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How to Keep a Reading Response Journal This Summer

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Colorful notebooks perfect for creating reading response journals that help students maintain and improve reading skills during summer break.

Build Reading Skills During Break

Summer gives your child free time to read books they can’t fit in during the busy school year. A reading response journal helps kids think about what they’re reading and boosts their understanding. Here’s how to set up a summer reading response journal at home.

What You’ll Need to Start a Reading Response Journal

There are only a few supplies needed to start a reading response journal. Everything you’ll need is very inexpensive and can probably be found around the house.

A child writing in her reading response journal outdoors, showing how summer's flexibility allows for reading and reflection in relaxed natural settings.

1. Find a Simple Notebook

Look around the house for a notebook with lined pages. Nothing fancy needed here – just something your child can write in daily. If your kid wants to decorate the cover and make it their own, that’s a bonus that might get them more excited about using it.

2. Pick Writing Tools

A pen or pencil works fine. Since no teacher will grade this journal, mistakes aren’t a problem. Just cross them out and keep going. Let your child use their favorite pen or colored pencils if that makes the writing more fun.

3. Gather Some Writing Prompts

Writing prompts help your child know what to write about. Have them copy one prompt at the top of each entry and write their thoughts below. Using different prompts each day helps your child think about the book in new ways. Simple prompts like “My favorite character is…” or “I was surprised when…” work well.

A teen using a tablet for her summer reading response journal, combining technology with reading practice to improve comprehension skills during school break.

4. Set a Short Daily Time Limit

The main goal is reading, not writing. Young kids might only write for five minutes, while teens might need 10-15 minutes. Keep it short enough that it doesn’t feel like a chore but long enough to record real thoughts about the reading.

5. Make it a Daily Habit

When keeping a journal it is good to form a habit of writing on a daily basis. Every day after reading a portion of your book you should record the date in your journal along with the title of the book and the page numbers you read that day followed by the prompt and your written response.

A young student enjoying her summer reading while keeping a reading response journal to track her thoughts and improve reading comprehension skills.

Summer Reading Success

Taking a few minutes to think about what they’re reading helps your child understand and remember the story better. The key is reading daily and writing briefly before moving to the next section. This summer, as your child dives into their reading list, those few minutes of journal writing each day will build stronger reading skills that last.

Need help getting your child excited about reading? School is Easy tutors can create custom summer reading plans that match your child’s interests and reading level. Book a tutor today and watch your child’s reading confidence.

5 College Preparation Tips You Can Do This Summer

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A high school student visits a university campus during summer break, following essential college preparation tips to make informed decisions about her future education.

Get Started This Summer

The summer months give your teen time to work on college preparation. Without school assignments, they can focus on getting ready for college. With nearly 30% of first-year students dropping out, these 5 college preparation tips can help your teen succeed.

Virtual college prep course with certified tutor" Description: "A student takes notes during an online college preparation tips session with a School is Easy tutor, getting personalized guidance for entrance exams from the comfort of home.

1. Study for Entrance Exams

For students entering grade 11 who haven’t taken entrance exams yet, summer is a good time to start. Canadian university applicants need to study for provincial exams. Students applying to US schools will need to prepare for the SAT too. Help your teen set up a study schedule with the right books and materials.

2. Join College Prep Courses

Local college prep courses run throughout summer, which cover test content and useful strategies. Some parents choose a tutor for personal college preparation help. Both options build skills for entrance exams and give students practice with college-level work.

3. Use Practice Tests

Practice tests show your teen what to expect and where they need help.

  • Free provincial exam practice tests are on the BC Ministry of Education website.
  • SAT practice tests are online and in bookstores.

Taking many practice tests with proper time limits works well. If possible, have a tutor go through the tests with your teen to explain any wrong answers.

Students tour the university of their choice to prep for college.

4. Tour University Campuses

Visiting campuses helps your teen see what different schools offer. Try to visit several universities so your teen can compare them. Summer campus visits work well because your teen won’t miss school and can take their time looking around.

5. Start Applications Now

Some universities take early applications when grade 12 starts. Summer gives your teen time to write application essays carefully. Working on applications in summer means they won’t have to handle both schoolwork and college applications at once.

A tutor supports her client's college preparation journey, working together on application essays and study plans using proven college preparation tips for academic success.

Use Your Summer Well

Start university applications now. These college preparation tips help your teen use summer break wisely. Make sure they spend enough time on college preparation, but also leave room for rest and fun. With some planning, your teen can get ready for college and still enjoy summer.

Is your teen struggling with entrance exams? School is Easy tutors provide personal college prep courses. Connect with us today for a free consultation and help your teen join the our successful students who get accepted to their first-choice university.

Summer Math Activities for Kids

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A group of diverse children playing math games during their summer break.

Math Practice That Feels Like Play

Kids often lose math skills during summer break. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, students can lose up to two months of math knowledge during summer vacation. These outdoor math activities keep those skills strong without feeling like homework. Try these simple summer math activities that make learning fun while enjoying the nice weather.

Family applies real-world math on a summer canoe trip, calculating distance, speed, and travel time while exploring nature and preventing summer math skill loss.

Plan a Day Trip

Let kids be your trip planners. They’ll work with real maps, figuring out how far and how long it takes to get places. The smile when their math matches the actual drive time is worth it.

You’ll need:

  • Map or phone map app
  • Paper and pencil
  • Watch
  • Calculator (optional)

How to play:

  1. Pick a park or beach on the map
  2. Find the distance from your home
  3. Check the speed limit for the roads
  4. Divide distance by speed to find travel time
  5. Time the actual trip to compare

Number Scavenger Hunt

Turn your backyard or park into a math treasure hunt. Kids become math detectives searching for nature’s patterns – like the five points on a star-shaped flower or the spiral patterns in pinecones. Finding and counting becomes a treasure hunt they love.

You’ll need:

  • Small collection bags
  • Ruler
  • Paper and pencil
  • Checklist of items to find

How to play:

  1. Look for things that come in groups (3 leaves, 5 petals)
  2. Find objects of specific sizes (1mm, 5mm, 10mm)
  3. Add up all your measurements
  4. Draw what you found
  5. See who found the most items

Kids enjoying sandwiches during a summer picnic math activity, where they practiced fractions, division, and food measurement skills while having fun outdoors.

Picnic Planning

Food + math = fun. Kids become picnic planners figuring out if 8 buns is enough for 5 people. They feel grown-up handling the food math.

You’ll need:

  • Food packages (bread, cheese, fruit)
  • Measuring cups
  • Calculator
  • Paper and pencil

How to play:

  1. Count family members
  2. Figure out how much food each person needs
  3. Check how many items come in each package
  4. Measure ingredients for homemade foods
  5. Share food equally at the picnic

Kid-Run Stand

Money gets kids excited about math. Running a stand teaches adding, subtracting and making change without them even noticing.

You’ll need:

  • Items to sell (lemonade, crafts)
  • Small notebook
  • Cash box with coins
  • Signs with prices
  • Calculator

How to play:

  1. Pick something to sell
  2. Add up costs for supplies
  3. Set prices higher than your costs
  4. Write down money in and money out
  5. Count profits each day
  6. Save for something special

Colorful sidewalk chalk math chart with toy insects for counting and sorting, helping children practice math skills outdoors during summer break.

Chalk Math Games

The sidewalk becomes a giant math board with chalk math games. Kids hop, throw and run through math problems. Just spray with water for a clean start tomorrow.

You’ll need:

  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Measuring tape
  • Bean bags or rocks
  • Spray bottle with water

How to play:

  1. Draw a number line for jumping math problems
  2. Make a shape hunt with circles, squares, and triangles
  3. Create pattern games to complete
  4. Draw targets with numbers for points
  5. Write math facts kids run to and solve

Nature Measuring Contest

This turns math into a contest. Kids rush to guess and measure things, learning about size. The race makes it exciting, and they get better at guessing each time.

You’ll need:

  • Measuring tape
  • Paper and pencil
  • Timer
  • Basket
  • List of items

How to play:

  1. Split into teams
  2. Give each team a list of things to find
  3. Have them guess each item’s size
  4. Find the items and measure them
  5. See which team had the closest guesses

Water Math

Perfect for hot days. Kids splash and pour while learning about volume, but they’ll be having too much fun to notice it’s math. Warning: they’ll get wet!

You’ll need:

  • Cups, buckets, bottles
  • Measuring cups
  • Water
  • Towels
  • Paper and pencil

How to play:

  1. Set up containers of different sizes
  2. Guess how many small cups fill a larger container
  3. Test by filling and counting
  4. Race to move specific amounts of water
  5. Fill containers to 1/2, 1/4, and 3/4 full
  6. Add up all the water used

Summer Math Activities That Pay Off

These simple activities cost very little but keep math skills strong all summer. Kids won’t even notice they’re doing math while having fun outdoors.

Give your child the gift of math confidence. School is Easy tutors make math fun, engaging, and easier to understand. Schedule a tutor and find out about how we can help your child.

Summertime Science Activities For Kids

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Children examining plants with magnifying glass during an outdoor science activity, learning about ecology and biology through hands on nature exploration with adult supervision in a Canadian forest.

Activities You Kids Will Love

Summer gives your kids the freedom to play outside, but it’s also a perfect time to keep their minds busy with science activities. These science experiments are both fun and educational, helping build skills they’ll need if they decide to attend college later.

