Well, well, well...It's been a while. There are quite a few updates, and they all have popped up at the same time! Please take a few minutes to read through these, as I feel they are of some importance:
1. Reading Incentives - As was sent home a few weeks ago, we are getting rewarded for one of life's best things...READING! In addition to their monthly Pizza Hut Book-It program, they also had a chance to earn a free Six Flags ticket just by turning in their Feb reading calendars. Some students forgot, so I'll also accept their March calendars if necessary. In class, we will do all the read-to-self minutes it takes to earn a Kane County Cougars ticket, which will be provided as soon as possible. While not reading related, please keep up with the Raging Waves exercise sheet as well to earn a free ticket there! Whew...that's quite a bit for not doing very much :)
2. ISATs are currently in progress and all is well so far! We will continue to test until Wednesday of next week. Thanks for all the support/big breakfasts provided to the students...the tests have looked really great from a quick glance.
3. Field Trip - A note went home this week concerning the field trip on April 4th. Please find that letter and return it with a $5 payment ASAP. As for the chaperones, I will draw 4 out of the pile of volunteers early next week, and thanks to all who were able to volunteer.
4. Spring Conferences - A note is coming home with the students today about conferences. You are only asked to come if a conference is requested. However, if you'd like to meet to discuss any concerns, please know I'd love to chat about your son/daughter. There's not a whole lot of information other than what comes home weekly and the most recent MAP tests which came home last week. At the end of the year, however, I'm hoping to plan a night where all parents can come in together to see our class results and individual results of the Spring MAP scores (taken in late April/early May). It's been a celebration of great results the last 6 years, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for similar results :)
5. Biography Projects - Over the next couple months, IN CLASS, we will be researching a famous person (we've already made our choices). We will then turn our notes into a Powerpoint, complete with many facts and pictures. Then, we will present these in front of our classmates in probably early May. ALL OF THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE AT SCHOOL. Once the projects are completed, the students can take their flash drives home to practice/clean up their work. Once again, this ensures the child's sense that they completed the entire project on their own, and it also creates a fair balance for those students who don't have the same resources as others.
***Well, thanks for taking a few (OK 10) minutes to read through some of the exciting things (other than those tests) that are happening in our class. Thanks again for the continued support, understanding, and encouragement you have each given this year. While things are going great in class, please know I refuse to become complacent and just "survive" until the end of the year. I will continue to do WHATEVER it takes to get your children completely ready not just for 5th grade, but for a lifetime of learning.
