Dear Parents,
     I hope all of you can get out and enjoy the nice weather!!!  This weekend is recital weekend (YAY!) for us, so we will be indoors and miss the warm weather we are to get.  We are winding down to the end of the year.  There will be lots of things that we need to accomplish and get taken care of by then.  I plan to work your kids hard until the end.  They are all doing a great job, but having trouble staying seated and using time wisely during study hall is a big issue.  I blame it on "cabin fever" and not being able to be outside when normally we are this time of year.

Language Arts -  We finished the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Wednesday!!  I showed the students the older movie with Gene Wilder.  We watched it Thursday afternoon.  I have talked to the students about book projects that can be done.  They were to talk to their parents about the options they have, and I plan on picking them Friday afternoon.  Then they will know what they are doing and can get started.  We have a book report due on May 3rd and than these projects will be due the week of May 20th. 

Math -  We are learning division in Math right now.  This week they have learned the simple form of the standard algorithm and partial product.  Of course, I am hearing that most kids like the partial product way of working a problem.  I am not surprised.  It tends to make so much more sense to the kids.. We have practiced both strategies all week.  Tomorrow we will move on to bigger problems.  I hope they have taught you a little something new about division.

Social Studies -  We have been talking about the Southwest this week.  We finished a movie on the Grand Canyon on Monday.  We began talking about the varied climate of the Southwest states.  We learned about three major areas found in that region:  desserts, savannas, and wetlands.  We talked about plants and animals that can live in these areas also.  Remember your student should be working on a project.  I have a few students who have not brought in poster board yet to for their person or poster.  The longer you wait the more they will be pressed for time.  

Have a great weekend!!! Do something outside!!

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels