M.A.P. Testing Preparedness

M.A.P. Testing Preparedness

As M.A.P. testing approaches, many students are beginning to feel stressed, especially third graders, who are taking the MAP test for the very first time. The counselors, Mrs. Maddock and Ms. Maddocks are going from class to class teaching kids techniques for how to handle stress. I have gathered many unique ways to handle stress over the years, and I thought it would be a good idea to put some of them down for the common good.

My first tip is to breathe! A lot when people are stressed they don’t take a little break to calm down and focus on their breathing. There is a technique that I especially like called 4 7 8 breathing. First you breathe in for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and breathe out for eight seconds. Deep breathing hel

ps focus the mind on the important task at hand, in this case taking the M.A.P. test.

My second method is a quick doodle. Just use some of your scrap paper and doodle for a few minutes. Make sure not to do this for too long so you don’t waste time. I recommend a doodle that Mrs. Maddock taught me. First, you draw a rectangle. Then, split it into four sections. Draw a different design in each corner. I find this to be very relaxing and helpful.

My final idea is visualization. Close your eyes and visualize yourself in a calm place. It can be your bedroom, the library, or anywhere you feel comfortable. Imagine doing one of your favorite calming activities such as reading, or playing with a pet. When you are ready, come back and you should be calm.

Those are my tips for how to be calm during the M.A.P. test. If you are still concerned, feel free to visit the counselors to ask for more tips. I hope you are prepared for testing and get a great score. If not, don’t be discouraged. There’s always next year!  

PE Teachers

Coach Blake and Coach Bremerkamp by Ajla Gusic    

Did you know that Coach Bremerkamp’s favorite exercise is running and Coach Blake’s favorite is squats?  Also, they both taught PE before they taught us at Long Elementary.  And here’s a surprising fact: Coach Blake’s favorite food is pizza and Coach Bremerkamp’s is tacos.  They themselves also said that is was exciting to be our new PE teachers but that they also were faced with the challenge of learning 650 names would be hard.  Thank you for making them feel welcome in the new school.  They have had fun.  They say it’s like a adventure.  I hope you enjoyed learning about your new PE teachers.

Free Seat: Too Much Fun or Perfect Reward?

Debate

By Mallory Broom

Free Seat: Too Much Fun or Perfect Reward?

Last year, Ms. Shelly let grades K - 5th sit with whoever and wherever they wanted on one day per week, as long as throughout the week, the ‘stoplight’ didn’t flash red 10 times or more. If the stoplight kept a steady record of under 10 red lights, students got free seat. You weren’t confined to just your classroom tables. For most students, this was heaven.

“I think it’s fine as long as Dr. Parker is okay with it,” Karen Kennedy, recess/lunch aide states.  

According to the 55 fifth grade students we asked,  54 of them are favor of bringing back free seat and only 1 student is against bringing back free seat for anonymous reasons.  That’s 99% for free seat and 1% against it.

Some students even made a statement on why they should have free seat. (See below)

“You might have friends in another class but not in your class, so at free seat you can you can hang out with your friends and not be lonely.”

-Melanie Witt

“If we had free seat, we wouldn’t bug the girls by sitting in their seats.”

-Kai Herman

“In middle school and high school they let us have free seat, so why not prepare us for it?”

-Sonya Schwer

“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have free seat.”

-Nate Linton

“ Free seat is awesome because- well, really I just want to have fun and sit by my friends during lunch!”

-Kate Jackson

“What if it is indoor recess? Then you can’t say ‘talk to your friends during recess’ because you can’t!”

-Megan Manaji

“It gives kids a better chance to meet new friends.”

-Hikari Ubakatu

So what do you think? Is free seat too much fun for students or the perfect reward?

