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Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing, so they are prepared for the upcoming school year. |
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“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
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The McManus Files
Issue IV
Hello,
These summer weeks are just flying by. I hope you are enjoying these beautiful days. Have fun with this weeks prompts, lessons and learning activities.
Please share this flyer with your friends and encourage them to join our mailing list by following the links on this page.
Mr. McManus :-)
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Is it a crow or is it a raven? These two species, the Common Raven and the American Crow, dominate our neighborhoods and they look quite similar. What is the difference between the two species and how can we tell them apart?
Research the difference between the two bird species and create a user guide so that others can begin to notice the difference between them. Although crows and ravens can be seen as annoying pests, they are amazing creatures. After you have learned how to tell them apart, do some research on the birds and discover some of the reasons they are so unique and mysterious.
Go outside and test your findings. What kinds of birds are in your yard? What other birds can you recognize, identify and name in your neighborhood?
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5 Daily Writing Prompts...
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These prompts and questions will help jumpstart your daily writing. Just as it's important to read for at least 30 minutes each day, you should also write for 30 minutes a day. Don't worry about your organization or spelling, just write!
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"The secret door led to the dragon that lived under my house, so I..."
Would you rather invent something that improves life for the entire world but gives you no money, or something that no one cares about, but that makes you incredibly rich? Why?
"You picked up the seashell and put it to your ear. You couldn't believe when it said..."
Should kids be able to play tag at school? Why? Why not?
"The cake I spent all afternoon baking was missing and only some crumbs remained. I thought..."
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Homemade Scratch Drawings |
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This was one of my favorite things to do as a kid! All you need is a piece of thick paper, a bunch of old crayons (especially black), and a large paperclip.
First, color a thick layer of your favorite different colors in a detailed pattern (it can be anything) on the sheet of paper. Press on the crayon heavily , so none of the paper is showing. It should be thick and waxy when finished.
Next, color a thick layer of black over every part of the colorful pattern you just created. Apply the crayon heavily so it covers all the colors. Open one side of the paperclip and use the point to scratch out a picture or pattern. The best part is that if you don’t like something, just color over it with black crayon and try again.
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Using Sensory Detail
Learning to use all our senses can be a great way to dig for the kind of details that makes writing come alive. Good writers brainstorm their sensory feelings in order to bring a setting to life and make it seem real to the reader. After establishing a setting, begin a sensory detail brainstorm list.
To begin, write the setting (place being written about) at the top of a piece of paper. Then, list the five senses across top of the page.
I See
I Hear
I Touch
I Smell
I Taste
Now, brainstorm a list of as many sensory details that you can for each of the five senses. Let you imagination and creativity go wild. You will be surprised about how many things you can taste, see, smell, hear, and feel.
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Here are a few settings that you can try:
You just entered the Cafeteria at lunch...
You just got off a bus in San Francisco...
You just finished an early morning soccer game...
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READING STRATEGY
REVIEW
When reading fiction, remember to look for clues that will help you (the reader) better understand the book's theme and the author's message.
One reading strategy to identify:
Tough Questions
When a character asks a question that obviously doesn't have an easy answer
The reader should stop and ask:
What does this make me wonder about?
The answer will tell you about the conflict and it may help you predict what will happen next.
Try it out. Read this passage and identify the tough question. Don't forget to ask and write down your thinking to the anchor question. What does this make you wonder about?
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Best book I've read this summer!
The sweet story has unforgettable characters and a strong message of hope and family. Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade, and with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, Charlie unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places.
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McManus Tutoring has openings for new clients. |
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If you feel your child might benefit from a group or individual tutoring program to close the gap created during summer vacation and to prepare them for the next phase of their education, please contact McManus Tutoring.
This fall, we are all returning to in-person classes for the first time in a year and a half. Besides the emotional impact of the pandemic, a full-time academic schedule will be an adjustment. Extra preparation over the summer will build self-confidence while reinforcing basic skills to start the new year.
Programs are structured so that students develop independence, accountability, and self-possession and they develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
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Problem of the Week
Solve the problem and complete Parts A & B
Demi is planting a small garden full of tomato plants. She realizes that she can place 7 plants so that they form 5 straight lines if she places 3 plants on each line. How did she do this?
Part A: What is your answer to the problem?
Part B: Explain your thinking in complete sentences. How did you come up with your final answer?
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How Many squares are there? |
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Great Summer Read #2
Blood Mountain
by James Preller
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An adventure to end all adventure stories. If you like stories about wilderness survival, this is the book for you. A simple family hike unexpectedly becomes a struggle for survival for two children and their dog. This page-turning adventure puts the reader right into the characters’ footsteps thanks to the vividly described setting, realistic narration, and suspenseful real-life dangers that drive the story. A thrilling book for any wilderness adventure lover.
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An amazing website with numerous articles on a variety of topics. This site has something for every reader. Best of all, the user can set the reading level of the articles. This interactive site is the Smithsonian for kids. Check it out!
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