At this time of the year many parents are concerned about the possibility of skill loss over summer.  We get inundated with stories telling us that our children will return to school knowing less than when they left for summer break.  It's not difficult to avoid skill loss.  Simply build a few learning activities into each day.  Ten minutes a day (or twenty minutes three times a week) is all you need to build instead of lose skills.

Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills to keep up over summer.  The ability to read rapidly, comprehend and retain sets a child up for success.  Effective readers have more time left to analyze and assimilate information.  Use the suggestions below to boost your child's reading comprehension during this break. 

Reading Comprehension 

Explictly teach your child the skills the need for strong reading comprehension using books or software in the Reading Detective series (the books and software have the same reading extracts and questions but the presentation is different.)  Each book title costs $23.99.  The home use license software is $29.99.

Grade level designations on these books are for the average child.  If your child is reading above grade level choose based on actual reading level.

View example from Reading Detective Beginning Level (Gr 3-4) book

View example from Reading Detective A1 Level (Gr 5-6) book

View example from Reading Detective B1 level (Gr 7-8) book. 

If you've got a child that is likely to balk at something as "school" looking as Reading Detective try Mind Benders.  In these deductive logic puzzles every word matters.  A child must understand the meaning of every word to solve these puzzles. 

Mind Benders Book Format with 14 levels suitable for use from Pre K to adult.  $9.99 each

Mind Benders Software Format with 4 levels suitable for use from Pre K to adult.  $25.99

Each cd contains the puzzles from two of the books.

Reading Detective has a selection of reading exercises including fiction and non-fiction but for the child who much prefers non-fiction try Math Detective and Science Detective.  These series are heavy on language while covering standards based math and science.

View example from Science Detective Beginning Level (Gr 3-4) book.
View example from Science Detective A1 Level (Gr 5-6) book. 

View example from Math Detective Beginning Level (Gr 3-4) software.
View example from Math Detective A1 Level (Gr 5-6) software.
View example from Math Detective B1 level (Gr 7-8) software.

View example from Science Detective Beginning Level (Gr 3-4) software.
View example from Science Detective A1 Level (Gr 5-6) software.

"My son likes the Reading Detective stories.  When he's intrigued by a story, he is more attentive to what he reads. He critically examines his answers and takes ownership in defending them. He doesn't even know he is exercising his brain." -Melanie, Winter Springs, FL

"I knew this series would be great. For teaching children the problem-solving and questioning skills that will help them on tests also in their daily lessons, your materials are tops." -Linda, Ft. Scott, KS

"My son is bright but reading comprehension was his lowest area, so I had him do Reading Detective. After three months his reading comprehension jumped about four grades. A few months later, he was asked to take the ACT EXPLORE test for grades 8/9 ability, and he passed it with a 96% overall score!" -Amy, Elgin, NC