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August 10, 2021
Issue VIII
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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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"August is like the Sunday of summer." |
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The McManus Files
Issue VIII
Wow! Eight short weeks of summer and now it's time to gear up for another school year. It has been a lot of fun making and sharing these weekly flyers with you. I hope they have been helpful.
This will be the final summer issue of the McManus Files. Keep an eye out for a our Fall newsletter, complete with relevant information for the upcoming school year.
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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Inquiry Quest...
Penguin Parade
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Penguins are one of my favorite birds. Yes, they are birds, but they don't fly in the air, they fly under the ocean. Research the different types of penguin species and learn about their adaptations and diversity. |
After learning about the different penguins, select your favorite one and list as many facts as you can about it. Then, draw a life-sized model of your penguin in its natural habitat. |
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or simply scan the QR Code below
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5 Daily Writing Prompts...
These prompts and questions will help jump-start 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!
“Put me down!” I yelled as I was hoisted into the air by a giant…
Would you rather be the best player on a team that always loses or the worse player on a team that always wins? Why?
“Have you ever driven one of these before?” I asked James, trying not to let him see how nervous I was. We then...”
If you could invent a holiday, what would it be? Why do you think we need this holiday and how will it be celebrated?
“I should have listened to you,” Greg acknowledged, as he lay curled up on the grass with..."
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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 learn 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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This marble maze will keep your little ones entertained for hours as they try to guide their marble through the obstacles. You can use two stacked box lids for the base, then add popsicle sticks or straws with glue for the maze walls. Don’t forget to create marble-sized holes to make it even trickier! |
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Have fun making your own DIY marble run. It’s a great recycled craft idea to make use out of any spare box lids you might have laying around, and you can customize the obstacles to be as simple or as complicated as you like. Click this link for detailed instructions.
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Everything Sad is Untrue
by Daniel Nayeri
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This book hooks you right from the opening line and the story is like nothing else you've ever read - or ever will! Based on the author’s own life, he expertly weaves together tales of his family from ancient Persia, stories of his young life in Iran, and his current life as “the weird kid” in rural Oklahoma. It's a mesmerizing and, at times, emotional story that will make every reader change the way they think. There is plenty of snarky writing and silly humor that will certainly be appreciated. I hope you pick it up and enjoy the ride. |
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Problem of the Week
Solve the problem and complete Parts A & B
It is the grand opening of a local supermarket. Every 5th customer will receive a coupon for a free turkey and every 7th customer will receive a coupon for a free half gallon of ice cream. If 400 customers come in on opening day, how many will get a free turkey and a free half gallon of ice cream?
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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Great Summer Read #2
The MIGHTY Miss MALONE
by Christopher Paul Curtis
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"We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful’ is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But, the Great Depression has hit the town of Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Another wonderful story by one of my favorite authors. Once you start reading Christopher Paul Curtis novels life becomes better. |
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Mr. McManus Supply Recommendations |
The easiest way to hit the ground running in a new school year is to have many of the necessary school supplies before the first day. Some teachers may have specific requests for special projects, but in my experience, the following suggested supplies will meet the needs of almost all 4-8 grade teachers' supply lists.
Remember, none of this is required! These are only supply suggestions to ease anxiety when transitioning to a new school, grade, and/or teacher.
1.5" Three Ring Binder
Dividers
Pencil Pouch
Pencils
Erasers
Ball Point Pens
Black fine point pen
Colored Pencils
Glue Sticks
Ruler
Reinforced Binder Paper
Three Hole Punch
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Memorial Park in Loma Mar
Mt. Ellen Summit Trail
If you are seeking a challenging hike, try Mt. Ellen Summit Trail to the Pomponio Trail for a nice BIG loop. You'll experience old growth redwoods and Douglas firs and, of course, the Santa Cruz Mountains' mascot: the banana slug. On a clear day, you can see the ocean across the miles of magnificent forest. You will forget that we live so close to busy Silicon Valley.
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