Every summer, I always plan to really work with the kids on academic areas that they had trouble with the previous year. Maybe get some workbooks, do a few flashcards - just so they don’t get too “rusty”.

And every summer usually flies by without much academic work happening. Some would argue (my children being the most vocal) that that is how it should be.

But now with school just around the corner, I pulled out those trusty old flash cards, and was very surprised at how much “rust” could arise in a few short months.

To get the kids back on track, I found some great workbooks filled with math drills. Math Speed Tests, Grades 1-3 and Math Speed Tests, Grades 3-6 provide pages of drills on math facts. Each page only takes a few minutes, so the kids don’t mind too much. I time them and each day they try to beat their previous time. These are also good resources to use as the school year gets under way.

What are you doing during these last, lazy days of summer?

We are trying not to have much of a schedule. But between back to school physicals, eye doctor visits (my second son needs glasses - as determined in the back to school physical), dentist appointments, and the like, we are still pretty busy!