Structured environments are nit always best for learning. My son's reading level stayed flat from Jan to June, then he spent a summer reading mostly Curious George. When school started, he had shot up by 2 yrs, to an 8th grade level, where he stayed throughout 2nd grade. This summer he's rereading some favorites, tore through a 500-page Star Trek book that didn't look that impressive and has spent the past week on a book of science experiments. Not going to worry about it. Even if he doesn't advance, he'll still be 5 yrs ahead if grade level.

I do wish, however, that I could find ways to work math into our daily life the way we used to count stairs as we went up them.

Hi Jen, thanks for commenting in. Not sure if you read Sheri's following post specific to reading but it sounds like self-selection was a really good thing for your son... that's fantastic!

I think it's a balance between following your kid's lead and also remembering to give them the option to do fun projects that encourage reading, math, science, what have you. I've always been a big fan of learn through play for the math and science elements in particular.

We'll be posting about fun math tips (split out for different age groups) later this week. -Christine

Christine, yes, I read the original post before commenting on it. That's why I referred to her claim that "Reading can take a nose dive more than two levels in the two months out of the structured environment". Rereading the original post (several times) I don't see where you're getting self-selection and following the child's lead. I agree with you wholeheartedly that those things are great--just don't see them in the post.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the math idea, particularly if they come in the form of fun ways to sneak it in there, as opposed to sit-down-and-do-these-problems.

One more comment: Discussions about schoolkids over the summer are right on time for me. I've gotten your blog posts in my mailbox for 4 years now, ever since we were preparing for a trip to Boston. Recently I've been contemplating giving it up, because it seemed that we were moving out of your target age group. But with these targets, I'm sticking around.

Hi Jen, Sheri refers to self-selection in the section on taking kids to the bookstore. I certainly see this with my kiddo too and remember this from my own childhood. I remember my mom bringing me stacks of books from the library that I had zero interest in and would never read them, but if I picked them out myself, I'd finish them in a day.

We'll be covering fun tips for math and other subjects through the coming weeks -- I hope you enjoy the posts and do stick around. I appreciate your readership and candor. I get a lot of queries re: baby things (e.g., today's Dear Boston Mamas post) and obviously am also in the trenches right now, but Laurel (and most of my periodic contributors) have school aged kids so the coverage has and will continue to span a large age range for years to come. :-)

-Christine

oh, is my face red! I see the two different titles now, and clicked through to the second one, which is strategies, not stats.

We spend tons of money at the bookstore, but fortunately, my kid is beginning to understand that it would make more sense to go to the library.

Thanks for the replies, and for your site/blog:)

No worries Jen.

Yes, we are huge fans of the library, especially since there are some book series (e.g., the Rainbow fairies empire) that I'm not wild about buying but totally work the collectible series angle...so I take Laurel to check them out at the library.

I'd also recommend used bookstores as an option if you can find one near you. I posted about The Book Rack, which we totally dig and it apparently has about 100 locations across the country. Visiting inspires me to pick up new books for myself as well. :-)

http://www.bostonmamas.com/2011/02/the_book_rack.html

Happy reading!