Fort Sam Houston Elementary

As we settle into these sunny summer weeks, I want to wish all of our students and families a wonderful, refreshing break! Summer is a very special time—a well-deserved opportunity to slow down, rest, and reset after a year of hard work and incredible growth.

While I want our students to fully embrace the chance to relax and play, it is also the perfect time to keep their minds active in fun, low-stress ways. Two of the best ways to do this are by diving into a fantastic book and turning learning into a game.

Whether you are reading together as a family or your child is reading independently, regular reading keeps comprehension skills sharp. Here are a few highly recommended titles to look for at your local library:

Pre-K through 2nd Grade

• "Fireworks" by Matthew Burgess (Illustrated by Cátia Chien)

  • The Vibe: A breathtaking 2026 Caldecott Medal winner. It perfectly captures the sensory magic of a hot summer day in the city as two siblings eagerly await a rooftop fireworks show.

• "Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe" by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced

  • The Vibe: An inspiring true story about a real-life blind scientist who studies space through sound waves. It’s a wonderful, intersectional STEM read.

• "The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt

  • The Vibe: Pure comedy. A box of crayons goes on strike and writes hilarious letters of protest to their owner, Duncan. It is an amazing read-aloud choice.

• "Knight Owl" by Christopher Denise

  • The Vibe: A beautifully illustrated, heartwarming tale of a tiny, clever owl who achieves his dream of becoming a knight and protects the castle using his wits.

3rd Grade through 5th Grade

• All the Blues in the Sky" by Renée Watson

  • The Vibe: The 2026 Newbery Medal winner. Written in alternating verse and prose, this is a beautifully sincere, hopeful story about a 13-year-old girl navigating friendship and grief.

• "The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli" by Karina Yan Glaser

  • The Vibe: A stunning fantasy adventure from the author of the beloved Vanderbeekers series. Perfect for kids who love world-building and high-stakes journeys.

• "The Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne

  • The Vibe: A staple for transitional readers. Siblings Jack and Annie travel through time and space, making this an ideal bridge into historical fiction and chapter books.

• "Dog Man" or "The Cartoonists Club" by Dav Pilkey / Raina Telgemeier

  • The Vibe: Graphic novels are fantastic for this age group. They boast incredible visual pacing that keeps even reluctant readers completely hooked while building vocabulary.

You don't need worksheets to practice math over the summer. If you have a box of dominoes at home, you have a powerhouse tool for math practice! Try these simple, engaging games:

Dice Games

• 1. Knock-Out! (Best for PK - 2nd)

  • Focus: Addition and number recognition.

  • How to Play: Choose a "Knock-out number" before starting (7 is a classic choice). Players take turns rolling two dice and adding the numbers together. If they roll the knock-out number, they are temporarily out or lose their points for that round. The player with the most successful regular additions wins.

  2. Block Out / Array Territory (Best for 3rd - 5th)

  • Focus: Multiplication and spatial awareness (arrays).

  • How to Play: You just need grid paper and two different colored markers. Player 1 rolls two dice (e.g., a 3 and a 4). They must draw a rectangle outline on the grid paper that is 3 squares by 4 squares ($3 \times 4$), color it in, and write "12" inside. Player 2 goes next. Play continues until the grid paper is completely filled and no more rectangles can fit. The person who claims the most grid squares wins!

  Domino Games

  3. Domino War (Best for PK - 2nd)

  • Focus: Counting, addition, and comparing values ("greater than/less than").

  • How to Play: Place all dominoes face down. Each player draws one domino.

    • For PK/K: Count the total number of dots. The player with the higher total keeps both dominoes.

    • For 1st/2nd: Turn it into an addition speed-race. The first person to correctly yell out the sum of their own domino dots wins the round.

  4. The Fraction Sandbox (Best for 3rd - 5th)

  • Focus: Fractions, identifying proper/improper fractions, and comparing values.

  • How to Play: Draw a horizontal fraction bar on a piece of paper. Each player draws a domino and places it vertically over the line (the top half is the numerator, the bottom half is the denominator).

  Finally, as the temperatures rise, please remember to stay safe during these hot summer days. Make sure our students are drinking plenty of water, wearing sunscreen, and taking frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning when playing outside.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Enjoy this beautiful time with your children, stay cool, and I cannot wait to see everyone back on campus, refreshed and ready to learn!

Warm regards,