The start of summer break often brings a sense of excitement and relief. Every child’s summer looks a little different. Some attend camps, others go on family vacations, and many spend more time outdoors. For some, it’s simply a chance to unwind without structure or expectations.
Helping your child adjust to junior high is an important time, one that can send many parents (and emerging teens) into fear and unknown territory. That’s because the leap from elementary to junior high school is a big one – not just academically, but with all the things (emotions, social scene, brain development, etc.).
Raising a lifelong reader is not a simple process. The foundation for literacy skills begins at birth and caregivers can build their child’s skills early through daily reading, singing, and talking. To crack the code of reading, children need direct instruction on phonics (learning which letters match the sounds), lots of practice, and support. But how do parents engage reluctant readers who are not interested in reading and aren’t excited about opening a book?
Another school year passes and your child is sent home with a giant bag full of arts and crafts, projects, and assignments they worked on – but what on Earth are you supposed to do with it all? Some parents may want or feel obligated to keep the majority of it, while some just want to hold onto a handful.
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