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All About Spain
Spanish Language Teacher
&
Flamenco Dance Instructor
Join a native teacher who has 8 years
of experience teaching Spanish in
Spain and the United States. Classes
available mornings and afternoons.
Individual instruction, tutoring and
group classes for children and
adults.
Groups forming now for Spanish
Dancing in Sarasota and Bradenton.
e-mail:
jessicaperezmaqueda@yahoo.es
phone#: (941) 524 3854
How to beat summer's 'academic slide'
Denise Grolly-Case
Raising kids
The "summer slide" is not a hot new dance move. It's "the academic setback that some children suffer after being off
school for the summer," according to wordspy.com.
Researchers have found that during the summer break a typical child loses approximately one month of skills in math,
reading and language arts. The good news is parents can help reduce that loss by organizing some fun family activities for
the summer months.
Summer break offers families a wonderful opportunity to focus on learning habits and thinking skills rather than worrying
about specific academic tasks. Planning a summer interspersed with field trips, home projects and quiet reading time helps
children develop skills that benefit all subject areas and build a lifelong love of learning.
But where do parents begin as they plan for an enriching summer of fun and learning? Here are some suggestions:
- Let your children's interests take the lead as you plan activities. Dr. Michael Trapani of Early Years Tutoring
and Consulting Services in Sarasota suggests parents be "in tune" with children and watch for "teachable
moments." He defines a teachable moment as "an unplanned moment that often begins with a child asking a
question" about a topic of interest. Our family knows more about butterfly gardens than we ever imagined, thanks to
my son's interest in butterflies and caterpillars. We read library books, became members of the Selby Botanical
Garden, and even planted our own official butterfly garden. Encourage children to ask questions and urge them to
follow through on finding answers.
- Utilize local resources. It does not have to cost you a fortune to go on field trips this summer. There are PLENTY
of local free events and attractions in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Just to name a few: first Mondays are free at
the Ringling Museum (www.ringling.org); Around the Bend Nature Tours (www.around bend.com) offers free tours
throughout the year, and the Palmetto Historical Village (www.manateeclerk.com/ClerkServices/HisVill/ag_museum.
htm) is always free - and so are our beautiful beaches and parks!
- Be a positive academic role model. According to Trapani, "parents are their child's first and most important
teacher. Parents should write, conduct daily math and read in front of their child whenever possible." If you do
nothing else this summer, be a positive role model for your child, especially in the area of reading - read at the
beach, in the park or at home, read with your children and read to your children. Don't forget to utilize the wonderful
free library programs in Manatee and Sarasota.
Summer break is the perfect time to have fun, build family connections and practice important skills. You don't have to run
yourself ragged planning an enriching (exhausting) summer. Quality family time is also important. Conversations during
meals, playing games, and quietly reading together strengthen children's life skills.
Lastly, don't be afraid to just hang out and practice the fine art of boredom. Hey, a little "down-time" goes a long way
toward developing creative thinking skills and imagination.
Local resources:
• Manatee and Sarasota counties offer summer library programs. Information: Manatee, www.co.manatee.fl.us (click
on the library link); Sarasota, www.sclibs.net
• www.WhatsHappeningManatee.com, which I created in March 2005, offers a "Do-it-Yourself Summer Camp" - weekly
themes for the duration of the summer with local field trips, recommended reading, art/science projects and much more.
This local Web site always has a comprehensive listing of parenting resources, free events and attractions in Manatee and
Sarasota.
• Dr. Michael Trapani, Early Years Tutoring & Consulting: 4258 67th Avenue Circle E., Sarasota, FL 34243; (866)
853-KIDS
Denise Grolly-Case, a former special education teacher and social caseworker, is a parenting educator with the Family
Partnership Center, 4012 Cortez Road, Bradenton, FL 34210. You can send questions via e-mail at fpc4familiesbgb@aol.
com . This column, on raising kids over age 5, alternates with one written by the Resource Connection For Kids, which
advises parents on raising children from birth to age 5.
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