The
history of Halloween is very intriguing and you will find it is much
different from the Halloween we know today.|
|
|
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mapletogian
| September 2009 |
| October 2009 |
| November 2009 |
| December 2009 |
| January 2010 |
| February 2010 |
| March 2010 |
| April 2010 |
| May 2010 |
| June 2010 |
|
|
Maple
Avenue MIDDLE SCHOOL |
Mapletogian |
|||||||||||||||
|
The Mapletogian is the school newspaper of Maple Avenue Middle School. It is a monthly publication that is designed by kids for kids and their families. If you have any information that you would like to see in the newspaper or you have any questions, feel free to mail to: The Mapletogian, c/o Maple Avenue Middle School, 515 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| November 2009 |
Volume 19 Number 3 |
|
CREATE A STATE MAP Students will carefully follow directions to create their own state with this printable student worksheet on mapping skills. |
| December 2008 |
Volume 18 Number 4 |
|
TEACHER AND STUDENT HELPERS INTERACTIVE WEEKLY CALENDAR http://www.printfree.com/Calendar_ Custom_Monthly/weeklyin.htm Both you and your students will appreciate this interactive weekly calendar. Put in your parameters for each day, then submit to print it out. MULTIPLICATION CHART http://www.brainegames.com/freepdfs/ MultiplicationBlankTble.pdf
http://www.brainegames.com/freepdfs/12timestable.pdf
PLACE
VALUE PUZZLER Choose from four different levels to correctly identify either place value (up to ten thousands one way, ten thousandths to the right of the decimal), or round off to the nearest hundredth, tenth, etc. in this interactive learning game. Money myth Does your child think money grows on trees? To help him appreciate the value of a dollar, have him divide the price of something he wants by how much he would earn at a minimum wage job. Example: At $5.15 an hour, a $45 baseball mitt would mean almost 9 hours of work. |
   |
  |
| January 2009 |
Volume 18 Number 5 |
|
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 2009 |
Volume 18 Number 6 |
|
Chores that score Turn household chores into a friendly competition by assigning points to each duty. Example:Unloading the dishwasher equals three points; taking out trash is worth five. Track family members’ progress. Each week’s high scorer gets a free pass from chores for one day the following week. Science projects Choosing a science fair project early will give your middle grader lots of time to conduct his experiment and prepare a presentation. He might make a potato battery or explore how fast goldfish breathe. Suggest that he look for ideas online (try www.freescience fairproject.com) or at the library (read A+ Science Fair Projects by Janice VanCleave).Impulse control Does your child think before she acts? Tell her to trust her instincts: if an impulse feels wrong, it probably is. Help her choose a “stop and think” signal. She might close her eyes briefly or touch her thumb to her finger while she asks herself, “Should I really share Megan’s secret?” Worth quoting “You cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.” Anonymous Just for fun Q: How does a biologist like tocommunicate? A: With a cell phone.
