Maple Avenue
MIDDLE SCHOOL

       Mapletogian
   
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008


Maple Avenue middle school

515 Maple Avenue
Saratoga Springs,
New York, 12866


maple avenue phone

518-587-4551
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

 

The Mapletogian
September 2007

Volume 17   Number 1

Will the big kids be mean to me? Can I keep up with the homework? Will we get recess? These are just a few of the questions kids have when they start middle school. Don’t be surprised if your child is nervous about making the move from elementary school. It’s a big change.

Children sometimes worry that they won’t have time to play anymore or that they’ll get lost in their big new school. And they wonder whether the classes will be too hard or if the older students will pick on them. Who wouldn’t feel nervous? As a parent, you can make the change easier for your child. By taking a few simple steps before and after school starts, you can lay the foundation for a successful school year.

BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS
Tour the building. Your child will probably feel more confident in his new school if he knows where everything is. Try to visit the building together before school starts. If this isn’t possible, orientation night is probably a good time to take a tour. If your child’s school doesn’t have an orientation, you could call the school’s main office and arrange a visit. Check out the cafeteria, library, gym, bathrooms, and main office. Point out to your child how the classrooms are numbered. If you have your youngster’s class schedule, take it with you and find each of his classrooms together.

Meet the key people. Have your child meet each of her new teachers before classes start. Then, introduce her to the principal, assistant principal, school secretary,counselor, and nurse. Let her know that she can go to any of these adults if she has questions or needs help.

Know the schedule. In middle school, kids have to take more responsibility for themselves. They have to know their schedules and get to class and the school bus on time. You can help by taping a copy of your child’s class schedule inside his locker, where he can check it whenever he needs to. Tip: Keep a copy at home, too, so you’ll know where to find him during the school day. Together, find out when and where he has to catch the bus, and make a plan in case he misses it. Consider giving him a wristwatch to help him arrive on time.

Check out the locker. Lockers can be a major source of anxiety for new middle schoolers. Have your child practice opening and closing hers until it feels easy. Suggest writing the combination to the lock somewhere handy, like inside her book bag, in case she forgets it.

Mark the calendar. Get a copy of the school’s student handbook. It should have important dates in it, like holidays, grading periods, major school events, and parent-teacher conference days. Mark these on the calendar at home so you and your child can see what’s coming up.

DURING THE YEAR

Talk about academics. Middle school is a great time for kids to learn good study habits. Let your child know how important it is to keep up with homework. Talk about how doing well in school now can help him reach his goals later in life. Find a quiet, well-lit place for him to study at home. Then, figure out together what kind of study routine will work best for him. Hint: Teachers usually have good study tips to share.

Be organized. Your child will probably have more homework now that she’s in middle school. You can help her keep track of it by getting her a small planner or notebook to take to each class. Show her how to write down homework and other information, like test dates or class trips. She can check the planner before leaving school to make sure she brings home everything she needs.

Discuss behavior. Let your child know what behavior you expect from him in school. Examples: Be in class on time; be polite to teachers; pay attention. Be clear about consequences for unacceptable behavior. Is your child constantly late to class? Consider asking a teacher or hall monitor to escort him between classes for a day or two.

Get involved. Volunteering at your child’s school is a great idea. You’ll help the school, but just as important, your child will benefit. You’ll get to know her teachers and coaches and better understand what middle school is like for her. Here are some ways to get involved: Join the PTA or PTO; chaperone a field trip; attend school conferences; do paperwork for teachers; talk to a class about your job; or lend a hand with after-school programs.

Stay active. Growing kids need regular physical activity. But some middle schools no longer offer gym classes or even outdoor recess. If your middle schooler doesn’t have daily gym or recess, try to find other ways for him to get exercise. Look for after-school teams he can join or a nearby park where he can bike or skate. Bonus: Regular activity can help kids concentrate better in school.

 

Friends For Keeps

“Make new friends, but keep the old.” That saying is never more important than in middle school. Help your child keep a balance between the “old” and the “new” with these tips.

Look around. Notice classmates who sign up for the same activities as you do. Sharing interests is a great way to jump-start a conversation and spark a friendship.

