Highlights from Weeks 25-27

For the past few weeks, Room 307 students have been preparing for our state standardized testing: MSP (Measurement of Student Progress). For third graders, it will be the first time taking the test in reading/math. For fourth graders, it will be the second year and they will be tested in reading, math, and writing. Our testing schedule is as follows:

Writing Day 1: April 29th

Writing Day 2: May 1

Math: May 6

Reading: May 8

Please help to make sure that students are getting plenty of rest and eating a healthy breakfast to gear up!  Recent homework has been adjusted to help prepare also - this will help you and students gauge what the questions will be like and which concepts will be covered. Feel free to contact me if you have questions regarding testing!

Highlights:

-We finished our Narrative writing practice, and started on our Expository writing. Students are learning how to write 5-paragraph essays and the focus and determination has been astounding! The quality of writing has been improving and students are showing what they have learned throughout the year. 

-We are into our second fractions unit!  Equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, adding/subtracting mixed numbers are all concepts we have been covering in fractions!  Here are some pictures of students working on visualizing and manipulating fractions through our fraction materials:

-In reading, we just ended another book club unit and students were digging deep into the books and challenged within their groups to think in new ways.  Each group met once a week to discuss and share their ideas from the past week's reading. The next reading unit will be Historical Fiction Book Clubs.  As students get more and more used to sharing their thinking, I can see their conversation skills improving dramatically!  

-We are moving into our last science unit for the year: Sound. 

-With our Buddy Class, we made a fun country study map of Germany. This was displayed at the Taste of Leschi several weeks ago.

We also made healthy smoothies with our buddies and Mrs. Froberg taught us how to make them!

-Our weekly class meetings are now student led!  It has been exciting to see how students are learning to step up and lead the group in discussing issues, coming up with solutions and implementing those new ideas. Some ideas have worked and some have not, but the lesson is learned and the decision-making process has been very interesting:

-April Fools was full of tricks and fun activities. Students were surprised to walk into a classroom with 1st grade chairs!  They were switched with another classroom's chairs!  We also ate some brown E's and tried to solve an "impossible" word search. 

-Last but not least!  Way to go to all students who attended the State Chess Tournament today - you are amazing!

Happy Spring Break!!