THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 

The end of the school year is just a couple of days away. Many students are looking forward to summer and two months free of lessons and tests. And yet this may be a bittersweet time for children who will miss teachers and friends. For some students, the end of the school year means saying lots of good-byes. Some of these are temporary, some more long-lasting. Endings are harder for some children than others.

While children may happily anticipate the summer--and feel relief knowing that the things they didn't like about the year are over--there's still an underlying awareness that life will never be quite the same again. For children who are changing schools, or saying good-bye to friends who are moving, the good-byes may be particularly meaningful.

The many celebrations that mark the end of the school year keep everyone busy with plays, graduations, and stepping-up ceremonies. Families are often preoccupied with end-of-year projects and plans for the summer. The excitement surrounding the end of a school year can sometimes ease the transition but may also distract kids from how it feels to say good-bye. It's important for parents to find ways to acknowledge, and even honor, the year-long bonds that their children formed during the many months of school.

A parent can help with end-of-year good-byes by

1.    encouraging kids to talk about their feelings--about what they'll remember and miss.

2.    helping your child write down some of the events that marked the year. What your child remembers most vividly may not be the big play or a major field trip, but a funny comment made by a classmate

3.    encouraging your child to get addresses of classmates to be able to stay in touch. If possible, take some photos of classmates and teachers--and of the classroom--before displays are dismantled.

Not all kids experience the end of the school year in the same way. Some are totally focused on what's next; they're glad to move on. However, most children need some understanding that in moving on there may be a sense of loss for what was ... and that's okay. Communicate with your child! Acknowledge his or her feelings. Saying good bye is a hard lesson to learn, but you may be there to help your child learn it effectively.

It has been a great year! Thank you for your continued support! 

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.

         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 are some good websites:
https://www.testprep-online.com/map-reading 
https://www.varsitytutors.com/map-practice-tests

https://www.nwea.org/blog/2014/9-tools-use-map/

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 are two great math websites:
https://www.khanacademy.org/mappers

https://www.varsitytutors.com/map-practice-tests

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.

DISCOVERY SCHOOL PRIDE!

The Knowledge Review Magazine, an online educational magazine, talks about Educational Institutions throughout the world, their courses & polices, educational technologies,  innovators and their success stories; and most importantly, strategies & tools to prepare today’s students for tomorrow.

It is with enormous pride that we share that in their January 2019 edition, DISCOVERY SCHOOL was showcased in a 4-page article as one of the 10 Best Latin American Schools! This recognition is the fruit of the dedicated work of our teachers, parents and students throughout many years! #GoWolves!

If you have not yet read the complete article (and shared it with your family and friends) please do so! This is definitely worth bragging about!!!!

http://magazine.theknowledgereview.com/The-10-Best-International-Schools-In-Latin-America-2019-January2019/#page=56

    

The Early Childhood and Elementary are pleased to announce their annual, but upgraded,
Dr. Seuss’ Read A Thon, which will take place throughout the month of
March (March 4-29). The Elementary’s goal is for each student to read as
many books as possible throughout this month.

How does the New Read -A- Thon work?

Every time the student finishes a book the student must choose one activity
from the chart below, and present that activity to the teacher.

Do not forget to mention the title and author of the book you read.

These are short activities, they are not elaborate. (We want to make sure that
you actually read the book and understood what you read).

How can you present the activities?

• You can send your teacher a short video explaining one of the following activities below.
• You can conference with your teacher, explaining one of the following activities below.
• You may also present your book activity to the class.

Every time a book is read and signed off by your teacher, a sticker will be
added to a Ten Frame. For every 10 books, Dr. Seuss gets another stripe on
his hat.

Activity Choices: (The activities may be repeated).

Write a 2-3 paragraph letter to your favorite character in the book.	Tell us 3 - 5 new things you learned (Non-Fiction Books)	Write or videotape a book review stating your opinion of the book and the reasons for it.	Create a digital poster, or other advertising the book.	Draw your favorite part and share it, writing a small caption on why you chose that part.
Write an original poem or song about the book.	Share some interesting facts about the author of the book	Compare and Contrast two books by the same author	Convince another person to read your book	Think of another cool activity for your teacher to OK.

THE HOT SEASON HAS BEGUN EARLY THIS YEAR! 

We must be all wondering why is it so hot, hot, hot!?!?!?!? And by the looks of it, it will not get cooler any time soon! 

As we all know, hot weather tends to slow our children down, and often gets hem in a bad mood. It is up to us to keep them hydrated, and maybe even cheer them up in the process.

Whether it is to pack in their lunch box or to treat them after school while working on homework, here are some ideas for cool and refreshing snacks.

1.     Frozen Grapes  - Grapes are delightful on a really hot day! Give them a quick rinse and let them drain, and then roll up in a clean kitchen towel and place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Frozen grapes are almost like little mini sorbets in bite size pieces.

2.     Cucumber Ice Water  - A glass of ice water with a single slice of cucumber in it! How refreshing it is! Take a small jug and fill it with water and ice, and add 3 slices of cucumber and leave it for a couple of minutes. It adds a refreshing flavor to the water, and you can keep filling up the jug with water with the same cucumber slices a couple of times and still get a nice flavor.

3.     Plain Yogurt with frozen berries - Dr. Jonny Bowden, the author of The 150  Healthiest Foods on Earth, recommends stirring in a handful of frozen berries or cherries into a cup of plain yogurt. The frozen berries instantly, slightly freezes the yogurt, creating faux frozen yogurt treat.

4.     Seedless watermelon - Slice seedless watermelon just out of the fridge into individual triangle-size pieces and put them in a stainless steel bowl with plenty of ice.