Act friendly. Break the ice when meeting new people by making eye contact, saying hello fi rst, and asking questions.

Introductions, please. Think of something your new and old friends have in common. For example, say they like the same music. Invite all of them over to get to know each other, and play that music.

Note: Encourage healthy friendships by asking your child what she admires about her friends. Knowing those traits can help her form new friendships and appreciate old ones.

Safe online

The Internet can be an exciting experience that broadens your child’s world. Unfortunately, it can be dangerous too. Keep your child safe with these ground rules:

1. Put the computer in plain view (family room or kitchen) so you can monitor your child while she’s online. Post Internet rules nearby. Example: Use only after homework is done, only when a parent is home, and no more than 30 minutes a day.

2. Make sure your middle grader never posts pictures of herself online or gives out her name, age, address, phone number, city, school, or any other personal information. Also, insist that she never arrange a meeting with someone she meets onmthe Internet.

3. Keep an eye on chat rooms by asking your child what she and her friends are talking about. Encourage her to tell you if something online makes her uncomfortable, and let her know not to respond to online bullying or rude messages. If she receives inappropriate messages, report them to your online provider — and tell her you are doing so.

September Events (from the teacherscorner.net)

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

 

     1
Mary Had A Little Lamb Published Published in 1830.


Word War II began, 1939 		2
National Blueberry Popsicle Day

U.S. Treasury Dept. Established, 1789

3
Aliki (Aliki Brandenberg)

Barkley the Dog's Birthday Sesame (Street Character)

Skyscraper Day

Uncle Sam's Birthday Uncle Sam's image was first use on this day in 1813.

Treaty of Paris Signed, 1763 		4
Syd Hoff

Newspaper Carrier Day

Labor Day


 		5
National Cheese Pizza Day

First Continental Congress Convened, 1774
6
Read a Book Day


Pilgrims set sail from Plymouth, England, 1620

7
Grandma Moses, painter, 1860
8
Jack Prelutsky

International Literacy Day

King Richard the Lion-Hearted, 1157
9
Aileen Fisher

Teddy Bear Day


California became the 31st state in 1850
10
 Swap Ideas Day

National Grandparents Day

In 1846, Elias Howe patented the sewing machine.

11
 Make Your Bed Day

World Trade Center attack in 2001

O. Henry, writer, 1862 		12
 National Chocolate Milk Shake Day

Jesse Owens, Olympian, 1913 		13
 Roald Dahl

Else Minarik

National Peanut Day

Positive Thinking Day

Scooby Doo's Birthday First cartoon debuted.

Milton Hershey		 14
 John Steptoe



Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" in 1814 		15
 Robert McCloskey

Tomie dePaola

Make A Hat Day

National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins September 15 and ends October 15		 16
 Collect Rocks Day

Mayflower Day

El Grito de Independencia Mexican Independence Day

Stepfamily Day
17
 Citizenship Day

Arthur Rackham

National Apple Dumpling Day

In 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed. 		18
National Play-Doh Day

The New York Times was first published in 1851 		19
 Slimey the Worm's Birthday Sesame Street Character.

Poet John Keats Wrote "To Autumn" in 1819. 		20
 First Railroad Station Opened

In 1519, Magellan started his search for the Spice Islands

21
 Taro Tashima



Miniature Golf Day

World Gratitude Day

International Peace Day

H.G. Wells, author, 1866 		22
 First Day of Autumn

Esphyr Slobodkina

Band-Aid Invented In 1920

Dear Diary Day

Elephant Appreciation Day

Ice Cream Cone Invented In 1903.

U.S. Post Office Opened In 1789.		 23
 Rosh Hashanah

24
 First Toy Store Opened



National Bluebird of Happiness Day

Good Neighbor Day (4th Sunday)

The Supreme Court was established in 1789.

25
Mary Poppins Debuted

Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513 		26
Johnny Appleseed John Chapman born in 1774.