Children observing a water displacement science activity, showing excitement during this interactive experiment.

Water Displacement Experiment

This cool water activity teaches measurement skills that build strong math foundations needed for college-level courses.

What You Will Need:

  • Large measuring cup
  • Various waterproof objects
  • Second container to catch overflow
  • Small measuring cup
  • Towels for cleanup
  • Notebook for recording results

Steps:

  1. Fill a large measuring cup to a marked line
  2. Drop objects one at a time into the cup
  3. Note where the water level rises to
  4. Subtract the first measurement from the second to find the object’s volume
  5. For the overflow method, fill a container to the brim inside a larger, dry container
  6. Place the object in the water and collect the overflow
  7. Measure the spilled water to find the object’s volume

Let children write down what they think will happen before testing. Try objects with different shapes like an apple and a banana. This builds prediction skills—a key part of college science courses.

Child making homemade ice cream science activity by stirring cream mixture in a metal bowl surrounded by ice and salt, demonstrating freezing point depression in a hands-on summer science experiment.

Homemade Ice Cream Science

Making ice cream teaches chemistry concepts while creating a treat everyone enjoys.

What You Will Need:

  • Small coffee can with lid
  • Large coffee can with lid
  • Duct tape
  • 250 ml cream or half and half
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg (optional)
  • Rock salt
  • Ice
  • Gloves
  • Optional flavours: strawberries, chocolate

Steps:

  1. Mix cream, vanilla, sugar, and egg (if using) in the small can
  2. Seal the small can with its lid and secure with duct tape
  3. Place small can inside the large can
  4. Fill space between cans with ice and rock salt
  5. Have children roll the can back and forth for about 10 minutes
  6. Continue rolling until cream thickens (about 10 more minutes)
  7. Older children can roll the can down a hill instead

Explain how salt lowers the freezing point of ice, making it cold enough to solidify the cream mixture. Understanding phase changes helps with chemistry—an important subject for college science programs.

Cornstarch Quicksand

This experiment shows how substances can act as both liquids and solids—teaching college-level physics concepts in a fun way.

What You Will Need:

  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup water
  • Large bowl or container
  • Food colouring (optional)
  • Plastic sheet or easy-to-clean outdoor space
  • Old clothes (this can get messy)

Steps:

  1. Mix cornstarch and water in the bowl
  2. Add food colouring if desired (may stain clothing)
  3. Put your finger slowly into the mixture—it sinks like quicksand
  4. Punch the mixture quickly—it feels solid
  5. Hold some in your hand and make a fist to keep it solid
  6. Relax your hand and watch it ooze through your fingers like a liquid

This activity teaches non-Newtonian fluids—a concept covered in college physics courses. Children struggling with science now will benefit from this hands-on introduction to complex ideas.

Teens testing balloon rocket cars as part of a physics science activity, demonstrating Newton's laws of motion with colorful balloons and simple materials on a rooftop experiment space.

Balloon Rocket Cars

This simple activity introduces basic engineering and physics principles that build college readiness.

What You Will Need:

  • Empty plastic bottle
  • 4 bottle caps
  • 4 wooden skewers
  • Balloon
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Straw
  • Cardboard piece

Steps:

  1. Cut the plastic bottle in half lengthwise to create the car body
  2. Push skewers through the bottle to create axles
  3. Attach bottle caps to ends of skewers as wheels
  4. Cut a small hole in the back of the bottle
  5. Insert straw through the hole and secure with tape
  6. Attach balloon to the outside end of the straw
  7. Blow up the balloon through the straw, pinch the end, then release on a smooth surface

This experiment teaches action-reaction forces—basic physics concepts needed for college science courses. Children learn problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.

Children enjoying outdoor activities, exploring nature, and having fun while discovering their interests and passions in a natural environment.

School May Be Out, but Kid’s Can Still Have Fun with Great Science Activities

According to research from the National Science Teaching Association, summer science activities help prevent the “summer slide” and maintain academic momentum throughout the year. The confidence gained from these hands-on experiments often translates to better classroom performance once school resumes.

Need more help preparing your child for educational success? Check out our tutoring options designed for students who need extra support.

The Power of Interest in Education

Published: February 8, 2025 Last Updated Date:

How an Interest in Learning Drives Student Success: A Parent’s Guide

The impact of interest in learning goes beyond simple curiosity about a subject. When students develop a genuine interest in learning, education transforms from a task into an engaging journey. An easy example is substituting interesting objects (like nail polish or Lego pieces) as countable items for your young one to grasp simple math concepts. This is a great example that shows how personal connection sparks understanding.

A group of teenagers deeply focused on their studies, demonstrating how fostering an interest in education keeps students motivated and eager to explore new subjects.

