September 28, 2021
Fall 2021 Issue 6
Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing throughout the school year.
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."
The McManus Files
Fall 2021 Issue 6

Hello and Happy Fall :-)
I love this time of year when the days are still warm, the leaves are turning and pumpkin spice foods dominate my Trader Joe's cart.

This weeks issue contains a perfect pre-Halloween book recommendation, a powerful investigation into the impact plastics are having on marine animals, three creative writing prompts and two challenging math problems involving money and making change. I hope you enjoy the 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 :-)
Great Read of the Week
The Night Gardener
by Jonathan Auxier
Fall has arrived and I thought a little spooky was needed to welcome the chilly wind and rustling leaves.The Night Gardener is a Victorian ghost story with lots of creepiness, touches of humor, memorable characters, and a worthy message. This tale is one that readers will not soon forget. Readers will find behind the spooky tale a memorable fable about human greed and the power of storytelling. I loved reading this book and have recommended it many times to other teachers and parents with 'tweens. The reviews have always been overwhelmingly positive. I know fans of scary stories will love this read.
Inquiry Quest

The Plastic Problem (part 2)

Plastic is everywhere. Most of our food and drink are wrapped up in it, its in the clothes we wear, and in the devices we use. And it’s now also in the deepest part of the oceans and in the most remote parts of the world. Plastic has become a really big problem. 

Experts think that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will weigh more than the amount of fish in the ocean. And there are around 33,600 species of fish, so there’s already a lot of fish in our seas. And so there will be A LOT of plastic.

How does all of this plastic affect the animals that rely on the ocean for survival? I linked four different articles below which present interesting and upsetting facts about how animals are being harmed by the human, plastic problem. Read and investigate the articles and then design a plan how you can make a change. What behaviors can you change to use less plastic? What behaviors can your family change? What can you do to help protect the animals from this crisis?




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.

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.

McManus Tutoring has all Summer 2021 issues of The McManus Files posted in the library.

You can visit the site by clicking the link mcmanustutoring.com
or simply scanning the QR Code
3 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!


"As the man entered the room, I saw he was carrying a..."



"My uncle is named Daring Doug because he always..."



"On a dark winding road..."


Problem(s) of the Week

Solve the problems and complete
Parts A & B
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?
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?
To receive your own copy of The McManus Files, join our mailing list