Volume    5        Number   2        November/December2006

Dear Parents,

There has been some talk of the “The Great Math War” in educational settings. Do we teach students to memorize facts or do we teach them to be math thinkers to solve problems. At Kent Primary we realize that we need both. There is no war here but an awareness that students need to understand the concepts behind their basic tables (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) as well as an instant recall of their facts. When I see our students with the Math Investigations program, I am always amazed at the understanding that they have of how math works and that there are a number of different ways to solve problems. It is a far cry from when I went to school and the realization of how things work in math was an “ah hah” moment in high school. Teachers and I concur that students must also have the ability to remember specific math facts and skills. Without specific remembered knowledge (i.e. basic facts), students must regularly revisit and rely on general content-independent skills, such as "draw a picture" or "make a list." Genuine mathematicians know that a necessary condition for reasoning mathematically is a remembered knowledge base of specific math facts and specific math skills. If they are to be successful in life, they must effectively use the amazing knowledge-storing power of their brains.

When studying math facts, we want our students to have instant recognition of the fact. 9 + 7 = 16 should roll off their tongues and brains instead of counting it up each time. This instant recognition will help all students finish their basic fact test in a timely manner. These tests are given starting mid year in first grade and all the way through fourth grade. In first grade we look for the students to have mastered by the end of the year addition and subtraction facts to 10. By the end of grade 2, addition and subtraction facts to 18 should be an instant recall. For grade three they need to have mastered by the end of the year multiplication facts to 12. Year’s end of grade 4 multiplication and division facts to 12 should be automatic.

We need your help. There is not enough time during the school day for us to work individually with your child on basic facts; but, it is a perfect assignment for you to do at home. Make flashcards with your child; break it down into small groups so they only learn one set of facts (2 x 4, 2 x 5) at a time. Below are three websites that teach math games to practice these facts or to develop worksheets for your child.

1) http://www.kidzone.ws/math/index.htm
2) http://www.math.com/students/practice/arithmeticpractice.htm
3) http://home.indy.rr.com/lrobinson/mathfacts/mathfacts.html

Also don’t forget time and money recognition…ask your child to tell you the time and what will it be in 15 minutes. Let them take the change in the store and see if it is correct. These are basic first grade skills.

By you helping your children to learn these skills, you are helping them to increase their enjoyment of math and giving them valuable skills for life. Take the 10 minutes a day to review it with them, then enjoy the thanks they will give you as later on in life when they realize that almost every profession has math involved.

On another note, I would like to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. As we sit around the table this year, focus on all the blessings that we are surrounded with and give thanks for one another.

READING BUDDIES PROGRAM

Kent Public Library Youth Services

Reading Buddies is an exciting program in which children can sharpen their reading skills. Children in grades K-4 are paired up with an older student (ages 13+) to practice reading together. The older student will alternate reading aloud to the younger child and listening to the child read. In the program, the teen will:

1. Show the child where books on his/her reading level are located in the children’s section of the library.
2. Help the child select books to read together.
3. Teens will become a ‘reading mentor’ and encourage the younger child to love books and reading.

The teens are NOT responsible for:

1. Tutoring the child. The teens are not trained to be tutors. Any difficulties your child may have in reading must be dealt with through his/her school or by other means.

2. Babysitting. The teen will be reading to your child and listening to him/her read once a week for approximately 30 minutes. Parents MUST remain in the building during this time.

Dates to note

November 6 KPSPTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m., KPS Cafeteria

November 7 Election Day – No School

November 9 Practice ELA test for Grade 3 students

KPSPTO Ladies Night Out

November 10 Practice ELA test for Grade 3 students

November 13 CAP Food Drive (all week)

Practice ELA test for Grade 4 students

November 14 Practice ELA test for Grade 4 students

Board of Ed Work Session, 7:00 p.m., CHS

November 15 Practice ELA test for Grade 4 students

November 16 Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 17 Spirit Day – Favorite Sport Day

November 22-24 Thanksgiving Recess – No School

November 28 All Grade 1 Classes – Trip to SUNY Purchase

Board of Ed Meeting, 7:30 p.m., KPS

November 29 Picture Retake Day

December 1 Report Cards Go Home

December 4 Site-Based Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Conference Room

December 5 Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences –

Early Dismissal for Students

K-A.M. attends and will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m.

Grades 1-4 will be dismissed at 11:50 a.m.

K-P.M. does not attend school today

No breakfast or lunch will be served

Board of Ed Work Session, 7:00 p.m., CHS

December 7 EVENING Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

December 8 KPSPTO Snowflake Gift Shop

December 12 EVENING Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

December 13 KPSPTO Holidays Around The World Festival, 5:30-8:15 p.m.

December 15 Spirit Day – Snowflake Day

KPSPTO Snowflake Gift Shop - Snow Date

December 19 Board of Ed Meeting, 7:30 p.m., MPES

December 23 - HOLIDAY RECESS – NO SCHOOL

January 1

January 2 School Reopens

SITE-BASED NEWS

Based on last year’s Needs Assessment Survey which was sent to parents and staff, the following results were noted:

#1 Character Education (41)

#2 Enrichment (11)

#3 School Wide Charity (10)

#3 Cafeteria Atmosphere (10)

The parent representatives on our Site-Based Committee are Amy Conroy, Kathy Day, and Missy Munk.

CHARACTER ED INFO

This month’s theme is Empathy. Empathy is defined as being able to understand and respect the feelings, thoughts and experiences of another person. The book we chose was The Firefighters’ Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts. A possible parent discussion at home would be how we can show empathy in our town. You can tie this in with our CAP food drive. Please ask your child to do a chore for his/her contribution to the food drive. It is so much more meaningful when they earn it, rather than just taking a can off the shelf.