Parenting and Learning Issues

If you are looking for a way to keep your kids in the learning game this summer, there are many fun options to choose from. Summer camps, whether scheduled for a day or a week, are an excellent opportunity for students to explore subjects and embark on an adventure during the summer season. Camps may be held during the day, or consist of consecutive overnights to give participants a true feel for the camping experience. With subjects ranging from science to performing arts, you are sure to find a camp your child will love.

Benefits of Summer Camp

According to the Cigna website, there are many benefits children may enjoy from attending a summer camp, including:

• Unique experience helps children broaden social skills
• Embarking on new activities builds self-esteem
• Opportunity to form long-lasting friendships
• Learn important skills like leadership and communication
• Teaches children resiliency and responsibility
• Additional physical activity provides health benefits

This video explains the benefits of summer camp.

With many advantages to be gained from attending a camp this summer, the next question for parents becomes how to choose the best camp for their child’s needs. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to help parents make the best choice for their kids.

Choosing a Summer Camp

The National Camp Association recommends beginning the selection process by asking the following questions:

• What do you want your child to take away from the

According to a new study, cyberbullying is becoming a prevalent problem at high schools across the country. Researchers also found that teenagers are spending more of their free time online than ever before, which could play a role in the increase in cyberbullying noted in the study. For parents and teachers, the news is concerning since most are unaware of precisely what goes on between students through texting and online social networking. Awareness of the problem is just the first step in protecting students from electronic bullying and the sometimes tragic consequences that can result.

The study was performed by researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York and presented recently to the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C. According to a report in Science Daily, researchers analyzed data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which involved more than 15,000 students at public and private high schools across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts a survey every two years to monitor high-risk behaviors that lead to death, disability, and social problems. This is the first time the survey included questions about cyberbullying.

This video describes ten forms of cyberbullying.

White Female Students Most Common Victims of Cyberbullying

According to a report in the Examiner, the new study found that 16 percent of high school students have been victims of cyberbullying in

Summer learning loss is a concern for parents and teachers alike, as research further documents the reality of this trend. The National Summer Learning Association cites research spanning 100 years that consistently shows students score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on those same examinations before summer break begins. Evidence also points to the fact that summer learning loss contributes significantly to the widening achievement gap between low-income and middle-income students as they progress through school. What can parents do to prevent this trend with their own children? Check out these ten summer options to keep your kids learning all summer long.

Talk to Your Child’s Teacher

A report at Today advises parents to talk to their child’s teacher prior to the end of the school year to get recommendations on material to cover over the summer. The teacher can alert you to potential gaps in your child’s learning that you can work to fill during the break. Some teachers will even have reading lists or workbook selections that would benefit your child’s summer learning program most.

This video offers parents some tips for summer learning.

The Summer Reading Adventure

Local libraries are a boon to parents and kids over the summer months. Many have summer reading programs, complete with enticing prizes if kids read a certain number of books or log

Summer school may be a requirement if your child did not pass one of his classes during the school year. It might also be a choice for a student who wants to get ahead for the upcoming academic year. No matter the reason behind the summer school choice, it can be challenging to hit the books when everyone else is enjoying vacation time. Check out these ten tips to help your child survive and succeed in his summer school efforts.

Avoid Learning Loss

Is summer school the right choice for your child, or would a break from the stress and strain of class be more beneficial? According to a 2003 study cited at GreatSchools.org, summer learning loss can concern parents of struggling students. The study found that students lost up to one month of learning by the time they returned to school in the fall. This gap may be even higher for students who traditionally struggle with academics.

This video from PBS discusses reinventing summer school to avoid learning loss.

Choose the Right Class

Some summer classes may be filled with remedial students or students with severe learning disabilities that do not serve to motivate your own students to succeed. When searching for a summer class, consider the environment your student will be working in to ensure it will breed success. The right class will be well worth the cost if

Many high school students document their school years on social networks like Facebook, where they fill pages with funny photos and funnier comments regarding their teen antics. However, some experts are now recommending that high school students take a more serious approach to their social networking, by hooking up with the professional network LinkedIn. Why should fun-loving high schoolers take a second look at a stuffed-shirt site like LinkedIn? It turns out there are many potential benefits from tuning into this established network at a younger age.

Job Searching Early

Even teens need to get a leg up on their job searches, whether they are on the hunt for a career right out of high school or a part-time job to help them pay the college bills. Globe and Mail recently reported that the days of the paper CV are out – now it’s all about selling yourself to prospective employers through digital mediums. Employers are now looking up applicants online, through social media, and even a personal website. Some employers even discount an applicant who restricts their resume or application to the paper variety, according to Jaigris Hodson, an instructor of digital literacy at Ryerson University.

This video offers a tutorial on LinkedIn for students.

“I advise my students to build an online portfolio that demonstrates the abilities they have to help employers solve their problems and portrays them as sources