Pi R Scared

  As summer approaches for students, teachers, and families, the question of summer school naturally comes up. This year, I’ve decided to teach summer school, though I haven’t taught it every year. If you're thinking about whether to take on a summer school position, here are a few important things to consider: 1) Do you have the energy for it? Summer school is often fast-paced and can feel more intense than the regular school year. I've taught in programs where students were in the same class all day, and others where each class lasted only 1.5 hours. Either way, the condensed schedule can be demanding and may leave little room for downtime during the day. 2) Do you need—or want—a break? Summer school often begins the Monday or Tuesday after the school year ends and wraps up just a week or two before the new year begins. This tight timeline can leave little opportunity for teachers to rest, travel, or recharge. If you're feeling burnt out by the end of the school year,...

  As summer approaches and students look forward to the break, how do you encourage them to practice a little each day? We talk about the summer slide each year as the summer approaches. For families asking, I'm providing 2 - 3 topics for the student to practice throughout the summer to help when they enter the next grade. The next challenge is how do they practice the math if they aren't sure. This is where websites like Khan Academy can be helpful, as they're a free resource with videos and practice.  Many times, local libraries have summer reading programs to encourage the kids to read throughout the summer as well. You could encourage families to check into their local library programs.  As a secondary math teacher, I also suggest families practice mental math for multiplication 0 - 12. This may seem small, but it helps when we do the grade-level work.  Let me know what you suggest for families.