Hello Platte Families!
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful spring break and feel rejuvenated in spirit and mind! I'm hopeful that spring will be in full force soon, and we can begin enjoying some more sunshine and outdoor activities. Before writing about our areas of study during the past school weeks, I'd like to address some of our routines and schedules.
I want to impress upon you the importance of helping your child get to school on time in the morning. When students arrive late, their morning is affected and their day continues to be a little off. They miss the opportunities to be greeted properly, choose a work space and/or partner, and the socialization that naturally occurs upon a class's arrival. Please help them get here by 8:25 so they can feel settled and ready to begin their day at 8:30.
Thank you for supporting your child in the weekly homework assignments! We are currently about 75% successful in having students take it home, complete the work, and bring it back. If your child is struggling with this, please let me know! I would like to adjust homework expectations for those who need it, so they can feel accomplished in this requirement. Homework is an expectation for all upper elementary students at GRS, and preparation for all levels beyond in their school life.
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) for math will be administered on Monday and Tuesday mornings next week. You can support your child's effort by making sure they get a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast beforehand. We all agree that this is just a snapshot in a student's academic life, but we still want them to feel confident and ready to do their best!
We have been practicing writing a friendly letter in our language groups, and students will be sending a special letter to a relative very soon. I was surprised that so many students didn't know their address and/or their zip code. I guess that, with all of our technology, snail mail is becoming outdated. They really had fun doing it though, and their will be some happy recipients!
We're also writing poetry this month, and students have been introduced to seven different types. They are currently working to create some poetry of their own. These will be shared on May day.
We have begun the study of botany. We started with simple classification of vascular plants (those with stems) and bryophytes. We focused on their needs, how their roods are powerful water seekers, and the various parts we use for food. Now we are learning about the nitrogen cycle, transpiration, and how fluids move from root to leaf. We started some seedlings to observe, and I hope some of these will make it to your garden plot!
In math and geometry we have been practicing some more beginning algebra skills with input/output tables, and using variables in equations. Students also learned about powers of numbers, and are creating a chart of powers up to 10 to the third power. Another skill that's been fun to learn are three forms of graphing. Students designed a poll, collected data among classmates, and created pictographs, bar graphs, and circle graphs to show their results.
I want to thank several families for sending in supplies for our classroom! We are now well stocked with napkins and sanitary wipes. Our only needs now are a couple of boxes of Kleenex to see us through the end of the year.
Thank you for your continued support!
Mary
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