Believe it or not the 4th quarter is in full swing!
Here are some important dates and info to remember.
Tomorrow, April 9th is the Spring Concert in the gym. The students have been working so hard on their songs, I hope you enjoy their performance. They will be on the stage so please bring blankets or folding chairs to sit on.
Report cards for the 3rd quarter will be sent home this Friday, April 10.
*April 29 was originally an early release day but is now a full day, also remember that we will be dismissing at 2:55 for the remainder of the year except our last day, June 5th, will be an early release day.
EOG's will be given during the week of May 18. Our practice and prep for them will focus on how to read/interpret the test, just like we have studied other genres of reading throughout the year. I try very hard to minimize anxiety about these tests, while still emphasizing that students should do their best and use them as an opportunity to show all they've learned. If your child seems to be very stressed about the EOG's or you have questions please let me know.
*May 25- Memorial Day, no school
For the next few weeks in reading we will be reading aloud the book Wonder by RJ Palacio. The novel is about a boy with many rare birth defects and his first time going to school as a 5th grader. We will be discussing social issues and looking for those in our independent books as well. The book is one of my most favorite to read with students as it is an amazing opportunity for them learn about/show empathy and hear/see things from a point of view that they themselves will thankfully never experience. Please ask your child their thoughts about this book and the main character Auggie, they're going to love it and will probably surprise you in a great way with their feelings toward him :)
In writing we will be crafting examples of traditional literature. First, we will read many examples of a fairy tales set all around the world and look for commonalities and differences. So far we have compared the typical, Disney-ish Cinderella to the book Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder and Cendrillon- A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci.
Right now in science we are studying food and nutrition. As part of this unit we are keeping food diaries and will be setting small goals for next week. Our main focus will be on identifying and increasing healthy habits and behaviors.
In math we are finishing up our measurement unit by studying the metric system. While this always seems to be more difficult than the customary system, I am focusing on how the math aspect is easier because you always using a factor of 10.
Lastly, we will likely not have air conditioning for some time (we were told something about it not being turned on until there were 3 consecutive days with the outside temperature above a certain point). As you could guess, even on a day with temps in the 60's, 25 warm bodies in a room makes for a pretty stuffy environment. As always, students are allowed to have a water bottle that they can refill and keep on their desks.