27
Bernard Waber



Crush A Can Day

First Steam LocomotiveThe first public railway was the Stockton and Darlington Railway, whose first run took place on Tuesday, September 27, 1825.		 28
First Airport Opened

Native American Day

William the Conqueror Invaded England, 1066 		29
Stanley Berenstain

The U.S. Army was established in 1789

Telly Monster's Birthday Sesame Street Character.		 30
Edgar d'Aulaire Alvin Tresselt

Safety Pin Invented

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mapletogian
October 2007

Volume 17   Number 2


Happy Halloween!!
 

Figure It Out
Encourage scientific thinking by tapping into your child’s natural curiosity. Ask her how something electronic works (an iPod or a computer, for example). If she has an idea, let her explain her theory. If not, invite her to guess. Then, have her browse the Web to fi nd the answers.

Offer to Help
Kids can be reluctant to ask their parents for help. If you notice your child struggling, make a suggestion. Example: “Want to talk about ideas for the science fair?” That may be just the ticket to get him thinking!

Sleep Solution
Most middle graders need 10 hours of sleep each night. But winding down can be hard for them. Suggest that your child relax before bed by reading, doing a crossword puzzle, or drawing a picture. Calm activities can help prepare his mind to rest.

Worth quoting
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

Q & A Everyday Reasons To Read
■Q My child reads only what she’s assigned for homework. How can I get her to read more?

■A There are simple ways to encourage daily reading in your middle grader. Ask relatives and family friends to give your child books as gifts. Suggest topics (space travel, horses) that interest her so she’s more likely to read the books.

Try sending your child an e-mail to get her reading about an upcoming event. Example: “This is the weekend we’re going camping. Take a look at this Web site I found about cooking over a campfire…”Use newspapers and magazines to grab your middle grader’s attention.

Find items that tie into her interests. Then, leave them on the kitchen table with a sticky note: “Look at this great article on Arabian horses!”

Egyptian Math  http://discoveringegypt.com/numbers.htm
Shake things up a bit and ask your students to consider numbers from a different point of view. This site offers an overview of the Egyptian decimal system and number hieroglyphics accompanied by a worksheet or two. Find other information on ancient Egypt as well.

 

 

 

Daylight Saving Time  by Evan Fournier

Ever wonder why we set our clocks ahead an hour in the Spring and back an hour in the Fall?  The main reason is to make better use of daylight.  Also, it has been found that Daylight Saving Time saves energy. Studies done by the U.S. Department of Transportation showed that Daylight Saving Time reduces the country's electricity usage by a small but significant amount, about one percent each day, because less electricity is used for lighting and appliances.

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, in an essay called, "An Economical Project."

The plan was formally adopted in the US “An Act to preserve daylight and provide standard time for the United States” on March 19, 1918.  This didn’t last long.  After World War I, it was discontinued because it was an unpopular law.  During World War II, different versions were put into use.  Between 1945 and 1966, there was no federal law for Daylight Saving Time.  States were free to choose whether or not to observe Daylight Saving Time and could choose when in the year it began and ended.  This caused too much confusion. 

So, on April 12, 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was signed into Public Law by President Lyndon Johnson.  Daylight Saving Time was to begin on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. Any State that wanted to be exempt from Daylight Saving Time could do so by passing a state law.

Finally, under legislation enacted in 1986, Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. began at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ended at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.

This lasted until August 8, 2005, when President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S.  Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress has retained the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete.

Do all US states and its territories observe Daylight Saving Time?  No, it is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona .

Today, approximately 70 countries DO observe Daylight Saving Time in at least a portion of the country. Japan, India, and China are the only major industrialized countries that do not observe some form of daylight saving.

Maple Avenue Middle School Participates In
Red Ribbon Week

October 23-31, 2006
 

The Story Behind the Symbol

Enrique (Kiki) CamarenaEnrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a  difference. 

Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it.  "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference." 

The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch.  Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death. 

In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory,  the red ribbon. 

The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children.

In 1997, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse began committing resources to ensure the continuation of the Red Ribbon Campaign in Texas, as well as the hopes and beliefs behind this grassroots effort to protect children from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. 

