First Grade

St. Augustine School

SUMMER WORK ROUTINE

A summer work routine provides the opportunity for your child to practice and retain what they have learned during the school year.  It also helps to move information from short-term to long-term memory.  Do you remember being told, “practice makes perfect”?

Your child will benefit greatly from assignments or a daily routine for Monday through Thursday evenings.  The focus should be on using the skills in language arts and math he/she has learned during the school year.  Skillwork may involve any of the following:  vocabulary development, reading aloud, math fact practice, problem solving, reading for information, etc.  Practice of these skills may also take place in other subject areas such as Religion, Social Studies, and Science.

Independence is the ultimate goal.  You will help your child greatly by providing a routinely scheduled time and place for homework to be done.  This special space should be supplied with writing paper, pencils, crayons/markers, scissors, and glue stick (to minimize natural distractions to search for supplies). Your child should complete work, have you check it (read to you, etc.) and put all work into a home folder or other similar place immediately upon completion.  This will be an invaluable habit to have on rushed mornings of the school year.

Your child recently received a suggested book list (generated by the Howard County Library system).  She or he will also receive a packet of suggested activities on their “moving up” day the last week of school.  If you wish, a summer bridge book, which you can find at Borders or Barnes and Noble would be helpful, but is not absolutely necessary. 

The most important skills to reinforce are reading and math, but don’t forget to take time to “construct” and use the knowledge your child has in everyday activities such as cooking together, enjoying local museums, county and state parks and neighborhood outdoor activities (free evening concerts, too!)

Finally, take time to pray together daily.  There should never be a vacation from the relationship we have with God.  

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