SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Summer vacation. A time for kids to cut loose and enjoy weeks of freedom. And as studies have shown, to forget chunks of what they learned the year before. Even shorter breaks can erase some lessons.
A special program at San Diego Unified is helping keep kids stay sharp and excited about learning all year round, even during breaks. It's about making learning a fun, family affair.
In a classroom at Rosa Parks Elementary School in City Heights, 7-year-old students Melody and Isabella are getting some one-on-one attention with their lessons. The teachers in this case are Melody's grandmother and Isabella's mom.
"Everyday they have to read. Everyday they have homework to do," said Anna Gonzalez.
She and Maria Theresa Jaume are among a growing number of parents and guardians getting more involved with their kid's education through the "Family Engagement Department" at San Diego Unified.
"So, I now know how to ask her questions," says Gonzalez, "How to engage her with the reading and things like that."
"It solidifies the bond right," says Family Engagement Program manager Pamela King, "It shows kids that education is important."
King says the program was established in 2016, inviting families to become partners in their kid's education with tips on how to do it.
"You're reading a fiction book. You're learning about the characters but what are characters thinking? What's motivating the character? So, going a little deeper."
Organizers say it's about connecting with a child's curious nature. Making reading as fun as playtime, or as close as possible.
You can find out more about the family engagement program here.
