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MAP PRACTICE SITES

Our MAP Spring Testing Session is around the corner! Once again, we would like to remind you of the following links that your child(ren) can benefit from as additional practice in Reading, Language Usage and Math.

For reading, look at your child’s RIT range by goal strand for Fall 2012. Use these numbers to select appropriate activities under each goal area. This website is aligned to Minnesota standards, so there are some discrepancies in the categorizing. Our suggestion for finding comprehension activities is to use the overall RIT score for reading.

            Website Wording                                                        MAP Wording

Word Recognition, Analysis, and Vocabulary            

Word Analysis and Vocabulary

Comprehension: Narrative                                          Literal, Interpretive, and Evaluative Comprehension

Comprehension: Informational                                   Literal, Interpretive, and Evaluative Comprehension

            Literature                                                                    

             Literature Response/Analysis

Here is the reading website:

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm

For math, look at your child’s RIT range by goal strand for Fall 2012. Use these numbers to select appropriate activities under each goal area. For example, if your child’s RIT range for Geometry is 175-190, you would go to the click on the 171-180 and 181-190 links under Geometry and Measurement in order for find activities at your child’s level. Since Geometry and Measurement are grouped together, you would be looking for geometry skills, such as shapes.

            Website Wording                                            MAP Wording

            Number and Operation                                   Computation and Number Sense

            Geometry and Measurement                          Geometry and Measurement 

Data Analysis                                                  Statistics and Probability

            Algebra                                                            Algebraic Concepts

Here is the math website:

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/

We know that parent support and at-home practice are essential for student success. We hope you find these resources useful. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any additional questions.

RAISE INDEPENDENT AND RESPONSIBLE CHILDREN

As parents, we need to start helping our children become competent in the world. To do so, you have to learn to step back and let your child take risks, make choices, solve problems and stick with what they start.

Let your child take healthy risks

Force yourself to stand back while your child takes a healthy risk. To build confidence in the world, children have to take chances, make choices and take responsibility for them. Parents trying to rescue their children from failure all the time does more harm than good.

Let your children make their own choices

When kids make their own age-appropriate choices, they feel more powerful. This teaches children as young as two can start considering the consequences of their decisions. Age appropriate is the key term here. Adult decisions must be left for the adults.

Let them help around the house

In building self-esteem, children also need opportunities to demonstrate their competence and feel that their contribution is valuable. At home, that means asking them, even when they’re toddlers, to help with cooking, setting the table and making beds. House chores teach a powerful lesson about collaboration and responsibility.

Set goals

Teach your kids to work towards a goal and to have pride in their accomplishments. Provide them with opportunities for success.

Try, try again

Encourage your children to try things their own way, face challenges and take risks.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD IN THE LAST PART OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

As we come back from the Semana Santa / Easter Break, we enter the last part of the school year. There is still much to do, and we will all be very busy. The warm weather that is characteristic of this time of the year can be distracting, but year-end learning is critical. With three smart tips, parents can help children wrap the grade with an academic edge.

1. Reassess the requirements - meet with the teacher to see what work remains to be done. Clear up confusion over missing grades and incomplete past-due work, even if there’s a penalty. Later learning builds on early lessons, and all course concepts may be covered on final exams.

2. Make a plan - check your child’s notebooks and folders to stay on top of things. Reorganize. Put notes in order. Get a bigger notebook if needed. Stock up on pencils, erasers, paper, printer ink or any other school supplies that are needed.  Organize homework time. Experts recommend students focus on a task for no more than 45 minutes before taking a break – younger learners need even shorter sessions. Downtime allows the brain to consolidate learning and re-energize.

 

3. Ease anxiety - Maintain a healthy sleep schedule and sustain energy with nutritious food. Start children off with a protein-packed breakfast and plan healthy snacks every two or three hours throughout the day. Brain work burns fuel. Remind your child of his/her strengths. Boost their self-confidence. Star students use their academic talents to overcome (or compensate for) weaknesses.

Now is the time to take and deep breath and remember: help your children finish this school year strong!