Seeking Ideas for 2016-17 Afterschooling

[AggieMama]

Next year I'll have a kinder and a 1st grader. The 1st grader is 2-2 1/2 years ahead of grade level in reading and math. Younger DD loves to tag along. I would like something inexpensive or no cost, challenging for DD1 (she did not make the gifted program this year), and easy to do on my side. We're doing American Heritage Girls, but probably scaling back on other activities. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep both of my girls moving forward and engaged. DD2 is not reading, but will hopefully reading by the end of summer.

[merylvdm]

How about starting programming using Scratch Jr? There are also a number of other apps and websites that younger kids can use to start to learn about programming.

[AggieMama]

Those are some good ideas. Thanks.

[LearningByDoing]

How about starting programming using Scratch Jr? There are also a number of other apps and websites that younger kids can use to start to learn about programming.

 

 

Hmmm, I would imagine that the children are actually a little too young to learn programming at this point, from the age group that the op specified. But I guess like any learned skill, starting early and with the basics is a good thing. I am not sure how easy Scrath Jr is, but I would just caution not to move forward with something too complex too soon. It will result in the kids getting discouraged and no longer wanting to do it. 

 

My son is 11 and we noticed he was very design-oriented; he was always drawing and sketching and being creative. We also had some computer games that were more design centered, and he has even played around with autocad on my husbands computer (which I will admit is a program that I don't understand at all). So we decided to encourage that and got him set up on a WordPress site. He has done a lot of work on it. Of course there are many other blog or site options out there - here is a list of the top 5 currently - but WordPress was an easy choice and was the most familiar. I mean pretty much everyone has heard of it by now right? Anyway, our son began with the basics - started with a basic template or theme - but now he is getting pretty detailed with it. I guess he is able to make changes to the set templates and "code" a little bit on his own to get it to look or function the way he wants it to. I am just happy that he is able to learn a lot of this as he goes (since I know I would be very little help in this regard). But I like that he is curious and seeks out the answers to his questions on his own and tries it out. Of course he can still get frustrated if things don't work exactly as he thought they would, but he is interested enough and has invested enough time in it that he will simply try again instead of giving up.

 

I definitely think these will be skills he will need in the future, but I wouldn't suggest throwing kids into coding or programming too early. It kind of needs to be natural and fueled by their own curiosity.   

[AggieMama]

After end of kindergarten testing put DD at about beginning of 3rd grade for reading and math. I need suggestions to keep her entertained academically after school. She did not make the gifted program at her school, so I need to keep her challenged.

[vonfirmath]

After end of kindergarten testing put DD at about beginning of 3rd grade for reading and math. I need suggestions to keep her entertained academically after school. She did not make the gifted program at her school, so I need to keep her challenged.

 

Maybe find a subject she likes and plan activities throughout the week to go with the theme -- kind of like unit studies. You can stretch it out as interest lasts.

 

Start teaching kitchen/cooking skills

 

Find games she enjoys playing. (Games often strengthen academic skills too. -- My daughter loves Ravensburger's Labyrinth)

 

Pick up a sport/extracurricular to take lessons in.

 

Can you teach her to knit/crochet?

 

If the child likes doing workbooks, then pick up the appropriate one. My daughter is doing the Summer Bridge Workbook (preK to K) this summer. It has a variety of activities in it. Mostly review, but the tracing is turning out to be more difficult than I expected. http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Bridge-Activities%C2%AE-Grades-PK/dp/148381579X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464130029&sr=1-5&keywords=Summer+Bridge+Workbook

 

Lollipop Logic books can be fun: http://www.amazon.com/Lollipop-Logic-Grades-K-2-Book/dp/1593630921/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464129893&sr=1-6&keywords=gifted+and+talented+workbooks

 

Take some time every afternoon to read a chapter out of a book you think she would find interesting but is above her reading level.  This could also tie in to doing activities related to the book, above.

Edited May 24, 2016 by vonfirmath

[mayath]

I'm a big fan of Singapore math -- they've got some great word problems to keep kids challenged. Also, lots of reading aloud, independent reading, and book discussions. The one thing that I try to actively teach over the weekends is grammar, since it doesn't seem to be taught in schools anymore. I did put my kids in a beginners Scratch workshop (when they were 10 and 7) and they enjoyed it.

I think the challenge with afterschooling is figuring out how to supplement just the right amount -- you don't want to exhaust your kids (or yourself) but you want to make sure that they're building strong academic foundations and getting excited about learning. And you also want to make sure that there's time for play and nature and friends. It's a tricky balance!