Summer programs for middle school?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I've posted a million messages about my son and starting middle school, and appreciate all the help I've gotten.

Well, I finally think I've decided

I really think it's the best decision, the middle school is great, the high school it feeds into is fantastic (IB program open to all, 4 year long drama/TV conservatory which fits in with a passion of his, very diverse, amazing test scores). I'm really excite to think he'll have this option.

But, it's also going to be a huge change. He'll be going from being on one of 25 kids in his grade, in a school that's not terribly academically demanding, to being one of 250 in a school that's got a lot of academic rigor. The amount of reading and writing that will be expected of him will go way up, in particular. He is very much an average student, he meets but doesn't dramatically exceed expectations, and I'm hoping that he'll pick up the pace a little and meet their expectations -- I don't need him to be a genius, but I do want him to be prepared for high school and college, and I don't think his current school does that well.

So, I'd like to use the summer to get him ready. I have to work full time so he needs to go to summer camp. Looking at the options it seems like I could do one of two things -- he could either attend a program at one of our most rigorous private schools, that's 1/2 reading/writing an 1/2 regular fun day camp activities, but it's located in the city by my work. Or he could attend a camp (lots to choose from) with no academic components, that's located by the new school, where he'd probably make friends who he'd know on the first day of school, and do something he'd really love (e.g. he could go to computer camp or kayaking camp) but wouldn't move academically.

Which would you prioritize -- social or academic?

 

[design_mom]

Is it an "all or nothing" proposition? If the camps are run on a week-to-week basis, or even month-to-month, you might be able to sign him up at the academic camp for most of the summer, but still give him a little time to do something extra fun before he starts school. I think that would be the best of both worlds, if it's possible.

If I have to pick only one, I'd go with the academic camp based on the info you've provided. I think it's important for kids to have some fun in the summer, but even the academic camp is a "regular camp" for half the day. You didn't mention any social concerns about your son (trouble making friends, very shy, etc), so even if he doesn't meet any kids beforehand, I'm sure he'll make friends quickly. However, you did mention concerns about him being able to handle the academics of the new school, and I think being as prepared as possible to handle the curriculum will do a lot to boost his confidence once he gets there.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Is it an "all or nothing" proposition? If the camps are run on a week-to-week basis, or even month-to-month, you might be able to sign him up at the academic camp for most of the summer, but still give him a little time to do something extra fun before he starts school. I think that would be the best of both worlds, if it's possible.

If I have to pick only one, I'd go with the academic camp based on the info you've provided. I think it's important for kids to have some fun in the summer, but even the academic camp is a "regular camp" for half the day. You didn't mention any social concerns about your son (trouble making friends, very shy, etc), so even if he doesn't meet any kids beforehand, I'm sure he'll make friends quickly. However, you did mention concerns about him being able to handle the academics of the new school, and I think being as prepared as possible to handle the curriculum will do a lot to boost his confidence once he gets there.

The academic camp that I like the best for him is 6 weeks long. I like this because the kids pick the 4 novels they want to read and write about (each kid picks their own 4 novels) so if he's going to be working at least he can read fantasy which is what he loves. I think that would be more palatable for him. I think that having it be 6 weeks is probably right since I know the teacher will probably need some time to get to know him and where he is before they can really push him.

He will definitely go to a 3 week session of outdoorsy type camp in August. He's gone to this camp 4 years running and loves it and his best friend is going, so he will get some fun, and then he'll do something the last week. I will probably call his regular camp to see if they can cluster him with kids going to the same middle school -- they're good about things like that.

I'm not so worried about the quality of his academics, as I am about his stamina. The other day he was complaining that they had to write 2 "5 paragraph essays" in the past few weeks. I have a friend whose daughter goes to the middle school he's going to and in a typical week they might have a science lab and a science article to read and review, plus at least one longer writing assignment in social studies, English and reading. That's a huge jump.

 

[daisyduck123]

I would send my child to the "fun" camp. It's summertime, & kids need a break.

Not sure about your middle school but I'm an elementary teacher, & we tell parents that our elementary summer school program is in no way a program to "catch up" students who are behind or get the average student "ahead".

It is solely designed for "maintenance"...for those kids who would not do any reviewing/reading/skills practice at all during the summer.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I would send my child to the "fun" camp. It's summertime, & kids need a break.

Not sure about your middle school but I'm an elementary teacher, & we tell parents that our elementary summer school program is in no way a program to "catch up" students who are behind or get the average student "ahead".

It is solely designed for "maintenance"...for those kids who would not do any reviewing/reading/skills practice at all during the summer.

I'm actually an elementary school teacher too. I don't imagine that this program will catapult him into the gifted program or anything, but I want to get him used to writing every day, which it seems like they do at this program, so that middle school won't be such a shock. I'm hoping that going from reading and writing for 2 hours straight a day about something he loves (he's an avid reader of fantasy), to reading and writing for most of the day about things the teacher chooses, will be an easier jump than going from his current crunchy granola not very academic school straight to middle school.

Looking at the calendar, I seem to have gotten the dates wrong, which is good. It looks like I could do a summer that looks like this:

Weeks 1 "Camp" in the a.m., reading/writing for 2 hours in the p.m., then aftercare until I get off work.

Week 2 - 3 I'd be home, so he'd go to just the reading/writing portion and we'd go to the pool or whatever the rest of the time.

Week 4 -5 Back to "Camp" and reading/writing and aftercare combo.

Week 6 - 7 Computer/tennis camp (This is what he requested, it turns out he can squeeze it in, if he goes to the one by my work and not the campus by the middle school. So he'd get the computers he wants but not the new friends I want for him).

Week 8 - 11 His Beloved outdoor camp -- kayaking, rock climbing, etc . . .

Week 12 - Some kind of camp, hopefully in the new neighborhood. Not sure what I can find because that week is tricky. Alternatively, stay with Grandma.