Help for underachievers You think your middle grader could do better in school if she would just apply herself. How do you know if she’s underachieving— and if so, what can you do? Your child may be an underachiever if her teachers say she doesn’t try, her grades reflect missing or incomplete work, or she doesn’t talk about school except to complain. Try these suggestions:
n Ask your youngster why she isn’t doing her best. Maybe thework is too hard or too easy, or she doesn’t see how it relates to “real life.” n Work on solutions. Meet with her counselor about switching to lower or higher classes. Share your own experiences (math skills help you make smartbuying decisions; science classes led to your career as a nurse). n Praise progress. Small rewards, such as a night of bowling or a sleepover withfriends, may encourage your child. Let her know that her hard work will pay off now and in the future. |
Homework: Whose work? Like an athlete or a musician, a student must practice her skills to stay sharp. Homework lets your child do just that, and it also shows teachers what she can do on her own. So where do parents come in? Keep roles clear with these tips for you and your middle schooler. Parents: ✔ Support your child by quizzing her on test material or listening to her ideas for papers.✔ Check daily to see that homework is complete. Read comments on graded work so you know how your middle grader is doing.✔ When your youngster is frustrated, suggest that she check her notes or textbook, call a classmate, or take a break. If she struggles with homework on a regular basis, get in touch with her teachers.✔ Take your middle schooler shopping for tools and supplies (graph paper, calculator, highlighters, rulers). When she has research to do, make sure she can get to the library.Students: ✔ Study every day. If you don’t have any homework, work on long-term assignments or review your notes.✔ Remember to take home all the materials you need (homework assignments, textbooks, worksheets).✔ If you miss or lose an assignment, call your school’s homework hotline or a classmate, or check the teacher’s Web site. Ask your teachers for help when you need it. Try approaching them between classes or before or after school.✔ Before beginning an assignment, read the directions carefully so you understand what to do. Write neatly, and turn everything in on time.Ways to go green To make a big impact on the environment, think small! Try these simple ideas to become an earth-friendly family and teach your child to respect the planet: 1. Save landfill space. Give unneeded household items (toys, furniture, books) and electronics (old computers, cell phones) away through www.freecycle.org. Or take items to donation sites at your community center or the Salvation Army.2. Reduce pollution by combining car trips. Walk, bike, or take public transportation when possible.3. Keep canvas tote bags in your car, and use them instead of plastic or paper bags when you shop.4. Conserve power. Unplug chargers for cell phones and iPods when they’re not in use. Turn off and unplug smallappliances and computers overnight—energy is spent even when they’re off.
Connected to school I went back to work full-time when my son started middle school. At first, I wasn’t sure I could still volunteer as I’d done when I stayed home. I called the school to ask about opportunities for working parents. The office secretary had quite a few suggestions. She said some parents serve on a welcome committee for new students, calling families at night to offer information and answer questions. Others work at the snack bar during home games, chaperone school dances, or help advisors with clubs and after-school activities. I thought the snack bar and welcome committee ideas sounded good for my new schedule, so I volunteered for both. I’ve gotten to know more families, and I’m glad I can still be an active part of my child’s school.
. |
| March 2009 |
Volume 18 Number 7 |
|
Short StopsGoodbye, bad habits Middle schoolers may start biting their nails or chewing on pencils without realizing it. These habits can be triggered by stress or boredom. Suggest that your child offer herself an incentive to quit. For instance, if she doesn’t bite her nails for two weeks, she might do home manicures with a friend. Standardized tests It’s important that all students be in school for standardized tests. Put the dates on your calendar so you don’t schedule appointments for your child that week. If he’s sick, check on makeup days. Also, be sure he gets a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast for test day (and every day!). Think summer Now is a good time to start thinking about summer plans. Encourage our child to list possibilities. She might come up with programs to attend, opportunities for volunteering, or places to visit. The brainstorming will get her thinking—and give her productive ways to spend her days. Worth quoting “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” Chinese proverb
|
Kindness: It’s contagious While getting off the school bus, Ethan sees Abby
trip and drop her books. He’s in a hurry to get home, but he stops
and helps her gather her belongings. Ethan performed a random act of
kindness—he did something thoughtful for another person just to be
nice. Encourage your child to be kind with these ideas. Model kind acts. Let your youngster see you hold the door forsomeone or motion another driver ahead of you in traffic. You might comment on how being considerate made you feel: “That woman was in a hurry. I’m glad we could help.” Chances are, your child will want to feel that way, too. Plan kind acts. Ask your middle grader to name 10 ways to show kindness, or have the whole family think of ideas together. Then, let everyone choose one to try. Examples: Weed a neighbor’s flower beds, take treats to animals in a shelter, share CDs with friends.Recognize kind acts. Attach an envelope to your refrigerator or bulletin board. When someone sees another family member act kindly, he can write a note about it (“Bryan helped Susie with her math homework”). Pull out the notes and read them aloud at dinner or during family meetings.
|
|
Family fun What’s more difficult as kids get older, but more important than ever? Spending time together as a family! Find ways to create strong family ties — and have fun at the same time — with these ideas.
Be creative Invite friends
|
|
What’s your style? Your child is studying Vikings. When asked to describe their daily lives, would she rather write about the topic, talk about it, or act out a skit? The answer is an indicator of your youngster’s “learning style”—the way she learns best. Share these suggestions to help her make the most of her strengths. 1. Visual (learns by seeing) Characteristics: Understands lessons better when material is written down. Takes good notes and likes sitting up front.Study tips: Color-code notes (write dates in red and people’s names in blue, for instance). Make outlines and flash cards. Draw graphs and charts.2. Auditory (learns by hearing) Characteristics: Remembers what the teacher says. May talk while writing.Study tips: Read notes out loud. Make up songs or rhymes to remember facts and formulas. Explain ideas to a parent or friend.3. Kinesthetic (learns by doing) Characteristics: May doodle in class. Enjoys hands-on projects (science experiments, arts and crafts).Study tips: Rewrite notes or type them on the computer. Take stretch breaks while studying. Use objects (pour water into measuring cups to explore fractions). |
| April 2009 |
Volume 18 Number 8 |
|
Family meals Want to boost your youngster’s grades while reducing the likelihood that he will drink or do drugs? Try eating together as a family. Research shows that family meals lead to parent-child connections that can reduce risky behavior and improve children’s self-esteem. Write dinnertime on your kitchen calendar so everyone knows it’s a priority. Cell phone etiquette Middle graders love their cell phones. Teach your child to be polite with hers by making sure she turns it off during movies and in restaurants. Also, encourage her to speak or text message only briefl y (to make plans or see what someone wants) when she’s with other people. Cell phone safety If your middle grader has a cell phone, make sure he sticks with these safety rules. He shouldn’t use his cell phone to talk or text-message while he’s crossing a street or biking. Also, you can set an example for your future driver by not using your cell phone when you’re behind the wheel. Computer expert Your child probably already knows a lot about computers. Boost his confidence by making him the family computer expert. When you need to install new software or add more memory, ask him for help. Tip:Encourage him to take a computer class at school or the library to increase his troubleshooting skills. Spring into extracurriculars School is more fun when kids get involved in extracurricular activities. From sports to the school musical, there’s bound to be something that your child will enjoy this season. Suggest that she choose one or two activities, and remind her to leave time for homework and studying.
Weekend learning Take advantage of free family time to make learning a shared adventure.
Here’s how:
n Play board games anytime, anywhere. You can enjoy them during a picnic in the park, a campout in your backyard, or a morning at a coffeehouse. Try Mastermind, checkers, or Scrabble to practice strategy and word skills.
Erasing math fears My son Carl was becoming anxious about math. He kept saying, “I’m no good at numbers.” I’ve always felt the same way, and I’d say so to comfort him. But then his test grades started dropping, and I approached his teacher for advice. It turns out that expressing doubt about my own math skills was giving him more reason to feel he couldn’t do well in math. Instead, Mrs. Coleman said, I should say things like, “I use math more often than I realized,” or, “Look—my checkbook balanced to the penny!” She also suggested that I remind Carl of the times he has succeeded with math, like when he memorized multiplication tables or mastered square roots. Now I try to stay positive. And guess what? Carl and I have decided we’re both better with numbers than we thought.
Recycling by Maddison Feeley
Do you have old
papers you want to get rid of? Are your draws stuffed with old
tests and homework? Feel the need to throw it all out?
STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!!! Why throw out your old papers
when you can do something better with them? By recycling you
get rid of your old papers, and help save the environment.
During 8th period on Wednesdays the recycling is
collected and brought to the recycling center. The old papers
are turned into new papers which can be used as new homework and
tests (not that we need any more of those). I interviewed
Veronica Zabala about her opinion on recycling. “I’m glad that
our school recycles and I think more schools should take action in
recycling too.” says Veronica. “We need to use both sides of
papers and use old homework for scrap papers.”
I think Veronica is right. I know most people try hard to make
a difference in the environment, but if we truly want to keep the
environment safe, everyone needs to participate. So don’t just
recycle at school, recycle at home, on vacation, or anywhere!!!
|
Musical Smarts
By Veronica Zabala Are you not happy with your grades? Have
you tried every after school and in-school help you can get? Well,
here’s another solution.
