At the end of the school year, your child is ready to go on vacation or to play with friends until the sun goes down. However, before the school year ends, it can be wise to get some tips and strategies from your student’s teacher to help ease the transition to next year and to make the most of the summer. It can also be helpful to ask your student’s teacher about your child's strengths and specific areas to focus summer learning on.
Regardless of whether your child’s school sets up a meeting at the end of the school year or if you initiate one yourself, consider asking your student’s teacher these three questions before the school year ends:
Ask your student’s teacher, “What are my child’s strengths?”
Ask your child’s teacher what he or she excelled in this school year, both academically and behaviorally. Go beyond letter grades and percentage points to discuss specific subjects or concepts your child took to easily, as well as the types of projects that worked well for your student. These projects could include items like book reports or dioramas.
Also spend time discussing how your child was as a student in the classroom. How did he or she participate in and add to the classroom community? It’s great to be able to cross-reference your child’s habits at home with those from school—you’ll be able to observe any similarities and differences and encourage them in their strengths.
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Ask your student’s teacher, “What should my child work on during the summer?”
In conjunction with your child’s strengths, ask the teacher where your student can improve, especially looking ahead to the summer. Are there any specific skills or concepts that your child can brush up on or practice throughout the summer? Does your child’s teacher recommend summer school? With the freedom of summer ahead, discuss options to keep your child intellectually active: educational games (such as board games or online games), summer reading, educational camps, or private tutoring. Many local libraries have educational events, workshops, or reading challenges to make summer learning fun. Ask your student’s teacher for any resources or suggestions for what might help your child relax and enjoy the summer while staying on top of academics.
[RELATED: How Kids Can Keep Learning Alive at Summer Camp]
Ask your student’s teacher, “What can my child expect next year?"
Especially if your child is moving to a new school next year, discuss how your student can prepare for the new environment, workload, and routine. Even if your child isn’t making a drastic shift in schools, ask what he or she can expect and look forward to in the new academic year. For instance:
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Are there standardized tests on the horizon, like state testing or the ISEE?
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Will there be any big changes in their schedule, like additional subjects or teachers?
Your child’s teacher might have some recommendations and strategies for items like time management, extracurricular activities, resume building, and community service.
[RELATED: Standardized Testing 101: What Parents of Young Students Should Expect]
If your child is in elementary school, you’ll likely chat with your child’s primary teacher. If your student is in middle school, try to get in touch with individual subject teachers, especially those teachers whose subjects your child shows great interest in, or conversely, struggles with. In either case, your meetings will inform how you can best support your student as summer approaches.
Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.
