Aloha Parents,

As I walked through the classrooms this week.  Evidence of fall was  everywhere.  Students writing about the fall season, buddy classes were working together, students were learning to identify their numbers and students were sharing their optional math projects.  Students and teachers were busily working.  This is a busy time of year.  The beginning of the first holiday.  Energy is high and the rush is here.  

Although the rush is here, we need to savor each moment and create new ones with our children, family and friends.  As we end this month and move into November.. I would like us to focus on the Springer Thing…  Positive: I am upbeat.    Take a look at this video with your child. Motivational Video

Reading Corner:        Check out these read-aloud favorites

Memoirs of a Goldfish

A goldfish’s life isn’t very exciting—or is it? In this story, a fish describes its days swimming

around in circles, meeting new neighbors, moving to a different bowl, and eventually making friends. An unusual “memoir” by Devin Scillian.

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You

John Ciardi’s volume of poetry is designed to be passed back and forth between parent and child. The 35 poems alternate between harder and easier so that you and your youngster can take turns reading them aloud to each other. Enjoy silly verses about the dreams of Arvin Marvin Lillisbee Fitch, the dangers of looking closely at shark teeth, and more.

Math Corner:

Check out Figure This Out!  

It is a website helping familiies enjoy mathematics outside of school.  Have a blast.

Mindfulness Corner:

Be mindful of time.  

PUT YOUR CHILD ON A ‘MEDIA DIET,’ SAYS EXPERT PEDIATRIC PANEL

Full article

There has been extensive coverage of the topic on NPR and other news outlets in the past few days. I like the Newsweek article linked above - it gives a great summary and age-based  recommendations, and also links to resources to develop a ‘personalized family plan for reasonable, healthy usage.  They assert that children’s internet use is something that should be closely monitored and caution “...this is not an area for ‘free range’ parenting.”

AMC Math Competition Opportunity

The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice competition exam for middle school math students, done without calculators. Although the AMC 8 is geared toward middle school, a student at any age that they and their parent/teacher/mentor believes them to be ready respectively can participate in the AMC 8.  Students as young as 8 have participated in the AMC contests, but this competition is entirely optional.  In the past as the 6th grade math teacher at Loyola I have administered the test to 4-6th grade students.  The competition is run by the Mathematical Association of America who score the test.  The MAA AMC office will begin emailing official scores and reports in early to mid-December following the AMC 8 in late November. The email reports go out roughly in the order in which they receive them from schools. Processing and reporting from start to finish takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

Here’s  a link to a sample question.

Website:
AMC 8 Sign Up

We will be offering to proctor the assessment above on Tuesday, November 15 at 3:00. If you and your child would like to sign up, please click here.
 

Buzzz… Did you know Mrs. Boskie has been in education for 28 years…

Lynn Boskie, Principal