Kick Off Your Summer – Episode 6

On today’s podcast, we talk with Lower School teachers Laura Ouimette and Brandie Rodgers about all things summer, including reading, avoiding the summer slide, and how to have fun while keeping your kids interested in learning.

Laura is a dedicated reading specialist in the TCA Lower School. She reminds us that with just a little intentionality around reading over the summer, our kids can be confident returning to school in August and avoid the summer slide. Laura gives some practical tips on choosing great books for your children and how vital reading choice is for children. She recommends these sources for finding books:

Texas Bluebonnet Award Winners: https://txla.org/news/2021-2022-texas-bluebonnet-award-master-list-released/

Goodreads.com Choice Awards: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-childrens-books-2020

Barnes and Noble Kids Reading: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/kids/_/N-29Z8q8Ztu1

Brandie is a second-grade teacher at TCA and is a master at planning theme weeks for at-home summer camp ideas. She shares how she began planning themed weeks when her oldest was just two years old. Crafts, cooking/baking, books, writing, field trips, and trips to the library are critical ingredients for themed camps weeks at home.

She recommends sitting down with your children to ask what themes interest them before making a plan. Summer themes can give nannies and babysitters direction and activities each week, as well. Using Pinterest is a great way to brainstorm activities on a particular theme.

As a bonus, Brandie and Laura also speak into how TCA pours God’s truth into students each day, how each individual student is known, and how the faculty is dedicated to developing each student.

We hope you will take a few minutes to listen to these practical tips and be encouraged as we head into summer!