Weekly News - Update

• This week the fifth graders began taking the Gates MacGinitie assessment. This test is one that is given to all fifth grade and it assesses reading vocabulary and reading comprehension. It is one tool uses to place fifth graders in the middle school and to also inform middle school teachers of any reading difficulties a student may have. On Thursday they took the Vocabulary subtest and they will take the Comprehension subtest next week.
• Students were given their final Social Studies/Science project. They will be working with a partner (or on their own) to create a power point presentation. Students are to work in class, but their are allowed to research information at home using their thumb drives.
• In Math students are continuing to work on multiplication and division of fraction. Our focus has been to practice using tape diagrams. Please ask your children to show you how to use a tape diagram. They can use the following problem 2/3 of 24.
• In Literacy we have begun reading a new trade book. It is called Hatchet and it is about a boy, his hatchet and his survival skills in the Canadian wilderness. Ask your children to tell you about the story. Students will use their Reading Response journals to respond to a variety of questions/activities involving this story. In writing they are finishing an essay on "What is one thing I can do to change the world" and beginning a writer's choice story. This story can be about any writing topic they have learned this year.

Happy Mother's Day to a wonderfully, supportive group of Mom's. Thank you for all you do for your children. I truly appreciate your help from home. Have a wonderful day.