Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #28 ~ Health

Tweet Keep your body healthy by eating properly and exercising each day. During the school year, this is fairly easy because you're on a regular schedule. Unfortunately, that schedule gets disrupted during the summer.

That means you have to make a conscious effort to eat properly each day and at regular times. It also means that you have to get in that daily exercise. It's so easy to lay on the couch and watch TV, but there are so many fun things to do during the summer from bike rides to swimming pools. Whatever activity you decide on, try to do it for an hour each day.

When the school year comes, you'll be healthy, active, and ready for whatever the new year brings.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #27 ~ History

Tweet I just finished a college course about 1939 movies. 1939 is considered a pivotal year in film-making. Some of the films are just for fun, such as The Wizard of Oz. But others can give you an amazing amount of history. The ones we watched that can help you learn a little history include Stagecoach, Destry Rides Again, Young Mr. Lincoln, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Gone With the Wind. When you're finished watching them, write a short summary of the history you watched in each film.

If you're a teacher, I highly recommend you watch Goodbye, Mr. Chips. You might even consider it for an in-service at the beginning of the school year. It will inspire and help you remember why you became a teacher.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #26 ~ Memory

Tweet Memorize the words to a song. Most of the things you learn in school require memorization. If you think about it, much of learning is remembering.

So improve those skills by practicing things that will improve your memory. Learning the words to a new song can help. While you're learning that song, think about what you're doing. Are you listening to the song over and over? Did you look up the lyrics on the Internet and print them out so you can read them to learn them?

Aren't these the same skills you'll need in school when you're trying to learn something new? If not, they should be. When you're learning a new skill in math class, you have to practice it and may have to review the procedures in your textbook or on the Internet. If you're learning a new spelling word, you write it over and over.

The skills you use when memorizing the words to a new song may just help you when you're learning new things next school year.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #25 ~ Reading

Tweet Read a book and watch the movie.

Many books have been turned into movies. A few movies have been turned into books. Find one you like, read the book, then watch the movie.

For instance, I read the book Jurassic Park, then watched the movie. Much of the movie was identical to the book, but there were some differences. The same is true of most movie-book productions.

When done, compare the movie to the book. Did the film-maker make the film the way you imagined it while you were reading? Were the characters the same? Did you like some of the characters better in the book or in the movie? What parts of the book were left out? Was anything new included in the movie? Did the film-maker change anything from the way it was printed in the book? If there are differences between the book and the movie, why do you think the film-maker made these changes?

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #24 ~ Writing

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Have you ever tried scrapbooking? Many stores have scrapbooking supplies and many are reasonably priced.

Take a few of your old photos, trim them, and paste them to your page. Use a few borders, trims, buttons, stickers, or whatever you have available, to decorate the page around your photos.

If you've left a few empty spaces, use them for journaling. In other words, write something about your photos. When were they taken? What were you doing at the time? How did you feel? If there are other people in the pictures, who are they, what were they doing then, what are they doing now?

Again, the writing process will help improve your writing skills. In addition, you've used your creativity and created a keepsake.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #23 ~ Bible School

Tweet If you're religious, you might want to try summer Bible School. Many churches offer one or two weeks of religious training in the summer. It's not formal study, but is usually quite informal and usually a lot of fun. You can keep up on your school skills because Bible School offers many of the same types of learning you get during the school year.

You will get to read stories and listen to them. You get to play games, do skits, sing songs, work on projects, and many other fun things that will help keep your brain active.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #22 ~ Writing

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Become a critic.

Do you like to go to movies? If you spend a lot of time at the theater during the summer, try writing reviews of the movies you see. What did you like? How does it compare to other movies you've seen. Think of all the aspects of a movie such as directing, acting, editing, art direction, and special effects.

Perhaps you would rather rate music. Write a critique of the top 10 songs. Again, what did you like? Consider the lyrics, the style, melody, and the instrumentation. How does it compare to other songs by the same artist. If you get a chance to go to a concert, write a review of your experience.

Maybe food is more more to your liking. Whenever you eat at a restaurant, write about it. How was the quality of your meal? What about the service? Was the restaurant clean? Did they have a full menu or just a few offerings?

The writing experience helps you practice your written communication skills. It can also help with your vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills.

If you're really brave, submit your reviews to a local newspaper. You never know, they might publish them. If not, that's okay. The writing process will still help you maintain your skills for next school year.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #21 ~ General

Tweet Join a club. Because there are so many different clubs and organizations, there should be one that you would enjoy.