 

 

 

 

The History of Halloween

By Kathryn Slein

        The history of Halloween is very intriguing and you will find it is much different from the Halloween we know today.

          The word Halloween comes from “All Hallows Eve” a Christian Church holiday on November 1st.  It does no longer exist.

          The holiday Halloween, however, began in Celtic Ireland, in the Fifth Century BC. The holiday was called Samhain and was the Celtic New Year.

          A Celtic story says that day, October 31st; the people that died that past year came to search for humans to possess. On that day time stood still, so that the dead could come back to the world.

          That night, to stop the spirits, villagers dressed up in scary ghoul costumes, and paraded around the town, hoping to scare the evil spirits away.

          Some Celts would burn people at stake who they thought were possessed!

          The Romans took the Celts ideas about Halloween as their own in the 1st century AD. It was destroyed then and taken over by other Roman ideas. It also became more ceremonial, for people no longer believed in the “Spirit World”. Irish immigrants brought this holiday to America.

          Trick-or-treating started in England. On November 2nd, Christians would walk around their village, begging for mini “cakes”. They would then prayer for the lives of the souls taken the past year and for their safe passage to heaven.  They only prayed for the number of cakes they had gotten. Immigrants brought this to America and it was combined with the other Halloween and made into what we know today.

          Halloween was very different when it started; now it is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S.  Without those immigrants from England and Ireland, Halloween might not be what it is today, a popular, spooky holiday!

America's Rain Forests  A Distance Learning Adventure
http://rainforests.pwnet.org/

Take your students on a distance learning adventure to tropical and temperate rain forests during a live web cast and broadcast on October 14. Join experts on location in Puerto Rico and Alaska to learn about these important ecosystems, predator-prey relationships, the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, why rain forests are important, and the native cultures of Puerto Rico and Alaska. You can register through the site. 

This Month In History - October
Click on each day in this interactive teaching calendar to find related activities and information for each item in history.

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Homemade Cookies Day

World Vegetarian Day

Henry Ford Introduced the Model T - 1908

 

 2
Name Your Car Day

World Habitat Day
(1st Monday)

Peanuts Comic Strip First Published
In 1950.

 Yom Kippur		 3
Captain Kangaroo Day
The show first aired on this day in 1955.

SOS Established
Designated as international distress code in 1906. 		4
Robert Lawson

Donald Sobol

National Golf Day

Sputnik I Launched
The first space vehicle - launched in 1957.		 5
Gene Zion

Ray Kroc
Founder of McDonalds. Born in 1902. 		6
Crockett Johnson

 Thomas Edison Shows 1st Motion Picture
In 1889.

American Library Association Founded - 1876 		7
Alice Dalgliesh

American Bandstand Premiered
In 1957.

The rose became the U.S. National Flower - 1986
8
Edward Ormondroyd

J. Frank Duryea
Born in 1869. His brother, Charles, and him built and operated the first automobile in the US. He also won America's first automobile race.

The Great Chicago Fire started - 1871 		9
Columbus Day

First Two-Way Telephone Conversation
In 1876.

Leif Ericson Day

Moldy Cheese Day

The Count
Sesame Street Character. 		10
James Marshall

Henry Cavendish
Born in England in 1731.		 11
Eleanor Roosevelt
Born in born 1884.

First Steam-Powered Ferryboat Begins Operation
Name the "Juliana", began operation in 1811.		 12
Farmer's Day

Dia de la Raza (Mexico)

 		 13
Margaret Thatcher
Born in 1925.

First Aerial Photo in US
Taken from a balloon in Boston in 1860.

Molly Pitcher (Revolutionary War Heroine) - 1754 		14
Lois Lenski

Dwight David Eisenhower (34th President) - 1890

Grover
Sesame Street Character.
15
National Grouch Day

 National Poetry Day		 16
Dictionary Day

Noah Webster - 1758

World Food Day

Edward Ardizzone		 17
Black Poetry Day

San Francisco Earthquake - 1989		 18
Little Orphan Annie
Comic strip character, in 1922.

Mason-Dixon Line Established - 1767

Puerto Rico Became U.S. Colony
In 1898.		 19
Ed Emberley

 Star Spangled Banner First Sung
In 1814.

