroundings or just do nothing is something we all need time for--not just children.

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Reply to McLean...: Year-round schooling is not a new concept. It has a long history. This does not mean kids are in school all year, but that there is not a large 8 week break between terms. Year round schools actually break the year up in a more rational manner so that students learning can continue without extended interruption. There are several breaks during the year which many parents appreciate since these are not the times that "everyone" is out for "summer vacation". The notion of summer vacation goes back to our agrarian society when students needed that summer/harvest time for farming. Since very few students are working on family farms - the need for this extended break seems to be more "traditional" than educationally sound. JMHO.

Paul Yellin: Thanks for that insight--

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Washington DC: Can you describe the approach you use with students at your clinics?

Paul Yellin: Our Institute was co-founded and is co-chaired by Dr. Mel Levine. I work closely with Dr. Levine and our clinic is based on his clinical practice, first at Boston Children's Hospital and now at the University of North Carolina.

Our website http://www.allkindsofminds.org/ssc/index.aspx has a nice description.

We provide interdisciplinary assessments--consisting of a master's level teacher, licensed, PhD psychologist, and board certified pediatrician. Our approach is non-labelling--but rather we help each student and family understand their child's unique profile of neurodevelopmental strengths and weaknesses; how their profile relates to what is happening in school; and a specific learning plan. We also provide implementation support, which includes speaking with the school or outside tutors.

All Kinds of Minds also has a program called Schools Attuned-that works with schools. For example we have a contract with the Dept of Education in NYC to provide training to help teachers understand how brain development works--that there are lots of different learners in every classroom--and it is possible to help every student be more successful.

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Houston, Texas: Hi Dr, Yellin, My daughter is going into her senior and failed the state tests in science and math, so will attend school this summer and retake the tests. I have heard her say she is a bad test taker. I tried to explain self-fullfilling prophesy, do you have any suggestions. Thanks.

Paul Yellin: I see lots of students that have difficulty with test taking. In fact, I consult with a number of medical students who struggle in that area.

When someone struggles with exams it is important to decide where the problem is-

1-Are they having trouble understanding the subject matter?

2-Are they having trouble remembering it?

3-Are they having trouble figuring out how to prepare for the test?

4-Are they having trouble taking the test?

5-Any combination of the above?

Once you pinpoint the problem area--it is important to understand why that is a problem--

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Baltimore, Md.: Dr. Yellin --

My daughter, who just turned 5, is a constant challenge -- extremely smart (was reading and doing addition/subtraction almost a year ago), very active and high-energy and outgoing, can focus when she's interested in something, but is somewhat lacking in impulse control and easily distracted (for ex., she almost never eats much lunch at preschool, because she's far more interested in playing and talking with the other kids). We've got her in a great Montessori school, but I've noted in the past that she does better during the school year than during their summer camp, where things are less structured and they don't tend to do the same types of academic, focused "projects" that grab her attention. I am not so worried about academics at this age (I support the reading and math because she is thrilled by her own competence, not because I think 4-yr-olds necessarily need to be reading), but I do need to find ways to keep her mind engaged, because when she's really entranced by something, she is a far happier, more well-behaved child. Any suggestions for things we can do at home in evenings and weekends, beyond the standard reading and workbooks?

Paul Yellin: Perhaps a journal she can write or dictate describing her day--or her thoughts. Also---identifying an affinity--something she loves--that can form the basis of a project--scrapbook she creates--or something she reads--might help focus her but also provide a break from school.

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Fort Washington Md.: I believe all of the library systems in the area have a summer reading program for children and teens to join. One local library does theme movies like horror, e.g., the original Frankenstein, the Alfred Hitchcock movies, comedy, Marx Brothers, WC Fields, etc. These educational "theme" movies are a great hit with teens who never have the chance to see these movies, then books about the actors, films are offered for children/teens to read more about it.

Paul Yellin: I think I'd like to attend these myself

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Arlington, VA: Dr Yellin,

Can you overstress eductation activities in the summer? Sometimes i feel like I should just let my kid have fun too.

Thanks for taking my question!

Paul Yellin: I agree. Each child's needs are so different--so it is hard to generalize. But fun is absolutely very important. I think our children are often over-scheduled--and don't have a chance to just be kids.

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Falls Church, Va.: Do you have advice for getting children back into academics without being too overtly academic. Should I be looking at next year's curriculum if my kids did mostly well this year?

Paul Yellin: As long as it is relatively low key--I find it helpful to do 2 things-

1-Looking back--what have you learned about your child's learning strengths and challenges this past year.

2-What are the upcoming challenges--to ensure that you begin next year with a good strategy.

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Washington, DC: I spent years "nannying" while I was in college, and was full-time with the children suring the summers. I have to say- the DC libraries had a wonderful summer reading program for children that was fantastic in keeping up the kids' scholastic interests over the long break. For every ten books the children read, they got to choose a prize from a treasure chest and color a picture for the library wall. They were also given reading "quest" activities to do at home (like interviewing parents, searching for different writing styles in newspapers and magazines, and searching for clues in books). The kids loved going to the library each week to check out new piles of books, and were so eager to read as many as possible! Their reading skills inproved immensely over those months, and they learned how fun reading could be. If those programs are still in place, I would highly recommend that parents check it out for their kids.

Paul Yellin: Thanks for passing that along-

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Arlington, Va.: Every summer I try to get my two boys to practice their handwriting, which is atrocious. But every summer they catch on and dig their heels in. I think it's a crucial skill but it's not being taught any more because of test-score pressures. Any advice, or just words of support?

Paul Yellin: It really depends on their ages; how much time your are spending; and whether they are struggling with real graphomotor issues or just need practice.

It seems that our brains repeat 6-7 times during sleep the last thing we did before bed--so it would be best to do this right before bed.

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washingtonpost.com: Thanks for joining the discussion, and have a fruitful summer.

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Paul Yellin: Good afternoon everyone.