We did it! We made it through the preparation and the actual testing for 8 ISAT tests. The kids did a GREAT job staying focused and motivated. Thanks for all of your support at home. We now return to a regular schedule this week. Here is a look at our week ahead:
* Please send back any conference confirmation forms or 321 forms no later than Tuesday!
* Sarah is our MVP!
* The kids are creating their own origin myths in writing. We are taking a break from our WEX program until after spring break. While the kids will still be using what they have learned in WEX (showing not tell, using strong verbs, paragraphing, dialogue), they will be able to show off what they learned in a creative way. Each child has picked an origin myth topic they would like to write about. We are in the process of writing and revising these. They will be up in the hallway during conferences for all to see!
* We return to a regular reading schedule this week! This will give us an opportunity to meet with our small groups and go back to practicing our reading strategies. Our focus continues to be on determining importance and drawing conclusions. The kids will review how to use background knowledge, practice separating ideas that are important from those that are interesting, and get used to comparing what our thoughts are to the author's.
* We begin our new electricity unit this week! The kids will participate in numerous hands-on experiments and activities in the classroom. This week our focus will be on static electricity: what it is, what causes it, how does it happen, etc. We will also begin to talk about circuits and the important parts that make these complete.
* In math we will continue to work with fractions. The kids will review how to find the LCD of two fractions. We will review equivalent fractions, converting fractions to decimals, comparing fractions, and finding the ONE of a set of fractions. Mad minutes will return this week to help us review our multiplication and division. Problem solving will remain a constant for us, as well as explaining how we went about solving a problem and our reasons for doing so. The students will receive a study guide over Unit 7 on Friday--this will be due the following Thursday. Our test over this information will be on Friday, March 23rd.
* Just a reminder that report cards will come home with your child on Friday. Due to these and conferences the following week (Monday and Tuesday) there will be no Weekly Folders. If there are any incidents that happen throughout the week, I will just contact you directly about it.
*I think that covers it. I hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful start to the week.