Around here there is an astronomy club, numerous book clubs, photography club, art groups, music groups, and many others.

If you can't find one you would enjoy, start one. Perhaps you love reading science fiction, but all the book clubs focus on current bestsellers or the classics. The perfect solution is to start your own science fiction book club. Tell your friends, put an ad in the paper, select your first book, read, and discuss.

Our local astronomy club started with the dream of three friends who shared a common interest in the stars. That was 25 years ago. The club still survives today, gives presentations and star parties, teaches an astronomy class at the community college, and supervises an observatory complex that now has three observatory buildings.

A club may just be the thing you need this summer.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #20 ~ Relaxation

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Relax and spend time with family, especially on special occasions like Father's Day. It's surprising what you can learn from pleasant conversation and it's always fun to find out about relatives and ancestors. Dads can often tell amazing stories.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #19 ~ History

Tweet Take a drive and I'll bet that, without having to travel too far, you'll find an historical marker.

For instance, I can travel about 30 miles north and run into the Toolesboro Mounds, a national historic landmark. They are a group of Indian burial grounds built by the Havana Hopewell culture sometime between 200 BCE and 100 CE.

If I travel about 15 miles east, I'll come across Norma Jean's tombstone. Norma Jean was a circus elephant that was struck by lightening in 1972. A 12-foot monument has been erected on the spot where she died.

A few miles south is a marker that indicates the beginning of the Mormon Trail in 1847. A few miles further south is another plaque to show where the first Jewish Synagogue was located in Iowa. Between the two is Galland School, a replica of the first one-room school house in Iowa.

So take a little trip. I'm guessing you won't have to travel too far before you learn a little history.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #18 ~ Science & Nature

Tweet Today I needed to look something up on our county's conservation board website. While there, I found several newsletters with tons of information about the county.

I learned that a cave in one of the nature preserves has been closed due to cases of white-nose syndrome found in bats in a nearby state.

I learned that we have flying squirrels in Iowa, but that since they are nocturnal, we rarely see them. Most people don't even realize they live here.

I learned that the county provides hunter safety and shooting range courses, they have a rock wall for climbing, they have a "nature at night" program where you can experience nature's nightlife with a naturalist, and they have a fishing derby. There is also a parent-tot program with games, stories, crafts, and outdoor fun.

I learned how to troubleshoot tree health.

I learned about a wooded area park (actually a mix of prairie, forest, and wetland) that I didn't even know existed (and now will have to visit).

Go to your county's website and see what is available for you to learn. Once you see all that is available, find something you're interested in and participate. You'll be amazed at what you can learn.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #17 ~ Education

Tweet When I was in elementary school, the district always provided "summer school." Some of the classes were designed for students who needed extra practice, for those who had not done well during the school year and needed remediation during the summer so they could be ready for the next school year. My school district also offered classes called "enrichment" courses. These were the ones that students could take for fun, the ones that offered something new.

Every summer I took band lessons. I don't remember other classes that were offered, but I think they included music, art, and fun summer reading. These courses made learning fun, gave me something to do during the summer, and helped me keep up my skills (and my skills definitely needed improving).

Of course, in high school, I took Driver's Ed during the summer. And in college, summer courses allowed me to earn my B.S. degree in three years instead of four.

Today, school district budgets often prevent schools from offering summer courses, but if you look around, you might find as school that will have something for you. In some cases, community colleges provide a wide variety of courses for students who want to keep learning during the summer, and they provide courses for all levels, K-12.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #16 ~ Reading

Tweet Watch a movie on DVD, but turn on subtitles and turn off the sound. Just read the subtitles during the entire movie. If you do this several times during the summer, you'll find that it can improve your reading skills.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss ~ Tip #15 ~ Reading

Tweet When someone asks me what I've read lately, I know they are referring to the books I've read. Well, the fact of the matter is that I haven't read any fiction for about a month. My answer to their question would most likely be "nothing."

But in reality, that's not true. I'm always reading. I read blogs, newspapers, signs, warranties, owner's manuals, magazines, documents, nutrition labels, ads, labels, recipes, emails, websites, instructions, and many other non-fiction items.

All reading is good for you. Every time you read, your reading skills improve a little. You don't have to read a novel, just read whatever is available. And keep reading and reading and reading.