I decided to go ahead and write the update early becuase there is so many dates and bits of information that I feel like I need to pass on to our families.
First, you know that we will continue to STAR test next week. Our schedule will be the following:
Tuesday, May 4th- from 10:25-11:45 Math part 1
Wednesday, May 5th- from 10:25-11:45 Math Part 2
Thursday, May 6th- from 8:30-10:00- Science Part 2
Thank you to Daisy and the parents who have volunteered to bring in snacks for the class!
Some upcoming dates that you need to be aware of for the Month of May—yes, already!
May 7th- Dr. Roy’s Thank you party. We will be celebrating another fantastic year with Roy and Duncan. Your funds collected earlier in the school year included a small gift for both of these amazing volunteers. The celebration will be held from 1:30-2:ish. Come if you have the time!
**** Student Led Conferences!!!****
I would like to invite all the parents to take the opportunity to participate in the Student Led conferences in May. I have reserved Wednesday, May 19th from 1:45-3:00 and Thursday, May 27th from 2:30-4:00 for these conferences. Student Led conferences are led by the student. They begin by sharing collected work throughout the year, MARS math score/test, ERB test results/paper, Math Olympiads scores, Art, and writing, plus a personal reflection on their experience and goals this past school year.. When it is finished, all groups have an time to debrief with me. If this is of interest to you and your schedule allows you to come, please email me to let me know which date works best. Please plan 20- 30 minutes for the conference, which includes time with me at the end. I have no time slots, but would prefer to stagger the times to every 30 minutes. Although, come when it works for you in between the times listed….(I cannot stay later due to kiddo’s at home and Karaoke night on the 27th). Just email me the time that would work for you!
Upcoming dates for this month—-there are a lot so have your calendar ready.
May 14th- Puberty Talk. Look for the notice coming home this weekend. If you DO NOT wish to have your child in the discussion, then send the form back in to me before the 12th.
May 20- Health Board due
May 21- Terman Middle School visit; International Night
May 27th- Health Board presentation in the theater 10:30-11:30; Karaoke night
May 31st NO SCHOOL
June 1st- Music Concerts for parents 9:00 am
June 3rd- Field Day and Donna Rumwell’s retirement party- after school….come to say goodbye.)sniff-sniff!
June 7th- Pool Party 10-2 at SCRA
June 9th- County Faire- 5th grade small party at school from 8:30-10:00
Curriculum still happening in the classroom….yes, we are still working.
Literature: Students will be wrapping up the final week of reading their core novel. The “Break with Charity” and “Witch of Blackbird Pond” groups will both be culminating their readings with the Spring Writing Prompt on character analysis. Throughout the weeks, I have encouraged and modeled how to keep notes on characters and their attributes. The official assignment will be given in 2 weeks, and will be completed during class time.
Language Arts: Students have been enjoying the sentence diagramming that we have been completing in class. We break apart each part of speech in the sentence. I have found that this practice is a great review for middle school and really puts all of the grammar that we have studied into practice.
Human Body Health Board. Students have picked their topic and have decided on the 3 focus questions. The next goal is to present the notes that answer the focus questions to me on Wednesday, May 5th. Students had last Tuesday to begin working on research and I have encouraged them to spend 30 minutes a day to continue to read about their topic. The notes on the cards will them be turned into a “bullet point outline”. I will be giving a lesson on this Wednesday in hopes that all students will be independent in the process. The typed outline is due to me for checking on Wednesday, May 12th. Each Tuesday, I give computer cart time from 1:00-2:15 to work on this project. Outside of the time I give them on Tuesdays, the project should be completed at home or during homework time in class. Please check often to ensure that your child is keeping up with the timing of the due dates.
I know this email seems very long….but May is a busy month. It will begin to wrap up academically, but that is when the social calendar fills up.
Enjoy the weekend and email me if you have questions.
Nikole
