Date: Fri 20-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

school-home-McMahon

Full Text:

Homework Comes In A Crate

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Over a thousand dollars' worth of math and science materials will be sent home

with students in Jacky McMahon's first grade class at Sandy Hook School.

Jacky McMahon won an Educare, Inc, grant for $1,200 to prepare a dozen crates

filled with fun math and science activities for parents to share with their

first grade children.

Mrs McMahon said that parents often ask, "What can I do at home?"

Mrs McMahon explained that parents don't usually have pattern blocks and

geo-boards just waiting to be used.

These crates are one easy way that parents can become more involved in their

children's math and science education.

She said that the crates have many open-ended activities, so parents and kids

can take the ideas as far as they want to go.

Each crate has a different topic, six for math and six for science, which the

children can take home for two weeks at a time.

The children then rotate, trying different crates throughout the year.

In math, a number of concepts are offered: button math; addition and

subtraction; measurement and geometry; time and money; and probability.

Mrs McMahon said that each crate contains many manipulatives, a binder of

ideas for exploring each topic, and related books.

The only exception was the crate on probability. She could not find a single

book that would introduce this concept to first graders.

The science crates cover themes of plants and seeds; magnification; balance

and structure; magnetism; animals and their habitats; and weather.

Mrs McMahon's students have had a great deal of fun exploring weather already,

as they showed the parents in their weather forecasts, performed the night

that the crates were unveiled.

First graders took turns on center stage, giving their own weather forecast to

the audience, made up mostly of parents.

Patrick Stein, age 6, got up on stage in rain gear. He turned to the audience

with a mischievous smile. He said, "It's going to be absolutely gorgeous."

He paused a moment for effect, and said, "It's going to rain!" He then leapt

in the air, and enthusiastically jumped in imaginary puddles, and said, "So

you can go out and splash in the puddles! Jump! Splash!"

Other children forecasted hot sunny weather, and after reading the

thermometer, explained to the audience that they had better remember a hat and

sun screen if they go to the beach today!

Mrs McMahon was pleased to have 100 percent attendance the night the children

gave their weather report and the crates were unveiled.

These math and science crates are a new idea, and it could expand to include

other classes and schools as funding becomes available.

Finding innovative ways of involving parents in their children's curriculum is

gaining recognition with educational researchers, teachers and funding bodies

everywhere.

In a recent workshop of the home-school partnership, involving 160 educators,

business and community leaders in Connecticut, Joyce Epstein of Johns Hopkins

University said that the most important type of connection between school and

home is learning at home.

This is just what Jacky McMahon hopes her crates of math and science will

accomplish.

Donna Page, principal of Sandy Hook School, thanked Mrs McMahon for the

"exemplary job" she had done with these crates.

Mrs Page explained to parents that even though the grant paid for the

materials, Jacky had put many hours of her own time into selecting materials,

preparing binders and pulling the project together.

After the meeting, Mrs McMahon likened preparing the crates to getting ready

for her wedding.

She said that she tried to do everything ahead of time, but she was still up

to 3 am the night before, doing some last minute printing.

Mrs McMahon is one of two Newtown teachers to be awarded Educare grant money

this year.

Cathy Cincogrono won a $2,500 grant to connect technology with literature.

She is purchasing computer software that inspires sixth grade students to read

and respond to literature, from the classics to sports, and mysteries.

John Reed, Superintendent of Schools, expressed appreciation for teachers

applying for out-of-district grants.

He said that through the initiative and hard work of Jacky McMahon and Cathy

Cincogrono, Newtown students will benefit from new programs and resources,

without any cost to Newtown.