Looking for suggestions as your students head out on summer break? Check out these ideas for your students! Looking for ideas for your classroom for next year? Add archived blog posts from www.readingspecialty.com to your summer reading and see if there are free online resources you would like for the coming school year.S

Read a Palooza, Clifford Lesson Plan and Fun In the Sun from Scholastic

Scholastic offers a couple resources that are worth viewing. Before your students leave, check out and consider enrolling your students in the Scholastic “Read a Palooza” Summer reading challenge for students ages 6-17. Help students avoid the summer slide by encouraging reading this summer. Students receive a login and read to unlock digital rewards. If you do not wish to set up your class, pass the information on to parents and they can register on their own. Navigate to scholastic.com/readapalooza.

Check out http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/summer-learning-resources-parents. This bilingual site contains tip sheets, book lists, recommended websites, and good resources for parents.

Teachers in Pre K-2 might enjoy capitalizing on summer interest with “Fun in the Sun With Clifford.” Scholastic provided lesson plans emphasize safe summer play and social skills, using paired readings from the Clifford series. Lesson plans may be found at https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/fun-summer-sun-clifford/

“Fun in the Sun Activities” include book lists, a travel guide, and other parent-oriented resources. Direct parents to https://www.scholastic.com/parents/kids-activities-and-printables/activities-and-printables-guides/fun-in-the-sun-activities.html.

Colorin’ Colorado

Cool Math (and more)

Cool Math is just what the title says–a website designed to make math cool. There are three basic sites, Coolmath.com, Coolmath4Kids, and Coolmath Games. Coolmath Games are violence-free, challenging games requiring logic and thinking. Coolmath.com gives explanations for topics including algebra and pre-calculus for ages 13 and above. Coolmath4Kids is designed for students 12 and under. These sites will help your students avoid the summer math slide! There are also word games, so check it out and don’t let the title mislead you–there is math, but plenty more.

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Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

The Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program earns students a free book if they read 8 or more books during the summer and log them. It is only available for students in grades 1-6, but is a great motivator and they have a list of books students may select from for their prize. Check out https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading-for-kids/_/N-2mir

Chuck E. Cheese

Reading for two weeks will earn kids 10 tokens from Chuck E Cheese. Download the Reading Rewards Calendar here.

In addition there are other rewards calendars available for parents such as completing chores, table manners, music practice calendar, great behavior, clean room, and awesome kid. Find a calendar to motivate your kids and work toward a fun summer outing! Click here to be redirected to calendars.

Primary Games

Summer themed primary games are available by clicking here. They include summer crossword puzzle, summer mosaics, beach party game, waterpark, flip flop match, rollercoaster rush, summer jigsaw,, and summer Simon Says (online version). Some of these games are just for fun, while others are more educational. All contain a summer theme.

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Finish the school year with a fun and valuable project from my TPT Store.

Research, organize, and plan a staycation or vacation. An eight step guide walks students through their project. Brainstorming, traveler interests, itinerary, expenses, web research, scoring guide, and awards are all part of this no prep unit. Unit culminates with a presentation on their planned trip, complete with award certificates for audience or teacher chosen favorites. Students can choose a driving vacation with day trips within 100 miles or taking a dream vacation. Although any student could select either type of project, I found my less affluent students appreciated researching and planning something they might actually be able to do. Nothing motivates like real-world application! Click here to be redirected to this resource.

Looking for resources for next school year? Check out my TPT store. Click here to browse.