Tiaras & Tantrums

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How to Stop the Brain Drain During the Summer

The phenomenon of brain drain during the summer months is a concern that many individuals face. With the break from school and regular academic routines, it is common for individuals, especially students, to experience a decline in their mental engagement and intellectual growth. However, there are several strategies that can be implemented to prevent this brain drain and ensure that individuals continue to stimulate their minds during the summer break. First and foremost, it is crucial to establish a structured routine during

The gentle summer breezes are finding their way into my home, carrying with them a sense of relaxation and freedom. Unfortunately, my children's enthusiasm for their education seems to be slipping away, just like the breeze through the open window. The vibrant greenery of the grass, trees, and shrubs is flourishing. There is a new robin's nest in our parkway, complete with a couple of eggs. All this time spent outside is causing my children to struggle with focusing on their schoolwork indoors. Instead of competing for my children's attention, I set aside the inexpensive textbooks and took them outside.

It's worth noting that allowing your children to release their energy can actually improve their focus on their schoolwork. Therefore, let's venture outside, engage in physical activity, and enjoy the process of acquiring knowledge.

The best ways for me to incorporate fun learning into their schedules is simple. It just takes a bit of planning and preparing ahead of time.

Here are some ways I like to bring Geography, Math and English lessons outdoors with us.

GEOGRAPHY

I'm thrilled that my kids have developed a passion for Geography. During the summer, they have a great appreciation for this subject as it involves engaging in an activity called Letterboxing. If you're not already acquainted with Letterboxing, it involves embarking on a thrilling quest to uncover a concealed box.

You'll be on the hunt for a hidden box as the hider drops hints along the way. My children use the given clues to craft a map. Next, we utilize the map to become acquainted with the symbols, landmarks, and landscapes of the regions we are exploring. My kids are taught the skills of map-making, compass navigation, and finding hidden spots using landmarks. It's an enjoyable and educational experience for them.

MATH

I organize a picnic where the children are actively involved in the preparations. They are responsible for making grocery lists, creating a budget, clipping coupons, and calculating the amount of money to spend per person. We are going on a field trip to the grocery store to buy the food for the picnic.

I have math problems written in permanent marker on plastic bags for the children to fill with the various food items they have selected. Given that I have three children in three distinct grades, it is necessary for me to customize the math problems to suit the unique abilities of each child. Where else could one find the opportunity to hone their skills in addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and algebra than at a delightful picnic in the park? My children thoroughly enjoy their activities, completely unaware that they are actually engaging in educational tasks.

ENGLISH

As we make our way to the park for our picnic, I encourage the children to observe and identify various elements of nature along the journey. If they happen to notice a bird, I kindly request that they share a brief narrative about the bird, emphasizing its details and characteristics. This enhances their utilization of verbs and adjectives.

One possible activity I could suggest is engaging in a playful rhyming game that involves the number of steps we take and the speed at which we walk. This exercise helps my children become more mindful of their pronunciation. These exercises bring about much laughter, as my children thoroughly enjoy inventing nonsensical words.

Another favorite is to play Onomatopoeia.

“How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
“How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour ”
~ The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe

I’m always trying to think of creative methods of learning for my children. Homeschooling affords me the opportunity to be creative. So when boredom hits or I am afraid that they are not going to remember things we talked about during the year, we have fun outdoors with Geography, Math, and English.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE METHODS FOR KEEPING YOUR KIDS LEARNING DURING THE SUMMER?