Thomas Edison Demonstrated Electric Light
Successfully in 1879.

Final battle of the Revolutionary War - 1781 		20
Sir James Chadwick (Discoverer of the Neutron) - 1891
 		 21
Guggenheim Museum Opens
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary art opened in New York City on October 21, 1959.

 
22
National Nut Day

Rosh Hashanah		 23
Marjorie Flack

Edison Pele
Brazilian soccer player, born in 1940.		 24
Bruno Munari

Betty Lou
Sesame Street Character.

National Bologna Day

United Nations Day

First Day of Ramadan		 25
National Denim Day

Pablo Picasso
Born in Spain in 1881.		 26
Leonard Kessler

Hilary Rodham Clinton Born
In 1947.

International Red Cross Organized
In Geneva, Switzerland in 1863.

Erie Canal Opened - 1825 		27
Theodore Roosevelt
Born in 1858.

 

 28
Plush Animal Lover's Day

Statue of Liberty Dedicated in 1886.
29
Stock Market Crash - 1929
 		 30
John Adams Born in 1735.

Emily Post (author) - 1873 		31
Halloween

Juliette Gordon Low Born in 1860, she was the woman who the started Girl Scouting in the United States in 1912.		        

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

The Mapletogian
November 2007

Volume 17   Number 3

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 minimumwage
job. Example: At $5.15 an
hour, a $45 baseball mitt would
mean almost 9 hours of work.

Needs or wants?
 Setting priorities can make life easier
for everyone. Suggest that your child
separate “needs” (studying, chores)
from “wants” (basketball tryouts,
going to the mall). If she understands
that needs come first, she’s
more apt to get them done so she
can move on to her wants.

Sign of trouble
A call from school that your middle
grader is cutting class could mean
something’s wrong. Does he understand the material? Is a friend encouraging him to skip? Talk to your child and his guidance counselor to help
get him back on the right path.

Worth quoting
“You can complain because roses
have thorns, or you can rejoice
because thorns have roses.”
Tom Wilson

Just for fun
Joe: Great news! The teacher said
we have a test today, come rain or
shine.
Sam: And what’s so great about
that?
Joe: It’ssnowing outside!

INTERACTIVE THANKSGIVING
 http://www.plimoth.org/OLC/index_js2.html

 Take a trip back in time to 1621, when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people came together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Your students will be the historians along with student
representative guides, as they discover what is myth and what is fact about that first Thanksgiving.

FRIENDLY LETTER TEMPLATE
 http://www.abcteach.com/Writing/FLinfo.htm
This student handout explains the basic parts of a friendly letter for elementary students, with examples of closings. A block fill-in template is also included.

STUDENT CHECKLIST OF COMMON ERRORS
 http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/
grammar/marking/alpha.htm
This list of common student writing errors reads much like a style manual and lists topics alphabetically for easy interaction. Students click on any particular area to review key concepts and access a tutorial on the subject.

DECIMAL, PERCENT, & FRACTION CHARTS
 http://www.brainegames.com/freepdfs/
DecimalFractionPercentCharts.pdf
Students can see at a glance how these decimals, percents, and fractions relate. All charts are printable; a minimally filled chart allows students to practice filling in all three versions: decimals, percentages, and fractions.

Letter From the Principal
Stuart F. Byrne, Principal

November 19, 2007

 Dear Parents/Guardians:

 Your child’s first report card for the 2007-2008 school year has been mailed home.  Hopefully the report card reinforces information you already have from observing your child’s progress on homework and tests taken during this marking period.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s guidance counselor or team to set up a conference.

 A number of Maple Avenue students have already taken part in various activities this year.  I would like to congratulate the students who took part in the Kaleidoscope Concert, and the members of the various sports teams for their successful seasons.

 Any parents or adults who would be interested in tutoring in our Teams of Two Program should call Roseann Jackling at 587-4551, Extension 2013.

 Please take note of the PTSO insert in this mailing.  The PTSO has provided many valuable opportunities to our students, especially in the area of Cultural Arts.  They are looking for and need your support and assistance.