Studies have shown that children, who play a musical instrument,
usually have better academic grades. Don’t believe me? Here’s an
example. I happen to play the clarinet in school and piano outside
of school. In elementary school, I had a band lesson once a week. I
didn’t play the clarinet in fourth grade, so my grades were okay,
but I could have done a lot better. I played the clarinet in fifth
grade, and my grades were much better.
It’s kind of late now to
join the band or orchestra, but you could always get lessons outside
of school on whatever instrument you want. And if you get good
enough, you can try out for jazz band next year, or play in the high
school. So give music a try. You never know what you might learn.
Discipline that fits Just like children outgrow shoes, they also outgrow discipline strategies. Middle graders question authority more than younger children do, and they are growing more independent. How can you enforce limits for your changing tween? Try these ideas . Give explanations. If your middle grader understands the “why” behind a decision, she’ll be more likely to accept what you say. For example, if she asks to go to a friend’s house, you might say, “Let me call to be sure her mother will be home.” If you end up saying no, explain your reason: “Her mom’s not going to be home. I’m not comfortable with you and Annie being there without a parent.”Adjust consequences. Set consequences
that relate to the problem
and that matter to your child. For example, if she listens to music and ignores her homework, you might put away her MP3 player for the night. At the same time, try not to overdo it. She’s more apt to cooperate if you don’t set a punishment that’s out of line with her behavior (example: two weeks of being grounded for not doing the dishes).Follow through. You’ve bothagreed that if your child exceeds her television time, she can’t watch the next day. She watches an extra show. Instead of lecturing, let the consequences do the talking. Simply remind her, “No TV tomorrow.” If she argues, help her brainstorm ways she can keep from going over her time limit, like setting an alarm.
Web of learning News and discoveries. Books and stories. Opportunities to write. Where can your child find all of that — and more? In the vast cyberspace that makes up the Internet. Try these ideas to get your child using the computer for more than instant messaging! Get news flashes. Is your youngster fascinated by tornadoes and blizzards? Is she a basketball fanatic? Have her get regular news feeds that will fuel her interests. For instance, she can receive science updates from www.pbs .org/wgbh/nova/rss or sports news at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/rss/index. Note: Start by signing up for a free “news reader” at www.google.com/reader or www.newsgator.com.Download information. Your child can build knowledge and comprehension skills by listening to podcasts (recorded audio programs) on the computer or downloaded to an MP3 player. She’ll find many topics at sites like http://kids.learnoutloud or books to download at www.squidoo.com/child audiobook. She can even create her own podcasts to share with kids around the world at www.kid-cast.com.Write a blog. Encourage your middle grader to practice writing and reporting by launching a blog. She might post entries about her hobbies, favorite movies, or family activities. Responding to posted comments will help her work on her communication skills. Suggest www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com for setting up her free blog. Safety note: Monitor your child’s use of the Internet to make sure she visits safe sites and does not give out her name or other identifying information.
