Newsletter February 27 - March 2

Hi parents!  It's hard to believe that we are moving into March this week.  Our year is really flying by!  The Revolutionary War unit was a great one, and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance on Friday.  The kids did a great job presenting their maps - I was so proud of their hard work!

The unit ahead of us is a great one with a lot of fun activities.  I know the students are going to enjoy the book this unit as well (they all cheered when I told them it was much shorter than Johnny Tremain!)

News to Know

• Luke Weathersby is this week's snack helper.  Next week's helper is Lola.
• Students will each need a deck of cards for this week's center activity on Wednesday.  It does not have to be a new deck, but the cards should be in reasonably good condition and the set should be complete.
• We will begin taking the SAT test on Thursday, March 22 and continue into the week of the 26th.  We will be occasionally reviewing for the test starting this week, and your child's attendance is very important during this time.  Thanks for all you do!

Language Arts

We will begin reading our new novel.  Students need to read chapters 5 and 6 for homework on Tuesday night.  We will also begin to look at pronouns, including subject and object pronouns.  To prepare for the SAT test, we will practice editing sentences and passages for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Math

We will begin Topic 13: Decimals this week.  We will discuss the relationship between fractions and decimals, use money to understand decimals, and add / subtract money.  Please encourage your child to look for decimals in the world around them.  As this is a short topic, we will take the test on Friday.

Science

We will wrap up our weather topic on Monday by making a barometer and then doing some experiments with clouds and atmosphere.  We will then move into chemistry, one of my personal changes.  We will discuss states of matter, the difference between weight, mass, and volume, and physical and chemical changes.  I've got some exciting experiments planned for this week!

Math Update

Hi parents!  I wanted to inform you of a few changes to our math.  We begin each day with a multiplication test and then a Mad Minute.  For the multiplication test, students have one and a half minutes to complete each of the times tables.  Students are working their way 0 - 12.  Most students are near completion.  Once students finish, they use this time to take a mixed multiplication test.

For the Mad Minute, students have 1 minute to work as many math facts as they can.  They then work problems for a second minute.  Students progress through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  As they move along, they are expected to complete more facts.  It is so important that students get these basic facts down as they move through math and work more complex problems.

I will now be sending both of these tests home each day with some students.  If students are still working on their multiplication tests, I will send it home with the facts they need to study.  If students do not complete their Mad Minute in 2 minutes, I am sending those home as well.  Students do not have to complete these for homework or bring them back, but I want you to see where they are on math facts and decide if they need additional practice.  If you would like me to send home extra blank sheets, I am more than happy to.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Thank you so much for all you do!

Newsletter February 22 - 24

Hi parents!  I hope that you are all having a wonderful Mardi Gras!  My surgery was successful, but the recovery has been fairly miserable.  I have taken a turn for the better today, though and expect to be back at full speed on Thursday.

This has been such a wonderful unit and the kids have learned so much about the Revolutionary War.  Thank you so much to all the parents and teachers who made it so great.  Thanks also to everyone who helped out with the Valentine's Day party...it was so much fun!

News to Know

• Will Brett is this week's snack helper.  Luke Weathersby will be next week's helper.
• I sent out an email about this unit's book.  If you would like me to order one for your child, the cost is $7 and I will be placing the order on Wednesday.
• BDS jersey orders are due this Friday.  Please let me know if you have any questions.
• The culmination performance is this Friday at 2:00.  Grades 4-6 will be performing plays at 1:30.
• We will begin taking the SAT test on Thursday, March 22 and continue into the week of the 26th.  We will be occasionally reviewing for the test starting next week, so your child's attendance is very important during this time.

Language Arts

We will finish reading Johnny Tremain and take the comprehension test on Friday.  We will practice combining sentences with adjectives and writing friendly letters.

Math

We will wrap up our topic on fractions and take the Topic 12 test on Friday.  We will spend Thursday in review and I will send home a study guide Thursday evening.

Social Studies / Science

We will finish making our maps for the culmination performance.

Newsletter Week of February 13 - 17

Hi parents!  We had another great week here at BDS.  This week, we learned about the events leading up to the American Revolution and some of the famous figures.  The students are really enjoying this unit!

News to Know

• Luke Antinnes is this week's snack helper.  Will Brett is next week's helper.
• Lunch menus / money are due on Tuesday.
• We will be having our Valentine's Day Party on Tuesday at 1:45.  Students need to bring Valentines for the students in our class or the entire school.  Each student also needs to bring a small baked good for the cakewalk.  Our class is responsible for the Valentine's Bingo game.  More details on that coming soon.
• I will be out next Wednesday through Friday for oral surgery.  If you cannot get in touch with me, please call Trent at 601.528.3527.
• We will be out of school on February 20 - 21 for Mardi Gras.

Language Arts

We will continue reading Johnny Tremain this week.  The students are really beginning to get into the story.  We will also continue working with adjectives.

Math

We are off to a great start with fractions.  This week, we will look at comparing fractions on the number line and adding / subtracting fractions using fraction strips.

Science / Social Studies

We will work on our project for the unit culmination performance.  I can't wait for you guys to see what we have planned!

Newsletter February 6 - February 10

Hi parents!  I hope that you are all having a great weekend and looking forward to the big game tomorrow.  We had an exciting week last week as the students got into the spirit of the American Revolution.  We learned about the French and Indian War, George Washington, and the Minutemen.  The students had a great time on Thursday as they pretended to be Minutemen and rushed to get ready at the sound of an alarm.  The field trip to Landrum's Country was wonderful and I know the students learned so much!

News to Know

• Emmy is this week's snack helper.  Luke Antinnes will be next week's helper.
• Any students who order Scrip this week can have free dress on Friday.

Language Arts

We will continue reading Johnny Tremain.  On Wednesday, we will have our own mock court case to relate to Johnny's trial in the novel.  We will continue studying adjectives.  This week we will look at adjectives that compare, when to use more and most, and when to use good and bad.  We will have a vocabulary test on Friday.

Math

We will take the Topic 11 test on Monday.  The students do not have to study for this test, as it only covers a few concepts and they had no trouble this week.  They will be allowed to use their notes and I will offer them any extra help they need.  We will begin Topic 12 on Tuesday.  This topic covers fractions.  This week we will be working with the concept of fractions and benchmark fractions.

Science

We will wrap up our study on weather this week by looking at the Earth's atmosphere and the types and formation of clouds.