by: Lindsay Hutton

Show Him He's a Star

And the Envelope, Please?

Learn Through Everyday Tasks
Empty your pockets of all the spare change you've accumulated during the day, and help your child count it. If he gets it right, he gets to keep the change!

Job Skills Search
Once you have a list of jobs that interest her, brainstorm the skills she will need to accomplish this job, and turn them into learning goals for the summer or upcoming school year.

Work for Rewards
The remaining activities can be used as rewards when he accomplishes a specific learning goal or task. You can turn this into a team strategy by making a list of your own personal goals, and working alongside your child to accomplish them.

Work in Advance
One reader offers ways to make completing assignment fun, such as surfing the Internet for interesting websites on specific topics, or creating a puppet show or skit to demonstrate her understanding of a book she just read. She'll be having so much fun, she won't even realize she's preparing for the school year.