March 30- April 4

Warmer Weather

I am so glad that the weather is warming up, even if just for a day or two. It will come to stay before too long.  

We have only 9 weeks of school left!  Counting days, that may sound like a lot, but I cannot believe we are this close to the end of the school year.  That being said, it is important to note that the infamous MAP testing will begin soon.  We will begin our testing the week of April 28.  We will test Tuesday through Thursday in Communication Arts.  The next week will begin Math.  Therefore, our focus to the do our best on the test begins this week.  Look for a note with some tips to help at home this week.  

In Math, students will continue working with fractions.  We will continue work with equivalent fractions, and develop our skills into using fractions with line plots.  

We will swing back into Science this week.  Students will explore the world of matter that is all around them, and even how to measure it.  We will complete some investigations this week, which is always a big hit.  

In Spelling, we will have our test on Monday (today).  After that, we will focus on MAP test spelling, which involves multiple choice items looking for the correctly spelled, or incorrectly spelled word.  This will take some practice.  This also means that you won't see a spelling list for quite a while.  

In Reading, we will continue with our Literature Circle studies, and small group work.  The students really seem to enjoy reading and discussing in these small groups.  

In English Language Arts, we will begin focusing our energy on MAP test practice.  We have ways that we are going to approach this.  First, students will be given a new test test every other day until the MAP test.  Hopefully, the reminder of good test taking strategies will help students feel more comfortable by the actual test time.  Second, we will begin reviewing different test elements, and taking practice tests.  Another big focus will be on test-taking vocabulary.  Hopefully, knowing these words will help ease their anxiety during testing.  

As a heads up, another note will be going home this week about our field trip.  We will be going to Steamboat Arabia in Kansas City on May 13.  More information will head home this week.  

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or comments.  Email is best.  akountz@midbuchanan.k12.mo.us.