 Also enclosed is a copy of “Firm, Fair & Consistent,” which contains articles I hope you will find interesting and useful.

 A list of upcoming events at Maple Avenue follows:    

            December 10           -     Grade 7 & 8 Chorus Concert, 7:30 p.m.

            December 12           -     PTSO, 7:00 p.m.

            December 12-18      -     Scholastic Book Fair

            December 13           -     Grade 6 Band, Grade 7 Jazz Band Concert, 7:30 p.m.

            December 17           -     Grade 7 Band, Grade 6 & 7 Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m.

      December 17           -     5-Week Marking Period Ends

      December 18           -     Grade 8 Band, Grade 8 Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Grade 8 Jazz Band Concert, 7:30 p.m.

            January 9                -     PTSO, 7:00 p.m.

            January 15-17          -     Grades 6-8 ELA Assessment

            January 23              -     Grade 6 Chorus Concert, 7:30 pm

            January 25              -     Second Quarter Ends

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,
Stuart F. Byrne

Principal

Hooray for homework!

Anthony has his eveningplanned. He’ll do his math homework before dinner,then follow up dessert with English and science.Afterward, he can unwind from a busy day. Sound impossible? It’s not. Help your child make homework go like clockwork with these strategies.

Think it through
 Before he begins, have your youngstermake a to-do list. Example: write a poem, read a history chapter, solve 10 math problems. Then, suggest that he number the tasks, from toughest to easiest, and start with the hard stuff. This “save the easiest for last” strategy will help him finish on a high note, perhaps inspiring him to get in some extra studying.

Think about time
Ask your child to consider different time slots he can use to get work done. For instance, maybe he could set aside a weekend morning or Sunday night.Also, many middle graders have time during study period or after lunch to tackle homework. Encourage your child to complete one assignment at school each day. The more he does then, themmore time he’ll have for fun later.

Think positive
Help your middle grader see homework as a chance to prove his independence by getting his work done on time and by himself. Boost his confidence by telling him, “Homework gives you a chance to show all that you know.” And give him a thumbs-up when he does just that.

Conference Time
Want to know how your middle grader is doing in school? Don’t wait for report cards! Attend parent-teacher conferences to stay connected to your child and her teacher. Try these ideas to make conferences more productive.

■ Write a list …about your child’s home life, habits, and hobbies. This information will help teachers understand your child better.

■ Stay friendly … but focused. Time is limited, so ask important questions (strengths, weaknesses, test skills), and keep small talk to a minimum.

■ Take notes … so you’ll remember what’s been covered. Then, you can report back to your middle grader and help her create a plan for success.

CREATE A STATE MAP
 http://members.aol.com/lisajg5222/maps/cstate.html

 Students will carefully follow directions to create their own state with this printable student worksheet on mapping skills.

A Survey of our Favorite Holidays

By Kathryn Slein

                   It’s that time of year again. Halloween just passed and Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming right around the corner. I went around the school today and asked people, “Which holiday is your favorite?” The choices were Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, or the best-seller, Christmas. The fruits of my search are showed below.

          Halloween              Easter                 Thanksgiving        Christmas

           10                            1                                 5                           59

The total people I surveyed are 75. A lot of people had a very hard time choosing between Halloween and Christmas. This might mean that those two are the most popular. In the results they are, but that may change if you do a larger scale survey. Why don’t you try and see if you get the same results? It’ll be fun to see it all come together, mark my words!

How Do You…? Starting New Pages

 You can choose two ways to start a new page in Word -- the horribly-wrong-yet-obvious way and the impressively neat way:
Horribly wrong: Keep pressing the Enter key until you see the row of dots that denotes the start of a new page. Yes, this technique works. But it's horribly wrong.
Impressively neat: Press Ctrl+Enter. Voila! New page.
Pressing Ctrl+Enter inserts a hard page break into your document, demanding that Word begin a new page On That Very Spot. This is the preferred way to start a new page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mapletogian
December 2007

Volume 17    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
Both blank and filled multiplication charts are available to download here, with multiplication up to twelve.

