Reading: This week we started our Mystery Book Clubs. This is a fast unit which requires a lot of reading at a pretty good clip. During this unit your child will be reading 2-4 books within a series. We will be looking into all of the elements and characters of a mystery as well reviewing some characterization skills that we worked on at the beginning of the year. It again amazes me how your students discuss their thinking about what they are reading. They do such a wonderful job with this.
Writing: We are working on finishing our faith writing which is all about how we see that God is real. Once we have this finished we have two small writing assessments to do and then we will start our personal essay unit. The kids are excited for this one to start.
Word Work: I have been trying something new for the last two weeks with word work. I have been challenging the kids to come up with their own way to sort their words. They have been enjoying this and what I find is often they find ways to sort that really make sense to them which increases their retention of their words and words with similar patterns. I also have decided to end the sort homework. Feel free to practice at home but I am not requiring it. I know many spring sports have started and the weather is getting warmer and I want them to get outside. The only homework that will be coming from me the remainder of the year will be reading minutes.
Math: This has been a big week in Math. We have learned about area and perimeter and have spent a lot of time finding both for many different size rectangles. We are working at finding unknown side lengths when we are given area or perimeter and then checking to see if our answers make sense. We will be having a test on this unit next week Friday. Your child will come home with a Math review on Monday to prepare for the test.
Social Studies: We continued to be historians this week as we studied Michigan History. We looked at the Native American tribes that lived in Michigan and focused specifically on Ojibway, the Ottawa, and the Potawatomi tribes. This is a very fun unit for the students and they love sharing information they already know about the tribes.
Bible: This week we wrapped up our unit on Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Your child took a test on this unit this week which came home in their folders. We have begun studying the Israelites journey into the wilderness. The class was amazed this week at how the Israelites complained so quickly after they had just seen God perform amazing miracles in Egypt. Yet, in our discussions we realized that we also quickly complain to God even when our life really good. We see how God constantly reminds his children that he cares for them.
Upcoming Events:
- Tulip Time- We will be having half days on May 6 and 7. The children's parade is May 7 and all students are expected to march in the parade dressed in a dutch costume. Your child will need to bring a sack lunch to school that day and we will be traveling as a class by bus to the parade route after lunch. Your child may wear their dutch costume to school that day or you are welcome to come in at 11:45 and help them change into it. We will send home a parade line up as we get closer to the date so you know which side of the street to sit on to best see your child. Also, you are asked to pick up your child at the end of the parade route.
- Reading Minutes due Monday
- May 25, No School- Memorial Day
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