Week of 12-3-2019

Assalamu alikum,

In just a few weeks students, parents (and teachers) will get a well-deserved break. Until then, we are GO-GO-GO!

We are now two weeks into the next term. NWEA testing has begun this week for students. There is no special preparation required for the winter NWEA. The winter testing focuses on math and reading and gives us an idea for how students are grasping the concepts and helps teachers adjust to students' strengths and areas for improvements.

Here's what we are doing this week.

English-Language Arts:

Students have completed their novels and are completing an end of book project. With each novel, the projects will be more involved but this first project is a character analysis. Students have chosen their favorite character and ID'ed 10 traits. They then have to find 10 quotes from the text that support their chosen traits. The next round of novels will start Monday. We are beginning our historical fiction, survival/adventure unit. Novels in this unit are The Bears of Hemlock Mountain, The Courage of Sarah Noble, The Cabin Faced West, and the Sign of the Beaver. All the novels feature a child protagonist.

Math:

Lion and Tigers this week will focus in using partial product understanding to build understanding of the traditional algorithm. After gaining comfort with using the algorithm the focus will shift to understanding and interpreting word problems using tape diagrams and close reading. Tigers will have a test on Friday. Lions can expect a test at the beginning of next week. (Depends on NWEA testing schedule.)

Social Studies:

We beginning our unit on United States regions by first reviewing the characteristics of Michigan and the Midwest region. Before diving into the geography of the regions we will first learn about the people. This means we will be learning about immigration. Students will begin the research part of their immigration project next week.

Science:

Students are working wrapping up their car design projects. This week we will also be launching science fair. This is the first year that students will be working independently. It is very important that all students meet the project deadlines through the science fair process. There will be a separate post just about science fair.

I really appreciate when parents communicate with me regarding their questions and concerns. I do my best to respond within 24 hours. Please note that my "quiet hours" are from 9pm - 7am. If you send an e-mail or Classdojo message or Orbund e-mail during these hours, I will receive them at 7am.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard