Friday, April 28

Things to Note...
On Friday, May 12, we will be making tie dye t-shirts as a class!  We will wear these shirts for field day so that our class stands out and are easy to identify as we travel around the field.  It will also be a fun, team-building project!  So, please send in a white t-shirt for your child (it can be any style of shirt they want), preferably prewashed, by May 11.  It can even be a reused t-shirt that they already have, even if there are some words on it.  It just needs to be mostly white so that the tie dye color stands out.  These can be found for very low prices in packs at Target and Walmart, or individually at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

There will be homework next week that is optional.  Since it is the week before STAAR testing, a STAAR Prep BINGO sheet will go home on Monday.  If students want to participate, they can complete tasks on the card to create a four in a row BINGO.  If they turn it in on Friday with a student signature promising that they were truthful in their completion of the work, they will earn a small prize!  If they choose not to participate, they can spend the week reading for fun, and taking a brain break before STAAR testing the following week. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Curriculum Preview...
Math: STAAR review
Language Arts: STAAR review
Social Studies: Communities over time ("School Rocks" PBL)
Science: Life Cycles


Mark Your Calendars...

5/5- Spirit Assembly (7:40 am)

5/8- STAAR Math test

5/9- STAAR Reading test

5/15-5/19- Book Fair

5/26- Field Day

5/29- NO SCHOOL

6/1- Last day of school!

STAAR prep Tip of the Week: Healthy Choices
Food fuels the brain and the body, so it's important that students make healthy choices at all times, but especially leading up to and on testing days!  It's important that students have a substantial, healthy breakfast on testing days.  Avoid sugary foods, like Pop Tarts, donuts, and sugary cereals that will give them a burst of energy, but then cause them to crash in the middle of the testing time.  Fruits, eggs, breakfast tacos, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, yogurt, etc. are all good options.  Also, remember to send your child with a couple of healthy, non-messy snacks on testing days (good examples: pretzels, raisins, grapes, crackers, trail mix; bad examples: Cheetos that will leave messy fingers, yogurt that is liquidy and a spill hazard, cookies that are just sugary and will cause an energy crash)

Friday, April 21

Things to Note...
Today students "ran wild" for the Nature Society's fundraiser.  Thank you for your support!

Monday is our Volunteer Appreciation Assembly and breakfast.  You're invited if you've chaperoned a field trip or volunteered in any way for our class this year.  We could not do it without you, and this is our small way of saying thanks!

RRISD has a bond issue on the ballot, starting with early voting on April 24.  Visit the bond website for more information.

Have a wonderful weekend!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Place value; STAAR review
Language Arts: Finishing personal narratives; STAAR review
Social Studies: Communities over time ("School Rocks" PBL)
Science: Animal and plant adaptations; Life Cycles


Mark Your Calendars...
4/24- Volunteer Appreciation Assembly (7:40 am)

5/5- Spirit Assembly (7:40 am)

5/8- STAAR Math test

5/9- STAAR Reading test

5/15-5/19- Book Fair

5/26- Field Day

5/29- NO SCHOOL

6/1- Last day of school!

STAAR prep Tip of the Week: Pick ONE Thing to Work On
We took our final big STAAR practice tests this week in both reading and math.  Therefore, we have some new information about what areas students are still missing on these tests.  My advice to you is to look over these tests with your child and choose one thing they can focus on improving over the next two weeks in reading, and one thing in math (example: fractions, main idea/details, summarizing, inferring, area/perimeter, etc.).  If there are multiple topics they missed, just pick ONE.  It may be overwhelming and frustrating when they see that the didn't do as well as they hoped on these practices tests.  So, the best way to help them build confidence is to pick one thing to focus on.  They can realistically "fix" that thing before the test-- if they try to work on everything, it may not be as effective.  Help them find resources to work on their one thing on our class website-- and celebrate when they see improvement from their practice on a regular basis! 

