Education Corner: ‘Magic 4’ for lifelong learning

Kids should try to read every day, but reading for 30 minutes every day may not be realistic for all children. Some kids love to read, and 30 minutes is nothing, but for others, it may feel like an eternity. During the summer, kids can use their reading skills in everyday life. Having them read a note, a comic, an article, or even an ad will help reinforce their reading development. This is a time to let them experience using their reading skills in many different contexts.

Similarly, writing is a skill that can be honed in various ways. While crafting a story is a wonderful exercise, a simple note to someone can hold greater significance for both the child and the recipient. Whether it’s a handwritten note, a text, or an email, the act of writing offers the opportunity to practice penmanship and improve hand-eye coordination. It’s beneficial to encourage both forms of communication, inspiring children to find joy in writing.

Math is not a subject to be learned in school but a skill to be used in everyday life. There are numerous ways to incorporate math into our daily routines. It can be as simple as counting money or pretending to spend money from a catalog. Having children figure out the amount of money they need, whether in their heads or with pencil and paper, helps them develop the life skills they need. It’s not about completing a set number of problems but about understanding the value of math in their lives.

Finally, it is important to help them improve their memory. One of the easiest ways to do this is by encouraging them to tell you about something. It could be an event that occurred during the day or any experience. This helps them strengthen the pathways in their brain for memory recall. Just as our muscles need to be strengthened, our minds also need exercise for recall. Taking a few moments to have them share about a show or an experience they just had will help build memory recall that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

These four skills are simple tasks that can be done daily and will have a lifelong impact on your children. Take a moment at the end of the day and ask them: “What math did you do? What did you read? What did you write? — and you’ve just taken care of recalling something.” Enjoy passive learning.

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Scott Smith has been in education for the past 43 years. Smith currently lives with his wife in Mosier and serves on the Board of Decoding Dyslexia of Oregon