Ready, Set, SUMMER!

This summer I have big plans...  Elliot will be starting Kindergarten in the fall and I'm determined to have him as ready as I possibly can.  I also want to see Amelia's MAP scores go up in the fall.  Last summer I did ok; her scores went up a few points.  At least she didn't go down.

With 3 kids, I think the only way I'm going to save my sanity this summer is STRUCTURE!  I've always been a fly-by-the-seat of my pants kind of mom.  That is not going to work with 2 busy kids and a baby!  I'm hoping our schedule will help our behavior problems too!

I'm a very frugal, DIY mom.  Enter my pinterest addiction!  This is a conglomeration of several different pins I've seen.

First up, the Bucket List...After all, it is summer and there is much fun to be had!

Then the schedule...There are a few things the kids are required to do for at least 20 minutes each day.  The first is "practice."  This is a skill I will work on with the kids.  It could be math, sight words, phonics, shoe-tying, etc.  They must also read for at least 20 minutes each morning.  Then there is "home."  They must spend 20 minutes doing a chore (more on how we decide what they'll do another day).  The top left frame is the daily schedule, then we have a frame for each day of the week to write down activities and to-dos!

Finally, the Task lists.  Each time they accomplish a task, they get a reward.  This could be money, stickers, treat; whatever works for you.  I'll talk about what we're doing another day!

This project cost me under $10.  All the frames are from the dollar store, and the scrapbook paper and stickers I had on hand.  The best part is you can write on the glass with a dry erase marker so I don't have to waste paper for every day/week!

How are you keeping your kiddos busy this summer?