Summer School for New Ist Grader

I was just wondering what 'up to speed' means for first grade?
What does she need to work on?
If she's really not ready, wouldn't they hold her back for another year of kindergarten?

I'm not sure about your area in TX, but if you can't find a place there is a web site that is free to use that you can do at home. It's called "Letter Of The Week" at www.letteroftheweek.com. It is for infants through about age 8-10. Check out your daughter age and ability level and they will set up lessons for you. It's set up for a school year but you can get ideas on things to work on and focus on the things she needs help with. I used it for my preschool triplets. You can throw in field trips to go along with what you're learning during that week. Give it look!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

Do you have time to work with her? Barnes and Noble and Walmart (and I'm sure many others) have workbooks for reading, writing, math. Would that meet her needs? Also, would just extra time reading with her each day be a help?

I would talk to her teacher about things like that. My son is just now learning how to read, so I'm hoping to have about 20 minutes each day to read together.

I would also explore websites and get idea there. You might be able to do this without paying for summer school.

What does her teacher/school recommend?

Does your school district have a summer school? If she is that far behind, she might qualify for summer school through the district. Check with your child's teacher about it. I'd do it soon though, since school is almost out, and slots might be getting full.

Also ask if your teacher has a packet of material available that covers kinder and/or 1st grade material that she can send home with your daughter. When I was in elementary school, the schools had review packets available for each grade that students could take home for the summer. It had about 30 minutes of work a day. I often took the packet for the grade I was just completing, plus the grade I was going into, to give me a head start for the next year.

Good luck.

Have you thought about trying to find a college student studying elementary ed to help? That might be cheaper. She could work on reading and math, and use the skills she is learning. She probably doesn't have her own materials, but you could buy some manipulatives at the local school supply store for her to work on math with your child. (Manipulatives at this age are important.) I'd plan on 2 hours a day, with her going back and forth between reading, writing and math.

You can also buy workbooks from Handwriting Without Tears by Jan Olsen. This is a wonderful program used by schools and occupational therapists. Your college student could use it too.

Email all your friends, your teachers, and anyone else who knows college students to try to find an elementary ed major. Otherwise, a kinder or first grade teacher might be willing to do turoring during the summer, though she will cost you more.

Good luck!
Dawn

the public schools often have summer school.
Elementary.

Or get a Tutor.

Now, did her Teacher actually SAY that your daughter is lagging and needs math help????
Ask the Teacher for supplemental worksheets or help.
That is what my kids' Teachers would do and often do for their students who need extra help. And they send home a packet of stuff for the parents over the summer.
This is public school Teachers.

I would ask your daughter's Teacher.

Each school and curriculum will vary.
What did your daughter lag in, in Kindergarten per Math???
If you know that, then THAT is what you practice with her.

In Kinder, my son's Teacher taught them counting of course, and by 5's, and by 10's etc. And they also did simple word problems using addition or subtraction. They also learned telling time, and coins. And how to tally things, using tally marks.

Each school will differ on what is taught and its curriculum.

Not sure about your area, but as already mentioned, there are some great books to work on for the summer. My kids did well with the "Bridge to..." books. They even have ""Bridge to Kindergarten" that I plan to use for my 4 yr old next summer ( she will still be in pre-k and still working with her on writing letters). They are really great books available at bookstores though I found better prices online. The books even help plan what pages to do each day. You can also pair with another book to cover things she needs extra work on.

Most kids this age do not do summer school. They usually do not even offer it until the kids get to 3rd grade in my area. It's not something they encourage at all with the little guys.

If you want to help her because she is behind then I would suggest talking to the school admin or finding a teacher who would be willing to do some tutoring for you.