Resources to Squash the Summer Slump
• Go to history.com and explore
what occurred on that day in
history. Pick a year or decade and
discuss a major world event of that
period and how it impacted our
world today.

>> Weekend days can be for exploring
as a family. Take a walk and
observe nature, then return home
and google the life cycle of an
insect you saw, or research facts on
an interesting ﬂ ower or tree you
spott ed. Go to a museum and pick
a piece of art. If permitt ed, take a
photo of the artwork and its label.

If pictures aren’t allowed, have
your child sketch the piece of art
and copy its label (proofreading
carefully for accuracy, capital
lett ers on proper nouns and any
punctuation found in the label). On
your next “Writing Wednesday,”
use the artwork as the topic for a
nonﬁ ction writing assignment or for
inspiration for writing a short story.

D.E.A.R! (DROP
EVERYTHING AND
READ!) Of all the things that can help keep
your child on track over the summer,
reading is, singularly, the most
important. Once a day, every day,
drop everything and read.

>> Parents, lead by example on this
one. Take a weekly trip to the
library and stock up on books
for free. Keep a basket of picture
books and chapter books on the
coﬀ ee table, along with current
family-friendly magazines and
newspapers, so they are visible
and accessible. Don’t forget graphic
novels and anime for your
reluctant readers.

>> Download e-books on your child’s
tablet or phone. Sign up for one of
16 June 2018
washingtonFAMILY.com Flashcards: Quizlet.com is a free website to print or create ﬂ ashcards for
many different subjects and grade levels!
Educational Materials: Teacherspayteachers.com is a digital catalog of novel
units, worksheets, activities and resources created by teachers. There are
many free items as well as those available for a fee. Scholastic.com also has
many free resources for parents.

Teacher Supply Stores:
>> ABC’s & 1-2-3’s, Rockville, MD
>> Lakeshore Learning, Alexandria, VA and Towson, MD
Used Bookstores:
>> Second Story Books, Rockville, MD and Dupont Circle, D.C.

>> Wonder Books, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown and Frederick, MD
>> Friends of the Library (MCPL), Wheaton and Rockville, MD
>> Capitol Hill Books and Wall of Books, D.C.

>> Hole in the Wall Books, Reston, VA
Writing Prompts: Check out “This Day in History” at history.com. Also,
scholastic.com has story starters for different grade levels.

the many book deal websites to get
alerts for discounted e-books.

>> Listen to an audio book in the car
on family trips or even short trips
to the pool or grocery. Most libraries
now oﬀ er audio books in their digital
catalog. And titles can be checked
out for three-week periods, long
enough to get through a good book,
even on short daily trips.

>> Get a jump on summer reading
assignments the ﬁ rst week after
school ends. For reluctant readers,
waiting until the last minute to start
will only add stress to the perceived
chore of reading.

>> Head to a used bookstore for the
best deals. Hand your child $5 or
$10 and tell them to go shopping.

Google to see if your local library
has a used bookstore, where
donated books and books pulled
from circulation are inexpensive.

(While there, look for your child’s
summer reading assignments!)
>> Have a family read-aloud. Pick
a classic from your childhood
favorites or one new to you and
read a chapter or two as a family
each night after dinner. Take turns
reading aloud to practice ﬂ uency, or
have your family’s strongest reader
(maybe you?) do all the reading
to keep the story moving. Use an
audiobook if reading aloud is not
your thing, make some popcorn and
enjoy the book together!
The summer slump does not have to
be an obstacle to your child’s success
in the fall. Use the glorious days of no
homework, tests or assigned projects
to make learning fun and relaxing.

Remember to exercise your mind, as
well as your children’s minds, while
you enjoy your summer sports, trips
and activities!
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo is a middle
school language arts teacher and
freelance writer who reads and writes
every day of her summer break to avoid
summer slump. Follow her on Twitt er or
Goodreads @michardillo or on her website,
michelleardillo.com.

Produced by Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the
Performing Arts at Northwestern University from Evanston, IL
Written by Laura Schellhardt
Directed by Rives Collins
On an isolated island deep in the heart of
the Everglades, five teenagers make a daring
attempt to escape to the mainland from a place
where the adults are as dangerous as the gators.

June 8–10 | Family Theater
Stay after the 1:30 p.m. performance on June 9
for a discussion with some of the artists!
Age 12+
The Kennedy Center welcomes
people with disabilities.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG | (202) 467-4600
Tickets also available at the Box Office. Groups call (202) 416-8400.

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales
Box Office at (202) 416-8540.

Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor
of Performances for Young Audiences.

Additional support for Ever In The Glades
is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation;
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation;
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation;
and the U.S. Department of Education.

Major support for education programs at the Kennedy Center
is provided by David M. Rubenstein
through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming
is made possible through the generosity of
the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

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