The summer is nearly here — we have two more weeks of school left! — and I need to get our summer math in order!
Summer Math Word Problems for Elementary School
For my rising 3rd grade son, it’s an easy decision: Daily Word Problems, Grade 4. All three of my kids have been doing these word problem workbooks for summer math as rising first graders.
Daily Word Problems, Grade 4 from Evan-Moor
What I have noticed is that schools don’t really do much by way of word problems until about 4th grade, and then its memorization of “this word” means “this math operation.”
Since the kids are adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing in 4th grade, the words to equate math operations can be very confusing. By starting word problems earlier when the math operations are limited to addition and subtraction, I found that my kids got a more intuitive sense for understanding word problems.
The key to word problems is to create a number sentence from the words. Once you have the number sentence, solving the problem is straightforward. I can’t say that my kids enjoy doing word problems. That would be a stretch but we make this math workbook fun by doing a doodle game for every problem completed.
It’s from The Shape Game by Anthony Browne
I draw a doodle and my child finishes the doodle into a drawing. I also incentivize my kids to complete their workbooks with a large prize.
Algebra Summer Math for Middle School
Now that my kids are older, Grasshopper and Sensei will be starting high school next year and PickyKidPix will be starting 7th grade, I noticed that my oldest who hates math, was placed into an interesting math class where she will be collaboratively solving real-world issues by applying math. It’s basically a complex word problem with a team approach!
She’s very excited about it and I have to credit Daily Word Problems for her ability to solve word problems easily. For my middle school daughters, I’ve run out of our usual math workbooks so I had to do some research. After tackling word problems, I noticed that the next most challenging aspect of math for them is algebra. It IS hard because it’s not as visual as other math concepts like geometry.
I really like these Kahn Academy videos on algebra.
I found these algebra resources that we will be exploring this summer. We also like Life of Fred for Algebra summer math. It’s a math textbook that uses stories to teach math.
I just found out about this free summer math program:
Research shows that most students lose 2-3 months of grade level math equivalency over the summer. There is a free program offered by TenMarks Education that will provide your child with access to a powerful, personalized summer math program designed to help reverse summer learning loss. The program is called TenMarks Summer Math Program and here is how it works:
- Go here to sign up.
- Before summer break, you’ll receive an email with access details for your child and for you – to monitor his/her progress.
- At the start of the program, your child will receive a short diagnostic assessment based on the grade s/he is entering this fall.
- The assessment will be automatically graded and TenMarks will create a personalized program, designed for your child to prepare for the upcoming year.
- You can create custom rewards to keep your child motivated – pizza, ice cream, or a trip to the zoo! It’s all up to you!
An hour a week is all it takes for your child to strengthen his/her math skills and prepare for the year ahead. The TenMarks Summer Math Program guides children through their personalized program, one topic at a time, helping refresh what they know, and learn what they don’t. Each assignment contains embedded instruction (hints, video lessons, and interventions) to help your child refresh concepts from the past year and prepare for the ones ahead.
Are you doing any summer math with your kids? What are you using? Please share!
Math Resources for Summer Math
11 Weeks of Going Into 2nd Grade Summer Math Problems. This series is from my elementary school. There is a short math assignment for every day of summer vacation.
Ours is 11 weeks but you can go at your pace and start anytime you want. We did not have a problem a day. Instead, we are crammers. My son and I would do three weeks in one go and then let it slide for a month. We also did not do the problems in order though he did end up completing it.
His favorite problems were playing online math games.
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 1
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 2
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 3
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 4
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 5 (I also added math-y board games)
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 6 (I also added picture books with math concepts)
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 7 (More picture books with math concepts)
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 8 (This has math games from my school: Math Bingo, Multiplication Top-It, Beat the Calculator (Multiplication), High-Number Toss: Decimal Version)
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 9
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 10
Going into 2nd Grade Daily Math Problems: Week 11
Summer Math Games, Apps, and Books
Adding and Subtracting to 10 Games
DIY Math Multiplication Math Game: Busted!
Mastering Multiplication Facts
Best Summer Math Workbooks for Kids
Our Favorite Math Summer Workbooks
2nd Grade Free Math Website: Xtra Math
Best Math Math Apps for 2nd or 3rd Grade
25 Math Skills Games Fraction Fun (with NerdMathMomFun)
The Math Behind Spirals 
Best Picture Books that Teach Math Concepts 
Non Fiction Animal Picture Books that Teach Math Concepts Free Math Games and Websites
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Another great resource, Mia! I was surprised to learn that 8yo Emma loves word problems best of all.
Hi MaryAnne,
I love word problems at early elementary school age; it’s literacy, math, and logical reasoning all at the same time. The first grade word problem book is particularly fun too; each section is about animals and there are facts about animals. All the problems relate to that animal species as well.
Dylan needs definite math review! I will look into some of these resources!
Hi Dee,
I am trying the Kahn Academy videos this summer for my middle school girls. It seems painless, educational and I am hoping with give a good intutive feel for algebra. It is hard to get kids to do math in the summer, the older they get!
The Ten Marks Summer Program looks interesting and I am a sucker for a great math concept picture book. Thanks for the list of fabulous resources!
Hi Pam,
We tried the Ten Marks summer program a few years ago and it was great. It was paid then so it’s nice that it’s free now! We also love math picture books for a fun way to mix in a little math with summer reading. My son especially loves those type of books.
I used to teach Algebra, and so I feel pretty confident in saying that you will be SO glad you did a little math upkeep over the summer! No starting at square one in the fall. Great idea.
Thanks Aubrey,
My girls find algebra the most conceptually challenging because it’s less visual so I am hoping these videos will help them get an intuitive sense for it. It’s the most pain-free summer math that they have done; usually they do a word problem work book so I hope they enjoy this more entertaining version of summer math.
That’s so great that you found something that works well with your girls’ learning styles. Hooray!
Thanks so much Aubrey! I’m going to have to bribe them to watch these videos though! I hope it helps them but I figure it won’t hurt!
Awesome as always! I normally start each summer getting him one math and one language arts book so that he can continue practicing through the summer. He will often do half an hour a day in one of the books so he doesn\’t lose much during the summer. I\’m going to try out that website though since I know he\’ll enjoy doing things on his computer and I can track him without having to review a bunch of math problems myself! Thanks for sharing with Creative Style!
Hi April,
I’m so glad that these math summer ideas are helpful for you! The free site is great so please keep me posted if it works for your kids too! Sounds like you are doing some great learning this summer!
Great ideas and resources! I love using math workbooks and math games to keep my son sharp during the summer!
Thanks so much Echo! I find I have more success with math games but I personally love work books because then I know exactly what was covered and it’s very gratifying to finish the entire book through it sometimes takes us until winter break to complete. (Plus a major bribe!).
Thanks for sharing at the Say G’day Saturday linky party. I’ve shared your posts on social media. Great tips!
Hope you can join us again this weekend.
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thank you so, so, so much Natasha!!!
Great resources! We use Khan Academy often 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
XOXO
Thanks so much Mrs. AOK,
Khan Academy is great! I hope my girls enjoy these videos! 🙂
the three videos are the same
Sorry, I just fixed it!