Week 32: Post Spring Recess

We begin May after we return from a beautiful recess. Please keep in mind that for the recess, students will not have homework other than to keep up their independent reading work. Many students have already started their reading response on their yellow sheet. Please remember that this will be due on Monday when we return.

Here's what will happen when we come back:

• We will have Dance class on Monday. Please make sure your child is dressed for movement. Girls who are wearing skirts should have a pair of shorts underneath as Dance often involves handstands and jumps.
• The annual Mothers Day Plant Sale will take place on Thursday. If you would like your child to purchase a plant at this fundraiser, please provide your child with $5- 15 dollars. 
• We have Family Friday where we will create an Earth Day craft with our Buddy class. In the afternoon, we will also have our Annual Earth Day parade.

Have a beautiful Spring Recess!

Week 31

We are finish with our first experience with the standardized tests! It was a learning experience and the children did their best on a challenging math test. It gave us an opportunity to look at strategies that help us as math thinkers and allowed us to make goals as we move onward in our learning.

For the remainder of this year, we will work on making the transition onto the next grade. Please  encourage your child to continue to come to school prepared to learn. We have many exciting events and there are still new units to explore.

Here's what will be coming up:

• We have started a unit on Poetry in Reading. The goal of this unit is to read with comprehension and to push our interpretation skills. Students will have to use their imaginations to visualize imagery and to recognize symbolic meanings. 
• We will wrap up our unit on China this week. We have learned much about life in this large country. We will travel next to the continent of Africa!
• In Math, we will start our work in Geometry by looking at shapes and defining them by their attributes. 
• We have Dance class on Monday.
• We will visit the Armory on Tuesday.
• Third grade will have a play date to celebrate the hard work we've put into the testing unit. We will walk over to Vanderbilt Park to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air on Wednesday from 11:15-12:40. Please join us if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

Have an amazing weekend!

Week 30

Our first experience with standardized testing was a good learning experience. The children were very sweet, working with attention to their task but also staying quiet to help others concentrate on their tasks. Many kids felt that some parts were easy and some parts were challenging but this experience has helped take away some of the mystery of the testing process for them.

Next week, the NYS Math assessment will be taken on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We will follow the same procedure as this week in regards to homework with an exception on Monday; there will be math homework given that day.

Here's what to expect next week:

• Dance class will take place on Monday. There will be a performance on the morning of May 23 at the Multimedia room. There will be a flyer with more details about the time. Please save the date!
• We will visit the Armory on Tuesday. 
• The NYS Math exams will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please have your child to eat a healthy breakfast and keep a consistent bedtime so your child will be well rested. 

Here are the Terra Cotta Warriors from Art class. Have an excellent weekend!

Week 29

We had a fun Family Friday as we got to plant sunflowers in pods for our school gardens. We look forward to seeing how our flowers might grow soon. Our thanks to Roan's mom for stepping up to lead the activity!

A note went home on Friday regarding the testing that will take place next week. Here is the note in case you have not seen the yellow letter in your child's homework folder:

Next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (April 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th) we will be taking the New York State English Language Arts Assessment. This will be your child’s first experience with standardized testing. We have been practicing in class how to tackle the different types of questions and overall, the children have done well using reading and writing strategies learned throughout the year to help them. 

Please note the following for next week: 

• ·       We encourage your child to eat a nutritious breakfast everyday and especially on test days. Try to avoid overly sugary items. 
• ·    Please make sure your child is well rested. It would be helpful to have a consistent bedtime.
• ·       Students will use the bathroom prior to the start time of the test. 
• ·       If your child has an illness, please keep them home. There will be make up dates. 

During test days, we will also not have our usual homework routine. Although we ask that children continue their independent reading, there will be no reading response due this week and the following week. There will not be any writing and math homework during this week. There will be math homework next Monday, two days prior to the math test. 

Here are the happenings of note for next week:

• We have Dance class on Monday. Please remind your child to dress for movement and to wear removable socks.
• The NYS ELA test will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This is an untimed test but we anticipate that most students will be done by 11. Please make sure your child arrives at school on time.

Finally, please check out our new music video. It is the first time we've tried this song out and it might be a selection for our May music concert.