Spelling Bee Winner Interview

Interview with the Spelling Bee Winner- Sophia Williams
by Christian Salas and Ajla

• What is your name? Sophia
• How much did you study? 20 min. a day
• What grade are you in? 4th
• Did you think you were gonna win? Kinda
• What were you thinking while you were up there? I thought I would get out quickly
• Who are your friends that supported you? My classmates
• What's your favorite game? Basketball
• Did your parents reward you and how? Yes with hugs
• Did do this for fun or did you do it to win? For fun

Long Book Fair

2016 Book Fair

WRITTEN BY MALLORY BROOM AND NORAH JORDAN

It was the event we’d been waiting for all year. Student queued up outside of the doors just hoping to get a look at the colorful displays. There was the joy of holding the prize in your hands and the disappointment of not getting there in time. No, it’s not the Super Bowl. It’s Long Elementary's Scholastic Book Fair.

As our book fair comes to an end, we’d like to review the highlights of our annual Long book fair. We asked around and apparently Long students have a lot to say on this topic. We asked them to rate the book fair one through five stars--one being the worst and five being the best. Most students rated the book fair an average four or five. “I really liked how many genres there were,” Gabby Hipp, Long student, remarks. An anonymous student claims that he’s satisfied with the fact that it is a ‘fair’ completely dedicated to books. Let’s give a round of applause for our awesome book fair volunteers and library staff!

We would also like to take a look back on some of the most popular books of this book fair.

Captain Underpants

This classic character takes a flying leap into our Scholastic book fair! These books are filled to the brim with fun pictures and hilarious surprises that will have you laughing every time!

Star Wars

Not that long ago in a galaxy just down the hallway there was a book fair with super fun Star Wars books! From Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker to Kylo Ren and Rey,these books are filled with so much fun! So whether you are on the dark side or the light side you should definitely check out some of these cool Star Wars books!

Ranger in Time

Get ready because Ranger in Time is here! When this silly dog travels back in time he meets new friends and he has to help them escape from slavery! You will love this book filled with fun and exciting adventures and heart-warming friendship.

Did you miss getting a chance to  snag one of these books this year? Well, go take a look at the new county library where I’m sure you will find all of these books and more! From Star Wars and Barbie to Lego and Disney this Scholastic book fair had everything! We look forward to seeing you at the bookfair next year but for now keep up the good work Long Leaders! And above all, keep reading!

Basketball: Buckets of Fun or More?

Basketball: Buckets of Fun or More?

Hi, I’m Norah Jordan. I’m a journalist for the Long school blog. Around August kids at recess started to play basketball. Now it has become almost as popular as kickball! Basketball is played and enjoyed by many at recess. Although the people who play basketball enjoy playing it, it has come to our attention that sometimes feelings are getting hurt.  I am here to tell you straight from the source what has been happening in basketball: buckets of fun or more!

As a spectator of basketball you get an overview of the game.  I have asked many spectators what they think is happening with feelings getting hurt if they are getting hurt at all.  Some people suggested that  some dishonesty was going around when it came to fouls and that would start arguments between the two teams.  Others suggested that the game wasn’t organized enough and that the players had trouble distinguishing what happened when it came to fouls and baskets and this started arguments.  One of the spectators said that if there was a referee that there would be less drama. Overall, I could tell that the people watching the game all had different perspectives on what was happening. I realized that if I was going to get more info about what was really happening in basketball I would have to go into the game itself.

I interviewed Lucas Manson who plays basketball at recess and he told me some very interesting things. He said that there was lots of yelling and confusion about the fouls but he said that it was because the group playing basketball was to large. Then he went on to explain that there would be less feelings hurt if we divided up the players into two games. The only reason that they hadn't done this before was because there was only one basketball. He said that if there were two basketballs and two games of basketball there would be less drama and fewer feelings hurt.

I think that the problems associated with basketball at recess are rooted in many different things: too many fouls, too many players, too much yelling, too much confusion, no referee, and probably some challenges that are still unknown. I believe that if the people who played basketball just sat down and talked about what was happening that they could work out a solution. Until then, the question still lingers in the air: Is basketball buckets of fun or more?