How to Tackle Learning Gaps with Educational Games
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Education.com. I only share products I genuinely recommend.
Summer is supposed to be a break. And I mean that. We need it. The kids need it. Our brains need the breathing room. I know that some people like to homeschool year-round, but that’s not the case for our family.
However, there are two things that I think are important to acknowledge. Firstly, we need some structure. The days get wild otherwise.
Secondly, summer is the ideal time to tackle learning gaps that you’ve identified.
So, how do you do both of those things without making a whole bunch more work for yourself?
My friends, let me introduce you to the wonderful tool that is Education.com.
How to Use Educational Games to Tackle Learning Gaps this Summer
I know, this post is supposed to be about educational games, and we’ll get to that, but I want to share a bit of general information about this glorious resource first.
What Is Education.com?
Everything in one place. That’s one of my favourite things about it. I am time poor, so I really value things that allow me to do the things I need to without using up a chunk of my precious time.
Education.com has over 40,000 resources. Worksheets, learning games, lesson plans, hands-on activities. Pre-K through 8th grade. All in one library.
What I love most is that I can go in and search by grade level, subject, and skill. So if I know my fourth grader needs work on reading comprehension, I can pull a set of grade-specific worksheets designed by educators. If my youngest needs something more visual and game-based because sitting with a worksheet isn’t going to happen today, there are interactive learning games for that, too.
I don’t have to piece it together from five different websites. It’s all there.
How We Actually Use It
Our summer days are not overly structured. We sleep in. We read for fun. We do things that have nothing to do with academics. But several days a week, I do require a little school. It’s quick and basic, but it keeps everyone on track. Just working on one area that I noticed needed some attention.
The thing is, it doesn’t feel like school, because we can use games!
We live in the Southern Hemisphere, which means our summer break is at the same time as Christmas and New Year’s. That makes it an incredibly busy time of year. We need to keep things focused and enjoyable.
I really like using games to do that. The weather is hot out, and I don’t mind my kids coming in at the hottest part of the day to sit and do some learning through games.
This keeps it light and fun, while still getting the job done. It’s also a novelty, because we don’t tend to use games so much during the rest of the year.
Why It Works for Targeting Learning Gaps Specifically
When you’re trying to shore up a specific skill, you need focused practice. You don’t need a full curriculum. You need the right kind of repetition at the right level without it feeling like a chore.
Education.com does that well because the resources are skill-based and grade-specific. I can find specific educational games that target the set of skills my child needs to work on, and have them play those each day. There’s no hunting around trying to figure out if something is pitched at the right level.
For homeschool families, especially, where kids often learn at different rates and may be ahead in one area and behind in another, that’s very helpful. You can go above or below grade level without any awkwardness. You just search for what you need and use it.
Good for Road Trips Too
If you travel in the car for hours or wait in airports, Education.com’s learning games are a great option. The kids can play on a tablet and stay engaged without you pulling out a stack of workbooks. It’s educational screen time they’re enjoying.
Avoid the Summer Slide
Another great way to use Education.com is to keep skills fresh. Maybe you don’t need to focus so much on gaps, but simply on retention. You can grab all the resources you need to keep up the practice your child requires.
However, because it’s different from their typical curriculum, it’ll feel fresh and fun. You’re not dumping a huge workload on them.
What You Want to Know
Right now, you can get 55% off an Education.com Premium Membership with code EDCOM55.
That gives you unlimited access to the full library of 40,000+ resources for Pre-K through 8th grade. Worksheets, lesson plans, learning games, activities. Everything.
Grab the deal here and use code EDCOM55 at checkout.
Final Thoughts
What your summer looks like is going to be different from mine. I love tools that give every family the options and flexibility they need to create the homeschool days they want.
Summer doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. A little targeted practice a few times a week, using resources your kids will engage with, can make a real difference by the time autumn rolls around. Education.com makes it easy to show up for that without the prep work eating up your summer, too.