PLACE VALUE PUZZLER
http://www.funbrain.com/tens/index.html

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.

Needs or wants?

Setting priorities can make life easier for everyone. Suggest that your child separate “needs” (studying, chores) from “wants” (basketball tryouts, going to the mall). If she understands that needs come first, she’s more apt to get them done so she can move on to her wants.

Sign of trouble

A call from school that your middle grader is cutting class could mean something’s wrong. Does he understand the material? Is a friend encouraging him to skip? Talk to your child and his guidance counselor to help get him back on the right path.

 


 
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
          1
 Eat A Red Apple Day

 



 Rosa Park's Day, on this day in 1955 she refused to give up her seat.

World AIDS Day		 2
 David Macaulay

 



 National Fritters Day
Artist Georges Seurat, 1859
3
 International Day of the Disabled Person

 



National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

First successful heart transplant, 1967 		4
 Munro Leaf

 



 National Cookie Day

Wear Brown Shoes Day

Phonograph Invented, 1877 		5
 Walter Elias (Walt) Disney's Birthday Born in Chicago in 1901

 



Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955 		6
 Ira Gershwin's Birthday A Famous Composer born in 1896

 



 Mitten Tree Day

St. Nicholas Day

13th Amendment passed, abolishing slavery, 1865		 7
 National Cotton Candy Day

 



 Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day, 1941 		8
James Thurber

 



 National Brownie Day

Inventor Eli Whitney, 1765		 9
 Ball-Bearing Roller Skates Patented In 1884.

 



 First Christmas Seals Issued In 1907.
10
 Rumer Godden

 



 Human Rights Day

Emily Dickinson, 1830 		11
 National Noodle Ring Day

 



 UNICEF Anniversary Established in 1946.

Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, 1620		 12
Barbara Emberley

Golf Tee Patented

Hovercraft Patented

 Poinsettia Day

Marconi's radio signal crossed the Atlantic, 1901 		13
 National Cocoa Day

 



Susan B. Anthony dollar coined, 1970		 14
 First Miniature Golf Course Opened In 1929

 



 South Pole Discovered In 1911		 15
 Bill of Rights Day

 



 Phonograph Patented By Thomas Edison in 1877

Underdog Day		 16
 Hanukkah Begins at Sunset

Beethoven's BDay

 



Marie Hall Ets

Quentin Blake

Boston Tea Party Anniversary In 1773

Las Posadas

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
17
 Wright Brother's First Flight, 1903

 



 National Maple Syrup Day		 18
Wear a Plunger On Your Head Day

Baseball great Ty Cobb, 1886 		19
 Eve Bunting

 



 Oatmeal Muffin Day

Dickens' A Christmas Carol published, 1843		 20
 Games Day

Electric Light demonstrated, 1879

 

 21
 First Day of Winter

 



 First Crossword Puzzle in a Newspaper

Humbug Day

Look at the Bright Side Day

National Flashlight Day		 22
First Christmas Lights for Sale In 1882

 



 Thermometer Was Invented

U.S. Golf Association Founded, 1894		 23
 Roots Day

Federal Reserve System established, 1913

 
24
Christmas Eve

 



 National Egg Nog Day

Apollo 8 reached the moon, 1968		 25
 Christmas

 



 National Pumpkin Pie Day		 26
Boxing Day

 



 Kwanzaa Begins

National Whiners Day		 27
Ingri d'Aulaire

 



Visit the Zoo Day

World Bank created, 1945 		28
 Card Playing Day

 



 Chewing Gum Patented In 1869

Iowa became the 29th state, 1846

National Chocolate Day		 29
Texas became the 28th state, 1845 		30
Author Rudyard Kipling, 1865
31
 New Year's Eve

Artist Henri Matisse, 1869		            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mapletogian
January  2008

Volume 17   Number 5

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In the news

To spark your child’s interest in current events, watch the news on TV together, or listen to radio broadcasts while in the car. Try to tie something you hear to what she is learning in school. “I can’t believe how much it’s raining in California. Weren’t you just learning about weather patterns in science?”

