The following are some options for students who wish to engage in some independent mathematics learning to be ready for success in mathematics for the upcoming school year.
Summer Learning
Summer is a time for rest and play, but it’s also the perfect season to keep your child’s math mind active—without the stress of worksheets or teaching new, advanced lessons.
Research shows that the best way to prevent the "summer slide" isn't by rushing ahead into next year's curriculum, but by deepening fluency and confidence in what your child already knows. Our district recommends focusing on everyday, research-backed practices that seamlessly blend into your summer routine. By keeping math low-stakes, conversational, and fun, you are setting your student up for incredible success this fall.
Alternative Summer Programs for Credit
- Jordan Credit Center
- Valley High School (Credit Recovery)
- SEATS
Build Fluency Through Flexibility
-
Play Math Games: Card games, dice games, and board games (like Monopoly or Yahtzee) naturally build spatial reasoning, logic, and fact fluency.
-
Encourage "Math Talk": Notice math in the real world. Ask questions like, "We need 3 cups of flour but only have a half-cup scoop; how many scoops do we need?" or "If the movie starts at 2:15 and is 90 minutes long, when will it end?"
-
Focus on the "Why": When your child is problem-solving, ask them to explain their thinking. Valuing how they got an answer builds a deeper mathematical mindset than just getting it right quickly.
-
Turn-Based Card & Dice Games: Games like Salute! (a three-player math game), 수학 (Math) War, or Yahtzee require constant, rapid use of basic operations without the pressure of a timed test.
-
Estimation Challenges: Turn daily errands into a game. "I think this grocery cart has about $45 worth of stuff in it. Let’s keep a running estimate and see who gets closest." This builds strong number sense
-
Praise the Process, Not the "Smartness": Instead of saying, "You're so smart at math," say, "I love how persistent you were on that problem," or "That was a really creative way to solve that." * Normalize Mistakes as Brain Growth: Position errors as data, not failures. Use phrases like, "Your brain just made a new connection trying to figure that out. Let's see where the path changed."
-
Ban the Phrase "I'm Not a Math Person": Model positive math attitudes. If parents express math anxiety, children often adopt it. Encourage parents to say, "We can figure this out together."