Calvary Christian School has developed some simple yet creative summer reading projects for each student to complete over the summer. These are mandatory, but don’t despair –they’re also fun!! In addition, we are asking that each child in grades 2 and up practice math facts. Students with a 95% accuracy on a test given in the fall will have a special lunch with Miss Robin in September! Bring the summer reading projects back August 28th, the first day of school.

Follow this Link for Summer 2008 Reading Projects for grades 1 through 3.

Follow this Link for Summer 2008 Reading Projects for grades 4 and 5.

Follow this Link for Summer 2008 Reading Projects for middle school.

Quick List of Required reading for all grades!

***Be sure to browse the links at the bottom of the page for more creative ways to help your child achieve academic excellence.***

Calvary Christian School believes strongly that we can partner together to strengthen each student’s academic achievement over the summer. Please read the information below about the need to keep your children’s brains active over the summer. Maintaining skills during the summer is essential to good learning!

Source: The Johns Hopkins University's Center for Summer Learning

• All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer vacation (Cooper, 1996).
• On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Studies reveal that the greatest areas of summer loss for all students, regardless of socio-economic status, are in factual or procedural knowledge (Cooper, 1996).
• Low-income children and youth experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers. On average, middle-income students experience slight gains in reading performance over the summer months. Low-income students experience an average summer learning loss in reading achievement of over two months (Cooper, 1996).
• Summer learning loss contributes to the achievement gap in reading performance between lower and higher income children and youth. Research demonstrates that while student achievement for both middle and lower-income students improves at similar rates during the school year, low-income students experience cumulative summer learning losses over the elementary school grades (Alexander & Entwisle, 1996).

Here are some other ideas for you and your children to have a fun, stimulating summer.

• Read. Let your child see you spend time reading, and make sure to set aside time each day for reading. Some parents attach an incentive to reading time: for every 30 minutes they read, they get another 30 minutes of TV time.
• Visit the library often. Sign up for summer reading programs. Find the stacks of children’s magazines and take some home for fun reading times.
• Art Projects. Save up loose change and head to the craft store to find an inexpensive project to do together. It might involve counting and sorting, or mixing ingredients to make paint or clay.
• Word games. Grocery stores and discount stores have inexpensive puzzle books with crosswords and word search puzzles. Sit down together and solve a puzzle!
• Plan a vacation together. Visit the library or go online together to find out all you can about the place you plan to visit this summer. Read maps and guidebooks. List the places you want to see along the way. Plan a budget for the trip as well. A fifth- or sixth-grade child can even help calculate gas mileage every time you fill the tank!
• Make a scrapbook of photos and mementos of your summer trip. Have your child write out captions below each item.
• Write a family newsletter and produce it on the computer.
• Make cookies together. Have your child read the directions to you. Let him measure the ingredients. For a challenge, double the recipe and have him figure out the new measurements!
• Make a list of regular summer jobs. Doing household chores provide important life skills and teach responsibility.
• Plant a garden. If you don’t have much room, plant a couple of flowers in pots. Give your child some responsibility for these growing plants, like watering and weeding.
• Save up loose change and decide whether to get a hamster or goldfish. Have your children write up an agreement about taking care of the animal, cleaning its cage or tank, feeding, etc.
• Find a summer school class nearby where your child can have fun AND focus on skills that need reinforcing.
• Summer camps, church Bible schools, and library reading clubs will teach valuable skills and lessons. Sign your child up!
  

Web sites for Summer Learning Fun!

www.eduation-world.com (click on “Celebrate Summer”)
www.starfall.com- great language and reading activities for primary grades!
www.familyeducation.com- look under “Summer Reading”
www.michigan.gov/mde- Click on“Education & Career” Then “Family FUNdamentals”
www.summerlearning.org/activities/
www.greatschools.net- Click on “10 Fun Summer Learning Activities”
www.scholastic.com/familymatters/parentguides/summer/ If you have trouble, click on the “Family Matters” heading

Have questions?
Please call Calvary Christian School at (215) 736-2391 or email: lindat@calvarychristianschool1.org