|
| May 2009 |
Volume 18 Number 9 |
|
A strong finish If your middle grader has spring fever, she may suddenly realize she hasn’t prepared for an upcoming exam or presentation. Let her know that she can still give it her best shot. Suggest that she list the steps needed to get ready. Using her planner, she can schedule them for the time she has left. Family entertainment Parents and kids can find common ground with music and TV. When your child mentions a song he likes, take time to listen with him. Then, introduce him to music you enjoyed at his age. Or watch a family-friendly reality show together. Each person can pick a favorite contestant to follow. Changing schedules Summer goes more smoothly if you start with a plan. Decide ahead of time what your youngster’s bedtime and curfew will be once school’s out. Keep in mind that middle graders need about nine hours of sleep a night. You’ll have fewer struggles if everyone knows what to expect. Worth quoting “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” Bonnie Blair Conference follow-up After a conference with your child’s teachers, follow up on points raised. You can make a list of goals with your middle grader. Then, check back with teachers in a few weeks. You’ll improve your youngster’s chances for success by keeping track of her progress. Spring fever When spring fever hits, the best cure can be to get outside. If your child spends some time enjoying the weather, chances are he’ll focus more on learning when he’s in school. Tip: Encourage your middle grader to free up his weekends for outdoor play by finishing assignments during the week. The other foot “You don’t know how it feels to have so much work to do!” Accept your child’s challenge, and switch places for a little while. Read her history textbook and do math problems, while she totals your monthly bills and learns to write checks. The experiment will help each of you understand the other’s responsibilities better. Worth quoting “The only true gift is a portion of yourself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanking teachers When my daughter Lisa was in elementary school, we always bought an end-of-year gift for her teacher. This year she has six teachers, so I wasn’t sure what to do. Lisa had the idea to make something for each one.That way, the gifts would be personal, and we wouldn’t spend a lot of money. She made a list of possibilities—baking cookies, making a scrapbook of the school year, writing a funny poem about the class, or creating bookmarks. Then, Lisa decided which gift to make for each teacher. She’s going to give cookies or homemade bookmarks to most of them. But she chose to make a scrapbook for her English teacher, who gave her extra help when she was struggling. Lisa is excited, and I know her teachers will feel appreciated.
|
Summer learning Summer vacation gives students a chance to relax and recharge for a new school year. But studies show that children can lose one to two months’ worth of skills during the break. Luckily, parents can help keep their middle graders learning all summer long with ideas like these. Read great books Encourage your child to start on summer reading right away. Library waiting lists for popular books can grow quickly, so have him sign up early for ones he wants to read. If he’s stuck for ideas, he can ask friends what they’ve enjoyed. Or suggest that he look online at Web sites such as www.book adventure.org or www.bookspot.com for best sellers, reviews, and book clubs.Explore how things work Does your youngster know how planes fly? He can find instructions for making paper airplanes at http://science howstuffworks.com. He and a friend might experiment with different designs and then hold a paper airplane contest. For explanations of how things like metal detectors, polarized sunglasses, and fax machines work, have him check out The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay.Discover your town Look for unusual, educational places to visit. You might tour a factory that makes interesting products (candy, glass). Find a list at www.factorytoursusa.com, or have your child call local plants to see if they offer tours. You can also ask your local chamber of commerce about historic sites in your town, such as battlefields and famous birthplaces. Get organized By the time they reach the middle years, most kids know which shirt they want to wear to school the next day. Finding it in their room, how ever, can be another story. Try these ways for getting your middle grader organized. She’ll be more pro duc tive and less stressed.Create habits. Help your child discover new ways to keep things straight. For instance, maybe she can’t find her shirt because she leaves dirty clothes in a heap on the fl oor or doesn’t put away clean clothes. Encourage her to keep a hamper in her room for dirty clothes and to get in the habit of put ting clean clothes away immediately. Once she gets used to new routines, staying organized will be easier.Plan for tomorrow. Suggest that your child get things in order for the next day. Every night after homework, she can create a checklist of items she needs to take with her (track uniform, glasses, trumpet for band practice). Have her leave the list by her back pack so she can double-check that she has every thing in the morning.Give a boost. Point out areas where your youngster is naturally organized. Example: “Your crafts table is always in order” or “I like how your CDs are stored.” You could even ask for her help in organizing your own CDs. Building on your child’s strengths can give her confidence to tackle other areas — such as that cluttered closet!Home alone after school My son will be too old this fall for the after-school day care we’ve been using. Can he stay home alone until I get off work at 6 p.m.? It depends on several things. First, check your
state’s laws about when children can be left alone and for how long. If your middle grader feels confident and you have trusted neighbors he can call in an emergency, you might do a trial run. Make rules about whether friends can visit and which appliances he may use. Tell him not to answer the phone or door unless he knows who’s there. And call periodically to check on him. If your trial run doesn’t work out or if you or your youngster feels uncomfortable about his being alone, consider other options. For instance, you might look into afterschool programs for older children at recreation centers or martial arts schools.
|
Throw a
party
