May Newsletter

Each day, I am inspired by the excellent work and devotion our faculty and staff have in supporting all of Clinton’s students and families. I am deeply proud of the Clinton Elementary faculty and staff for the numerous ways they teach and care for children. It is my honor to recognize the Clinton Elementary faculty and staff for Administrative Professionals Day, National Teacher Appreciation Week, and National School Nurse’s Day! Please join me in celebrating and thanking our entire faculty and staff for their dedication to the students of our fine school. I truly believe that Clinton Elementary has the finest faculty and staff anywhere. Please join me in honoring them!

~Mrs. McCartan

May 1 - Bites and Baskets Raffle

May 14 - Gr 4 and 5 Choral Concert

May 19 - Book Fair/Art Show

May 20 - Grade 5 Instrumental Concert

May 22 - May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday

May 28 - Family Welcome Night 5pm-7pm

I know that kids are using technology at younger and younger ages. Technology can be very helpful and useful but for children can be harmful when used excessively at a young age. Here are some tips for help in this area. The tips are from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Tips-for-Parents-Digital-Age.aspx

Tips to help children develop healthy digital habits

1. Build a family media plan that balances time with and without devices. Work together to set rules about media use so you and your children agree on how devices fit into your lives. Talk about which tech-free activities you want to make time for on a regular basis.

2. Create screen-free times and places in your home, such as meals and bedtime. Set do-not-disturb on phones when you want undistracted time. For younger children, it helps to have consistent and predictable media routines and time limits. Use built-in timers to make it easier for young children to transition away when time is up.

3. Have regular discussions as a family about your online activities. Discuss new areas of learning, fun discoveries, as well as difficult experiences–for both parents and children. This fosters open discussion about a sometimes-challenging topic.

4. Talk about social media. Start regular, open-minded conversations with your children (even the youngest ones!) about their media use, and yours. You don't have to be an expert on each platform to have meaningful discussions! Ask questions like: What do you like about social media platforms? How do you feel when you're on social media? And when I'm on social media? Have you seen anything concerning?

5. Make sure your kids know they can come to you about their experiences online, even if they feel embarrassed or worried. Let them know you're there to support them through challenges, since we're all learning as we go.

6. Help children understand what's real and what's edited, how to recognize ads or inappropriate content, and when influencers are being authentic versus outrageous.

7. Talk about how media and emotions connect. We sometimes crave social media when we're stressed or want to share our joy. At the same time, what we see online shapes how we feel. This is an important insight for both children and parents.

8. Set a good example. Include your own habits in discussions about social media usage. Be aware of when your attention is on your device and what you may be role modeling. When you must use your device around your family, tell your kids what you're doing and how you're supporting others online.

9. Optimize your family's online experience. Choose quality content to use together as a family. Also empower your children to decide when content isn't worth their time or attention.

10. Check settings. When your child or adolescent starts a new social media or video game account, set parental controls and privacy settings at the most secure level. Discuss safety rules for who they can chat with online, how to report problematic posts and whether they can make purchases. Get familiar with how the platform works by reading about it or having your child take you on a tour.

11. Watch for signs of problematic media use. In adolescents, this could include withdrawing from friendships and hobbies. In younger children, signs include arguing about media constantly and lack of interest in other activities. At all ages, another red flag is if time on social media, devices or video games interferes with physical activity, healthy eating or bedtime.

12. Think carefully before getting your child a phone. For parents, considering when and whether to get your child their own smartphone is a big decision. There are several factors to consider, including the child's interest in this responsibility and their past media patterns. The AAP has a tool to help guide these conversations, the PhoneReadyQuiz, located here.

Summer is a time for relaxation and fun, of course. But there's no reason why keeping kids’ math skills sharp can't be both relaxing and fun!

It’s a fact that over summer break, students lose approximately two months of the math computational skills they learned during the previous academic year. Before returning to school in the fall, children should review and be comfortable with math concepts from the grade they just completed. This is why practicing math skills at home is important.

Build Math Momentum At Home (Kindergarten to 5th grade)

Counting:

*Count from any number, to any number, by any number. Count forward and backward.

*Have a scavenger hunt-collect and count a certain number of objects then sort by size, color, shape etc…

*Game scores- can compare amounts, figure out total points, how many more points a team needs

*Measure plant growth- can keep a log, compare with other plants

Money & Time:

*First, children should know the names and values of coins, followed by learning the basic equivalents (i.e., 20 nickels = 10 dimes = 4 quarters = 2 half-dollars = 1 dollar).

*Counting coins in piggy banks and making change at stores are some ways to develop these skills. Money is the best model of our base 10 number system.

*Practice counting by 5’s to help with telling time. Divide the clock into 4 equal sections to learn quarter to and quarter after.

* Practice telling time on an analog clock as much as possible. Ask your children questions like “what time will it be in 10 minutes?”

Fractions:

Introduce the “half” concepts to Kindergarteners and 1st graders.

For older children, ask questions like:

• Half of what number is 4?

• How much is 2 ½ plus 2 ½?

• How much is a half plus a quarter?

Children should be able to see a whole as being a collection of parts.

Problem Solving:

Ask children to solve a broad range of life problems.

Ask questions like:

• I’m 39 years old and you are 5. How old will I be when you are 10?

• How can you share 6 candy bars evenly with 3 children?

• If 3 pieces of candy cost 50 cents, how much do 6 pieces cost?

Tablet Practice

For 15 minutes a day, log in to a website such as IXL.com, Xtra Math, Reflex math to work on math facts. (There is a nominal membership fee for some.)

Family Board Games

Play board games with family members and friends. Try the following games that are known to develop mathematical thinking:

• Set

• Race to Infinity

• Proof

• Blokus

• Ticket to Ride

• Rush Hour

• Sums in Space

Family Bonding

Spend time with family! It’s a great way to teach math concepts and make lasting memories.

• Get children involved in cooking or baking activities by letting them measure out ingredients. What better way to teach ratios, proportions, measurement conversion and time!

• Go shopping together. Give children some money and let them manage it.

• Involve children in home decorating. For example, to determine how much carpet you’ll need for your living room, use this simple formula: Area = Length x Width to determine the area of a rectangle or square.

Take 10

Remember, even if your child does not seem to be having any trouble in math, it's important that he or she practice math 15 to 20 minutes a day to be prepared for the upcoming school year!