Natural Learning in Early Childhood

Watch a toddler fascinated by trucks and cars – they’ll spend hours exploring their toy vehicles. Many speak their first words about these beloved objects, identifying dump trucks and car models before mastering full sentences. This natural curiosity demonstrates children’s remarkable capacity to learn about subjects that capture their attention.

Elementary Years: Deep Dives into Passion Projects

Elementary school often brings an intense focus on specific subjects like dinosaurs or horses. Children eagerly absorb complex dinosaur names before reading fluently, driven by genuine interest in learning. This natural process shows our brain’s incredible capacity when fueled by curiosity.

Teenage Years and Beyond: Keeping the Spark Alive

While younger children naturally pursue their interests, teens face more structured learning requirements. Parents and educators should connect abstract concepts to students’ existing interests – just like the nail polish math example shows. This approach maintains an interest in learning through challenging academic years.

Older kids using musical rhythms to understand math concepts, highlighting how incorporating creativity can boost interest in education and make learning more enjoyable.

Nurturing Student Engagement

Educators and parents can spark curiosity by:

  • Connecting abstract concepts to students’ existing passions
  • Presenting information through engaging storytelling
  • Providing one-on-one support through tutoring
  • Creating personalised learning experiences

Individual attention from parents or tutors helps incorporate student interests into new subjects. This approach works for learners of all ages – when we develop genuine curiosity, learning becomes a lifelong journey.

Ready to transform your child’s learning experience? Contact School is Easy and discover how our personalised tutoring approach can ignite your child’s passion for learning.

Why Is Home Economics Important for Students?

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Two teenagers practicing sewing techniques, demonstrating how the benefits of home economics extend to creativity, problem-solving, and even future career opportunities.

Are your kids getting the practical life skills they need? With most schools phasing out their programs, students are missing crucial hands-on learning opportunities. This article explores the key benefits of home economics and shows how these foundational skills connect to real-world innovation.

Sewing: A Gateway to Innovation

The benefits of home economics extend far beyond basic household skills. Learning to use a sewing machine might seem old-fashioned, but this foundational skill has led to groundbreaking scientific advances.

Required for Basic Sewing:

  • Sewing machine
  • Thread and needles
  • Fabric scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • Practice materials

The Nobel Prize Connection

Alexis Carrel’s 1912 Nobel Prize in Physiology stemmed from an unexpected source – his sewing expertise. By applying basic stitching techniques to vascular surgery, he revolutionized medical procedures. His triangulation technique remains the foundation for modern surgical practices, as highlighted by the Mayo Clinic’s historical innovations archive.

Medical Innovation Through Fabric Skills

Dr. Arthur B. Voorhees Jr. transformed vascular surgery using everyday sewing skills. Starting with his wife’s sewing machine, he developed synthetic arterial replacements, first testing them on animals before successfully implementing them in human patients.

A young child learning to cook, showcasing how home economics builds confidence, independence, and essential nutritional skills for lifelong success.

Cooking: A Laboratory for Life Sciences

Just as sewing skills translated to medical breakthroughs, cooking fundamentals have paved the way for scientific innovation. The kitchen serves as a student’s first chemistry lab, where precision, experimentation, and analysis come together.

Required for Basic Cooking:

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Basic pots and pans
  • Mixing bowls
  • Kitchen thermometer
  • Basic ingredients

From Kitchen to Laboratory

Dr. Nicholas Kurti, a physicist from Oxford University, revolutionized our understanding of food science through his kitchen experiments. His work in molecular gastronomy bridged the gap between home cooking and advanced physics, leading to breakthroughs in food preservation and molecular biology. Modern food scientists continue to build on these foundations, developing everything from space food to sustainable protein alternatives.

Bringing Home Economics Back

While budget constraints make it challenging to restore full home economics programs, innovative approaches are emerging. Modern home economics integration focuses on:

  • Basic financial literacy
  • Nutritional cooking skills
  • Sustainable living practices
  • Digital household management
  • Entrepreneurship fundamentals
  • Design thinking skills

Alternative Learning Opportunities

Students can still access home economics education through:

  • Community workshops
  • Online courses
  • Private tutoring
  • Local maker spaces
  • Youth development programs

A group of kids having fun in the kitchen, gaining hands-on experience in cooking and teamwork—one of the many benefits of home economics that teaches essential life skills.

The Future Impact

Today’s home economics skills extend far beyond traditional homemaking. They foster problem-solving abilities, spark innovation, and develop practical applications for future careers. Contemporary programs often incorporate technology, environmental consciousness, and financial technology – essential skills for success in the world today and beyond!

Ready to give your child the advantages of aftercare education or tutor instruction? Connect with School is Easy and learn how we can help your child develop essential skills for success.