We are organized for summer learning. Honestly, I think organization is the key to happiness. And by organization, I mean systems. Which equal routines and peace. Our key learning and organization components are: a learning space, a learning time, and learning options.

The reason I’m so excited is because the last few years weren’t my best for organization. We moved to a new house, and held two mortgages for 18 months. Half our furniture was staging our old house and we couldn’t afford to buy anything that wasn’t on clearance from Goodwill. I had piles instead of shelves, lawn chairs instead of a couch. Add in  JJ’s too-long seizures, starting my writing career from nothing, and trying to help AJ with her anxiety, and the last thing I could manage was to implementing organizational systems in place. I was lucky to dress myself in clothes that weren’t inside out. (Although, I still do that.)

But, now I’m able to breathe for a number of reasons — seizure medication for JJ, selling the other house, and a diagnosis of SPD for AJ. And, I’m so happy to say that for the first time in this house, I’m finding systems that work! I haven’t felt this good in a long time.

Here’s what we’re up to at the Taylor house.

Summer Learning Components

1. A Learning Space

Each girl has a beautiful learning box which holds options for the week. I will rotate these options often. (I bought the boxes at Michaels.)

2. A Scheduled Time

After AJ’s early morning swim practice, we have an hour of learning time. This is time that I devote to them – playing games, reading books, making books and so forth. The girls must pick something in math and reading to do during this time. They know the choices which include

3. Options and Choices

I don’t have to tell you that when children get to choose and direct their own learning, the motivation stronger. We know this already, right? So, during learning time the choices are:

– something from their learning box

– a learning game on the iPad

– a learning game

– an activity mom thinks of (one day last week, JJ and I read How to Teach Your Slug to Read, a cute new book from Marshall Cavendish. The slug labeled things around his house so we did, too.)

– reading with mom

– listening to a book on tape

– reading alone

– writing anything (journal, story, poem, postcard, thank you, list, . . . )

4. FUN!

Learning is fun. The reason I started Imagination Soup was to share ideas on making learning engaging and fun. So, this must be a key component, one that I always include as best I can either by variety, individualization, games, music, movement, self-directed, or whatever – there are lots of ways to make learning fun. But you already know that!

What about you? Are you organized for summer learning? What are you doing?

Summer Learning Activities, Ages 3 – 5

Summer Learning Activities, Ages 6 – 10

Summer Learning A to Z