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MUSTANG MESSENGER: May Parent Newsletter

Making Our Future Mustangs Feel at Home at OLHMS

District 5^th graders are gearing up for the middle school! The orientation process has involved three separate events. The first event was the 5^th graders’ visits to the middle school in April. At that time, students were given a brief overview of life at the middle school through a brief video, building tours, Q & A session involving current middle school students. The second event was the OLHMS Administrative Team visits to each of the feeder schools, which involved a group discussion with the 5^th graders and their parents. The final event is the 6^th Grade Orientation, which will be held on Wednesday, May 9^th.

OLHMS Evening Orientation

Wednesday, May 9^th at 7:oo pm

PLEASE NOTE: There has been some confusion regarding the time of this event (different sources had different times). The Evening Orientation on May 9^th is at 7:00 pm!

Spring MAP Testing

Spring MAP testing began in the 6^th grade on Tuesday, April 24^th and will continue through the end of May. We believe it is important for students to understand that we use MAP data to create individualized programs and place students accordingly. We also use the assessment results to identify strengths and weaknesses in our curriculum, thus driving our professional development. In short, despite the fact that MAP results do not “count for a grade,” they are very important. Spend some time with your child discussing the value of such tests and the importance of always trying your best.

Summer Reading Tips

Mrs. Spedale and the Oak Lawn Public Library have teamed up to ensure that our students make reading a part of their summer. Here is what the dynamic “duo” has planned.

1. On May 21st, OLPL will visit to kick-off their summer reading program. The visit will include many surprises and incentives to pique students’ varying interests. Many of the teachers are offering extra credit for students who participate in the program.

2. Mrs. Spedale is skyping all the K-5 schools' 5th grade students to explain the extra-credit component.

3. Readers' Cafe is having a book exchange on Wednesday, May 2nd.

4. Mrs. Spedale is creating Pinterest Boards with 6th, 7th and 8th grade favorite books and their Lexiles in an effort to provide parents with middle school reading suggestions.

5. Hometown students have two options for summer reading this year. First, they may choose to visit the Hometown Library for their reading selections. In addition, OLPL has invited Hometown students to join the reading program OLPL too. No excuses!

For more information on the Oak Lawn Public Library’s Summer Programs, please visit the OLPL website.

http://www.lib.oak-lawn.il.us/YS_programs_summer_6_to_8.shtml

Another option is to take part in the Scholastic Summer Challenge. Students log their reading minutes and could potentially win prizes! In addition, the site provides helpful resources for parents and teachers.

http://www.scholastic.com/summer/?eml=TNL/e/20120430///May_Update//student_activities3/68_SPS_SL1//////&ym_MID=1412479&ym_rid=1411493

Summer Math Tips

Keeping students’ math skills strong throughout the summer is also important. The following article provides a number of creative ideas for staying on top of math skills, including number sense and computation. Perhaps the best part of these summer ideas, however, is that they are all related to real world events. From MLB statistics to the economic advantages and disadvantages of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics, each will provide students with insight into, not only math, but also culture, history, and literacy.

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/these-days-are-numbered-eight-summer-math-ideas/

Introducing: The Flipped Classroom

What exactly is a “Flipped Classroom?” The concept refers to students learning skills and concepts independently through a series of video / podcast tutorials (i.e. Khan Academy). Class time is then dedicated to students working on learning activities in which they are able to demonstrate understanding. The teacher’s role in the flipped classroom is that of a coach and facilitator. The teacher works with students in small groups to ensure understanding and to correct misconceptions. The link below will take you to an article highlighting one middle school math teacher’s positive experience with the flipped classroom concept.

http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/04/11/the-flipped-classroom.aspx

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