Summer is here – which is great and all, but how do we as parents make sure our kids are not forgetting everything they just learned this past school year? How do we make sure they’re still focusing on reading, writing and all of the above?
We spoke with three educators here in Macomb County:
- Erin Callis, a fourth grade teacher at St. Thecla School in Clinton Township
- Cassie Pozolo, a first grade teacher from Fraser Public Schools
- Sabrina French, a middle school English Language Arts (ELA) teacher from L’Anse Creuse Public Schools.
They shared their plans for fun summer learning with their own kids. Pick up some teacher-approved tips!
Summer learning can include life skills
Erin Callis has been teaching at St. Thecla for 26 years and has a teenage son named Alan, who is now in high school.
“Now that Alan is older, he isn’t really into learning activities,” says Callis. “Now, I’m more worried about teaching him life skills — such as making his own dentist and doctor appointments, learning how to grocery shop and preparing a simple meal.”
This summer, she is planning to stay home to catch up on some things around the house and read, while Alan will be working his own job.
“My son is 16 and will be spending the summer cutting lawns to earn money to help pay his car insurance and help contribute to putting gas in his car,” she says.
Tips for parents: “Have a loose schedule that includes things like make the bed, get dressed, read for 30 minutes, walk the dog, etc. When my son was younger, I’d buy one of these summer bridge workbooks with reading and math activities and have him complete a page or two each day. We also made sure to spend some time outdoors so that we weren’t watching screens all day.” -Erin Callis
Take it slow and enjoy the little things
Cassie Pozolo has been teaching for 13 years and teaches first grade at Walt Disney Elementary School in Fraser Public Schools. She has two children, Emersyn, 6, and Maeve, 3.
“Our routine in the summer and the goal of summer is to slow down and enjoy the simple things,” says Pozolo. “We usually start the day with a ‘coffee’ walk where I drink my coffee and the girls bring water or orange juice in a coffee tumbler while we walk the neighborhood.”
She is really big on slowing down during the summer and limiting technology time. She usually reserves screen time for a family movie at the end of the day before bedtime.
“Magna-Tiles are a huge hit in our house and my girls will play for hours with these,” she says, describing a popular magnetic building set. “You can find different challenges for things to build and give your child those challenges.”
She also explains the importance of getting outside with your kids. This isn’t always ideal for parents working from home, but she suggests trying to head outside after the workday ends.
“My girls love crafts,” says Pozolo. “We will find rocks on our walks, or various nature items, and the girls will craft with them in the backyard.”
Tips for parents: “We do weekly library visits at Mount Clemens Public Library or the Clinton Macomb Libraries. I love to plan activities for my girls at home or around the house such as STEM activities, science experiments, exploring nature and tons of reading. We love to take our books to local parks and explore local nature walks/centers, too.” -Cassie Pozolo
Enjoy local Macomb County amenities
Sabrina French teaches middle school ELA at L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. She has been teaching for 13 years and is a mom of three. Her children, Major, 9; Khalessi, 6; and Calvary, 2, will all be home with her this summer.
“This summer, I’d like to do a library tour in Macomb County,” says French. “We live in St. Clair County, so I would love to take my kids to the Clinton Macomb Public Library-Main Branch, along with the new inclusive playground and splash pad nearby.”
She’s also looking forward to other bucket list outdoor activities, including:
- Offshore fishing along Lake St. Clair
- Watching the ducks and walking the trails at Dodge Park
“One goal of mine is to get the kids out to a game at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica,” she says. “I like the smaller venue that still offers a professional ball game with a family-friendly feel.”
She loves exploring different places in Macomb County with her family and summer is the perfect time for them to go out and do just that.
“Downtown Mount Clemens holds a near and dear place to our hearts because this is where my husband and I grew up,” says French. “I love walking the kids down there (construction this summer and all!) to stop for coffee at Black Cat, pastry treats at Clementines Bakery, and stopping in at all of the shops too.”
One thing French doesn’t have on her list: a structured plan for every day.
“I want my kids to be bored,” she says. “I want them to appreciate and value the activities they get to do, rather than simply expecting to be enriched and entertained all of the time.”
She tries to encourage learning activities in everyday tasks. Suggestions French is using with her own kids:
- Learning fractions by measuring ingredients in the kitchen
- Researching interests
- Practicing ordering their own food at restaurants to gain confidence talking to new people
“During the summer, I try to give the kids a break from the crazy, chaotic moments that we have during the school year,” says French. “I encourage them to play outside as much as possible, and we stick to a flexible schedule with tasks for them to accomplish during a block of time. When creating your schedule, consider putting in tasks that aren’t just for fun or for education, but are for contributing to the family.
Tips for parents: “Maintain some sort of a schedule during the weeks that you are home and doing your usual routine. Also, monitor what your children are doing on their devices, gaming apps and social media. Screen time isn’t necessarily the problem. The real concern is what your child is viewing, who they’re communicating with, or who they’re being influenced by.” -Sabrina French
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
