Welcome Back!

It is Christmas Time!

I hope that everyone enjoyed their long holiday weekend.  It was definitely needed at our house!  

This week, we will be doing our NWEA tests.  We will test on Monday from 1:50- 2:50, Tuesday at 9:20, Wednesday at 1:50, and Thursday at 1:50 is a make-up day.  If you could please try to make sure that your child is here on those days, at those times, it helps to make testing more accurate, and less stressful.  Thank you!

In Math this week, students will look at patterns if multiplication, multiplying by multiples, multiplying by two-digit numbers, and multi-step problems.  Again, fact practice will be key in understanding these concepts.  Thank you for continuing to help your child be successful with these!

In Science, we will study electricity and magnetism, and investigate it.  On Wednesday, students will complete a review for our test on Friday.  We will do an in-class review on Thursday.  Again, a test will be on Friday.  

In Reading, students will learn to identify theme across cultures.  We will use an Indian tale called Munna's Grain of Rice to practice determining theme.  Students will then read an adapted classic, A Christmas Carol.  Students will work to determine the theme by identifying the problem and solution.  Theme is really the main idea of the text.  We will then take it a step farther to find the "universal theme", which is the topic- a more broad idea of the text.  This helps readers look at the theme across cultures.  The two stories we will be studying have a universal theme of "greed".  

In English Language Arts, students will learn to take notes using Double Column note taking.  They will then use this skill to complete a short research project on how Christmas is celebrated in different countries.  All of the sources they will need are provided, they will simply locate the information, record their notes, and type the information into a the paragraph paper.  It should be fun!

Thank you again for all of you support and help during the expository papers and presentations.  We couldn't have done it without you!

As a quick reminder, when we have a "snow" day, we resume the day missed when we return.  For example, if we missed a Day  (PE special), when we return, that is the special day that we have.  Hopefully we wait a while before having any more!