Newsletter May 21, 2011
Math – This unit will be wrapped up on Monday with review Tuesday and test on Thursday. The test is very simple, which is why it has been moved up a day. The students have already started the end of year test and we are doing it bit by bit every day.
Science – We discussed and built background knowledge for the Moon and students have been sharing their observations with me as well. We have also started to discuss stars, watched some great movies and time lapses of meteor showers, and created our own constellations. Moon observations are due next Friday.
Social Studies – Students did a mini project this week in their pods, 3 groups chose to do videos of what they had to discuss, which will be up on our website later. We start our final project next week. Students have picked their topic from within the next 100 years. Subjects range from The Great Depression to the Vietnam War. The students also chose who they wanted to work with and what their finished product will be. We will work on it during social studies and during literacy.
Reading – We finished up inference this week and will finish with synthesizing and summarizing next week. We also went outside to read today since the sun was so nice to see.
Writing – Lots of writing happening; students are beginning to finish up their fairy tales, writing introduction letters to their future teacher, as well as thank you letters to specials teachers and a couple of others. The blogging challenge is about the Civil War simulation and is due Sunday. I hope to have students print out all of their kidblog entries and create a journal of their year, as their accounts will be deleted come August.
Special Notes –
* The talent show was truly amazing, and the students were phenomenal. Thank you to all of the students particularly to Andrew, Jason, Jesse, Anthony, Lewis, and Connor who were my stage crew and program hander outers.
* The year is winding down so expect to see students bringing home extra supplies.
* Advanced math testing did not happen this week so I am assuming it will be next week instead. It will happen some time, I promise.
* Global Connections: We skyped with our class in NYC on Monday for more than 40 minutes. The kids even sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” together. It was wonderful to see the kids share all of their similarities. Educators from around the US are awed by our Innovation Day; I have already been in contact with two other schools that want to plan a day as well!
* Thank you so much for all of the donations for the care package. I plan on sending it before the year is out so if you have anything else you would like to add, just send it in. Paul made it back to Afghanistan yesterday after 5 days of travel, only to find that they had moved him into a smaller area and some of his stuff had gone missing. I think he will be very surprised when he gets out package!
* The PTO graciously is covering our entire field trip cost, including bus. All students just have to hand in their permission slip, no money needed. If you would like to go with us, please send in $21 for you or write two separate checks to the places. All information can be found on the permission slip that went home.
* I have some dates for you to put on your calendars: Lumberjack Breakfast is May 25th 8:30 AM, No School Monday May 30th, Cave of the Mounds/Little Norway field trip is June 7th all day, Hotdog Picnic is Wednesday, June 8th at 11:15 AM (sign up with Sue), and last day of school party is Thursday June 8th at 1:30 PM.
