<span style="color: #800080">Important Dates:</span>

<span style="color: #800080">Wednesday, April 21</span><sup><span style="color: #800080">st</span></sup><span style="color: #800080">:  Report Card Pick-up:  NO SCHOOL</span>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #339966"> Instruction for the Week</span></p>
<span style="color: #3366ff">Literacy:</span>

<span style="color: #3366ff"> Reading:</span>

<span style="color: #3366ff">Last week, students did a great job with using their inner voice to show understanding of the text.  Students used post-it notes to write down ideas, predictions, questions, and opinions.  This week, students will monitor their comprehension by listening to that inner voice and responding to the text he/she is reading.  Students will also practice stopping, thinking, and reacting to informational text and practice making connections with small poems as well as other texts.  To reinforce student learning, each student is asked to use the strategy that was taught on that particular day and practice at home during their 30 minutes of reading.</span>

<span style="color: #3366ff">Writing</span>

<span style="color: #3366ff">Students are writing some very thoughtful poems.  Last week, students learned about couplets, giving poetry, and change poetry.  They learned about ABCB patterns.  This week, students will learn about onomatopoeia poetry, free verse, terse verse, and diamante poetry.</span>

<span style="color: #ff9900">Mathematics:</span>

<span style="color: #ff9900">Last week, students took their Unit 7 assessment.  All grades are posted on the Parent Portal.  I am keeping all tests until the Report Card Pick-up so we can discuss your child’s strengths and weakness.  In Unit 8, we begin working on fractions!  This week, student will work on naming fraction parts, using probability, and using a number-line to learn about fractions.<span style="color: #000000"> </span></span>

<span style="color: #ff0000">Social Studies</span>

<span style="color: #ff0000"> The students each got a part of their landform project on Friday.  All Social Studies grades are on Parent Portal.  I am sending home copies of the rubrics on Monday.  This week, students will work on their parts for the Chicago Play.  The play date is to be announced.  We are currently working on a few snags that have come along the way.  You will hear more about the play when everything is finalized.</span>

Science:

Last week, we took our final Earth Materials Assessment.  This week, we begin our new unit:  SOUND!  During this week’s Science unit, students will be able to:
<ul>
	<li>observe sounds made by objects when dropped</li>
	<li>compare sounds to develop sound discrimination</li>
	<li>create a drop code</li>
	<li>communicate with others using a drop code</li>
	<li>identify a variety of sound sources and receivers</li>
	<li>observe the vibrations made by various objects that produce sound</li>
	<li>use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations:  observing, communicating, comparing, and organizing</li>
</ul>
I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone this year!  There are 67 days (including weekends) until your child is a 4<sup>th</sup> grader!

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Ms. Prasad-Heintz