Class Update 4/3/17

Important Reminders:

This Wednesday, the 5th, is an early release day with a 1:40 dismissal time. Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home that day in case it is different from the normal routine.

Soon students will be participating in MAP Testing in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The dates for fifth grade testing are as follows:

• April 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 and May 3, 4, and 5

It is very important that students are in school daily as we prepare for these tests. Attendance on testing days is also critical to student success. Children will benefit from getting a good night's sleep and eating a healthy breakfast throughout the testing window.

Long School Night at Grant's Farm is on April 21st and Long Elementary Cardinals Game Cardinals Flyer (3).pdf is on May 31st.

Class Updates:

In math, we are finishing up the last of our chapters on fractions. Students have a Chapter 10 Quiz tomorrow on multiplying and dividing fractions. The children have a study guide and were given extra practice problems. If they complete at least half of the extra problems they can earn extra credit. We have also started to learn about geometry. Concepts will include classifying polygons and 3-D shapes.

In reading, the students are learning how to do a "close reading" of a poem. We are looking at how an author uses a variety of figurative language and imagery to make a poem descriptive and add to its meaning. For writing, we are reviewing the three main genres of writing we covered this year, which are narrative, informational, and argumentative.

Our last STEM project was to design a rubber band powered "moon rover" out of items like cardboard, straws, pencils, and candy. The students found it to be a challenge to figure out how to use the rubber bands to make the wheels turn, but were very creative with their solutions!