Dear Parents,

Thank you for sharing your children with me for this past school year. I’m not sure where the year has gone, but the calendar tells me it’s time to return the children to you for the summer. It has been a year of joyful learning, hard work, and growth for everyone.
Please enjoy your children during this break from school. I know you’ve heard that they grow up fast and it’s hard to believe, but you will soon realize the years have flown by much too quickly. Take time to build wonderful memories whether you are away or just at home in routine. You will look back with fond thoughts.
Academically speaking, be sure to keep your child reading. Scientific research has found that children need extra practice with reading fluency. Reading aloud helps with fluency. Children comprehend more easily if they can read in phrases and sentences rather than word to word. Public libraries have reading programs that encourage reading, and help you to schedules trips to the library for new books. Cereal boxes, road signs, movie reviews, vacation brochures, etc. are all excellent ways for children to read without even realizing that they are practicing important skills.
Children also need practice with math facts during the summer. Let children figure out how much it costs to buy toys from the newspaper. Give them your change to count and allow them to decide if there is enough money to buy items. Many computer games help reinforce basic facts. Provide opportunities for practice with subtraction—basic facts and regrouping.
Creative play is very beneficial for children this age. Let them explore outside and record observations. Legos and building blocks of all types are excellent for children. Carpentry projects with the help of an adult are also wonderful opportunities to practice measurement, fine motor skills and time with adults.
Thank you all for your support and help throughout the year. What would I have done without the parents? Thanks to each and every one of you who helped in a variety of ways throughout the year.
Possible websites that sound interesting include:
www.ncge.org/resources/geoclub/activities/3y1m-usstatelicenseplatesquarters.pdf
www.activitiesforkids.com/travel/travel_games.htm
www.gov/kids/campcoin
www.citycreator.com
www.scholastic.com/summerreading/index.htm
www.schooltimegames.com
As always, please preview these for your child.
Be sure to stop by next year and tell me about your summer. The last day of school is always bittersweet. I become quite attached to the children and I’m sad to see them leave my classroom. I love teaching second grade sinceI can still see the children for a couple years after they leave my room. It’s fun to watch them grow. Enjoy them!

Happy Summer!
Diane Merkle