5.     Apples - An apple a day could help keep you hydrated, as the fruit is 84 percent water. And remember, and apple a day keeps the doctor away!

6.     Pears -. These hydrating fruits are 84 percent water.

For more cool ideas go to:

http://www.kidactivities.net/category/snacks-warm-weather.aspx

https://www.parentmap.com/article/15-cool-homemade-summer-treats-for-kids

READING RESOURCES 

If you are looking for additional resources to help your child with reading, there are two great websites that might interest you: 

www.readingiq.com

This website will help students with both reading fluency and comprehension. There are books with simple language, early chapter books with engaging characters, picture books with light-hearted stories, and nonfiction texts that provide informational graphics to support understanding. The collection also includes many Read to Me books to support readers in developing listening comprehension.

https://www.getepic.com/

Epic! is a digital collection of eBooks - more than 35,000 of the best books, learning videos, quizzes & more.  You can access Epic! on your smartphone, iPad or computer — so children can read and learn anytime, anywhere. It includes a collection of books in Spanish too, with the audio available for listening while reading along. 

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS 

Getting your children to finish assignments is a difficult task for some parents. Teaching your children study habits and organizational skills at an early age can help cut back frustration and poor schoolwork. Even though their academic achievement will benefit from this, these are life-long skills that will be helpful in many areas in your child’s life. Here are a few simple tips.

1. Talk to your child about school. Find out if there are any subjects that he finds intimidating or any that he looks forward to, and see how he feels about his teacher and his classmates.

2. Give your child a three-ring binder to hold her calendar and organize her assignments and notes. Encourage your child to write down her assignments in the calendar. For long-term assignments, help him/her decide how to break the project into chunks with specific goals set for specific dates.

3. Give your child a place to do schoolwork. Children do not mind unique or small spaces, so a corner with a pillow and a sheet draped over it or a space under a table may suffice if you have a small living space.

4. Limit distractions. This may include television, phones, computers and siblings or any other stimuli that can sabotage schoolwork. Turning off all electronics and limiting socializing allows your child to focus on the task at hand and reinforces the importance of schoolwork.

5. Ensure that your child gets breaks when needed. If you are a firm believer in all homework being finished in one sitting, let your child know that it is okay to switch between subjects if he needs a break. If your child has focusing problems, set a timer in short increments, then gradually increase the amount of time that he is working on a task.

6. Reinforce the use of the homework folder our elementary teachers use. Most school folders are labeled one side "Keep at Home" and the other side "Return to School." Make sure your child puts assignments, permission slips, calendars and other important papers in the folder. Go through the folder as often as you can with your child and then periodically check it after she has become accustomed to the routine.

7. Set an example. If you are in school, work on your schoolwork at the same time your child works on his. If you simply have household chores to do, designate a specific chore time, even if you realistically do chores at other times, and make that time schoolwork time as well.

8. Make it fun. Put an incentive chart in your house. Try to stay away from using the chart to earn intrinsic or extrinsic rewards; many children simply enjoy the stickers on the chart. If you also are in school, track your assignments with your child. If you are not, track your chores instead.

Read more: How to Help Your Elementary Child With School Organizational Skills | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7818034_elementary-child-school-organizational-skills.html#ixzz2jNwQAxJp

WELCOME BACK!

A new year can mean new resolutions for both children and adults alike. Children are never too young to participate in setting New Year’s resolutions. In fact, parents and children may have more success if they make New Year’s resolutions as a family, with every family member having a specific part, and all are accountable for them.

When planning, it is important to set resolutions or goals that are clear, achievable and measurable.  Resolutions can be made at any age, but it may be most effective to start with school-aged children.   Parents should ask them, ‘What’s something you want to be better or different this year?’ and help them map out how to get there.

Some helpful reminders for parents helping children with New Years Resolutions (and sticking to them):

1.      Set goals that are clear, achievable and measurable for the child and his/her abilities - talk about making them specific. If a child wants to do better in school, have him pick a specific subject. Set a goal. “I will do better in school by raising my grade in science from a 3 to a 4” or “I will study two nights before every Spelling test instead of just the night before.”

2.      Consider setting goals as a family, with every person doing his/her own part –  this is a great lesson for teamwork AND for all working together towards a common goal. Sitting down for dinner, going out once a week as a family, or each sharing a chore at home are great examples that involve everyone.

3.      Avoid setting too many goals - A long list of resolutions is simply too overwhelming. Young children should focus on one thing they want to improve and older children should limit it to two or three. Talk with your children about what is most important and focus on those. Then maybe take your own advice and set few for yourself, too.

4.      Write Those Resolutions Down - Writing things down makes them more real. Write down the resolutions in either a private journal if your child wants it to be private or on a piece of paper that is posted someplace visible if your child doesn't mind everyone seeing. Older children could possibly begin a journal to track their resolution journey. 

5.      Follow up periodically to see how children are doing with their goals; Trouble-shoot challenges together - Ask your children how their resolutions are coming along. Suggest ways that they can stick to their resolutions. If they mess up, encourage them to try again. Let them know that January 1st is not the only day for resolutions. They can start them, or re-start them, whenever they want.

6.      Reward children for success along the way - Verbal praise goes a long way! Sticking by our resolutions provides parents with an invaluable opportunity to teach children that rewards not always have to be tangible. Children can learn early on that the reward itself is perseverance, and knowing that something they set their mind to can be done.

7.      Be an Example For Your Kids - Do you have your own resolutions? Share one of them with your children. Then do your best to follow through with it. Compare resolution notes with your children from time to time. Encourage each other. Remember, parents are mentors for setting resolutions.  Model the type of behavior you want as a family and everyone will be more successful. 

Here’s to a happy, healthy and successful 2019 for all of us!