Thursday, April 13

Things to Note...
The Planet Protectors did a GREAT job with their assembly performances today!  Thank you for coming and learning about our PBL, and for supporting your child as we prepared for today.  I am very proud of all of the students, and they should be proud of themselves!

Homework next week will be a reading and math STAAR practice packet, due on Friday, like we have been doing the past couple of weeks.  No spelling this week.  We will give out a new list next Monday (4/24).

On Friday, students will be participating in the Run Wild fun run during their P.E. time!    This fundraising event is being organized by our 3rd-5th grade Nature Society Club.  Look for a pledge collection envelope going home today (4/17) with your child that contains more information.


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Place value; STAAR review
Language Arts: Finishing personal narratives; STAAR review
Social Studies: Communities over time
Science: Animal and plant adaptations


Mark Your Calendars...
4/14- NO SCHOOL

4/21- Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest Ends

4/24- Volunteer Appreciation Assembly (7:40 am)

5/5- Spirit Assembly (7:40 am)

5/8- STAAR Math test

5/9- STAAR Reading test

5/15-5/19- Book Fair

5/26- Field Day

5/29- NO SCHOOL

6/1- Last day of school!

STAAR prep Tip of the Week: Sleep is Key!
Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my most important tips with you on what you can do to help your child be as ready as possible on STAAR testing days.

My first tip on my list of the most important things you can help your child with to be prepared for test day is to help them get some good quality sleep!  This is not just the night before-- in the weeks leading up to the test, it is important to set a consistent bedtime and some routines to help them wind their brains down.  For example, reading together in bed before turning out the light is a great routine to start, if it's not something you already do.  Screen time right before bed is not a great way to wind down-- in fact, it can have the opposite effect.  Doing these small things to encourage an age-appropriate amount of quality sleep is simple and basic, but if their bodies and brains are not well rested, then they will automatically be at a disadvantage on test days!  

Friday, April 7

Things to Note...
This week, we had some very interesting guest speakers!  Mr. Konrad Bouffard, owner of Round Rock Honey, came to share his experience with starting a business with us.  Then, as a part of STEAM Day on Wednesday, we heard from a computer programmer, and an IT manager...Gigi's dad!  All of these professionals gave us some great connections to our study of entrepreneurs, the design process, and coding, as well as tips on how to be successful, regardless of the career path we choose.  Ask your child what they learned!

Report cards went home yesterday in Thursday folders.  Please return the ENVELOPE ONLY...the report card is yours to keep!  As always, please make sure that you're tracking your child's grades on Home Access throughout the quarter, and having ongoing conversations with them about their work.  Report cards should never contain surprises, thanks to this awesome resource.  If you have any questions, please let me know at any time!

Our Planet Protectors assembly is next Thursday, April 13!  The students have worked hard all year to learn about conserving resources, and have been working extra hard these past couple of weeks to put together an informational assembly for the school.  We will have two performances on Thursday-- one for the school at 7:45 am, and a second for third grade parents at 1:30 pm.  This way, you can have a chance to get a better seat at the performance than you otherwise might at the morning school assembly. :)  If they have a role in a skit, they might need to bring a costume or props on Thursday.  If they do not need to wear anything in particular for a skit, all other students will wear their Planet Protectors t-shirts!  Ask your child what part they have in the assembly (some are doing behind the scenes work, and others have a speaking or on-stage role!).

We have a very cool experience coming up, thanks to parent from Mrs. Lilleboe's class!  Students will be doing a propagation activity with fig trees!  This will take place on Monday, April 17 at 1:15 pm for our class.  I need several parent volunteers to be there for this lesson to assist students.  If you are able/willing to volunteer for this activity, please email me!  

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Multiplication and division
Language Arts: Fiction and personal narratives
Social Studies: Communities over time
Science: Animal adaptations


Mark Your Calendars...
4/13- Planet Protectors Assembly (7:45 am); 2nd show for parents only (1:30 pm)
4/14- NO SCHOOL

4/21- Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest Ends
5/8- STAAR Math test
5/9- STAAR Reading test
5/15-5/19- Book Fair