Manners, please

Teaching your child to treat others respectfully can be a daily event. Simple gestures, like letting someone go fi rst at the store or helping an older person with her coat, set a good example. And these everyday lessons help youngsters learn the golden rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

Growing up

As hormone levels rise in middle graders, their bodies start to grow rapidly. But not everything grows equally, which can lead to big feet or gangly arms. Remind your child that body parts will balance out by adulthood. For now, help him focus on this — growth spurts show he’s growing up!

Worth quoting

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” William James

Report card alert

Report cards are useful learning tools. They help measure your child’s progress, and they shed light on areas that need improvement. But there’s one thing they shouldn’t be: a surprise. Stay on top of your middle grader’s pro gress with these tips.

Watch grades. Check grades online if your school offers this option. Also, look through your child’s binder for marked quizzes and homework. Keeping up will let you celebrate success or catch a falling grade.

Know assignments. List test and project dates on a family calendar. That will remind you to see how your middle grader did on each one.

Ask questions. If grades are dropping, ask your youngster to explain. Did he miss assignments? Does he understand the material?

Note: If your child’s grades are good, be sure to praise him!

Notes From the Kitchen

Judi Martone
Cook/Manager, Greenfield Elementary

     Can you name the only food that is listed in the USDA's MyPyramid twice? Let me give you some hints. It's listed as a vegetable and a protein, it's low in fat and high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and you've probably noticed this super food on our lunch menu more frequently. If you guessed beans you were right! Recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a full 3 cups of beans a week. New research has found that diets including beans may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. One serving of beans (1/2 cup) provides 20% of your daily fiber needs. For those on a diet this is important because fiber helps you feel full after a meal. One serving also provides a good dose of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, iron and magnesium.

     If you want to incorporate more beans into your diet, try these ideas.

        Top your salad with garbanzo or kidney beans

        Add black beans to store bought salsa for dipping

        Stir a can of pinto beans into pasta sauce

       Saute black beans with veggies, put into a soft tortilla, top with cheese and roll up.

Remember that canned beans do contain a good amount of salt. Drain and rinse them before using or prepare dry bagged beans. For a good meatless men for Lent and try this idea.

     Saute one onion in a small amount of olive oil. Add as much pressed garlic as you enjoy (I use 2-3 cloves) and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Chop 1-2 bunches of broccoli rabe and add to the pan with 1/2 to 1 cup water or vegetable stock. When rabe is wilted, add one can of drained white beans and heat. This is a great side dish topped with fresh Parmesan cheese or turn it into a whole meal by adding small whole wheat shells and serve with crusty Italian bread.

     Any way you add beans to your diet will benefit you and your children. Try them. You just might like them.

“This year I will …”

Tips for a great year

Help your child make 2008 the best year ever! Encourage him to put learning first as he sets his New Year’s resolu tions. Suggest that he …

Keep up
“I will complete assign ments on time.” Idea: Have your child make a stack of “To Do” sheets with dates at the top and a numbered list of lines underneath. Each day he can cross off items as he completes them. Your middle grader will feel a sense of accomplishment daily and more in control of his schoolwork — and his life.

Get help
“I will ask for extra help when I need it.” Idea: If your child doesn’t under stand a math unit or falls behind in social studies, remind him to seek help right away. Middle school teachers are usually available before school, during study period, or after school. Going to them will not only get your youngster on track, it will also show his teachers that he cares.

Reach out
“I will try something new.” Idea: Suggest that your youngster join a club or pursue a new interest in school. Does he like school plays? Encourage him to try out for the next one. Is he interested in technology? Maybe the computer lab could use a hand. Trying new things will help your child expand his knowledge — and build confidence at the same time.

Deciding on discipline

 There are many things easier than disciplining a middle grader. But there aren’t many that are more important. Try these strategies to help your child continue learning right from wrong as she grows older.

● Be clear. Explain the rules — and the consequences for breaking them — in advance. Example: “Your bike goes in the garage. If you leave it in the middle of the driveway, you’ll lose it for a day.” This system lets your middle grader know that she’s in charge of her behavior.