Dear Parents, 

     Last week in math we started Unit 11 “Whole Number Operations Revisited.”  We reviewed finding estimates for money and added coin and bill combinations in number stories. We also reviewed making change by counting up or subtracting.  We solved comparison number stories with money, and practiced subtraction that requires “trading.”  Finally, we practiced finding the total number of items in equal groups by multiplying!<strong>  </strong>This week we will solve division number stories and learn number models for division stories.  We will start practicing multiplication facts, focusing on facts with 2, 5, and 10.  We will also discuss the relationship between multiplication and division through fact families.

     In Writing Workshop, the students continued to use a “Many Moments” organizer to write a 2, 3, or 4 page story.  We also looked at a book by Donald Crews, who uses sound effect words in his stories to make them interesting and exciting.  This week the students will finish writing their Many Moments stories.  When all of the students have finished writing their stories, we will have our next Author’s Celebration!

     This week in phonics we will start forming plurals for words that end in -y.  We will discuss that the final ‘y’ changes to an ‘i’, and then we add -es.  For example: one lad<strong>y</strong>;<strong> </strong>three lad<strong>ies</strong>.  If we have enough time after our field trip on Thursday, the students will play a game using the homophones that we discussed last week.

     In science, we will continue our Insects unit.  Over the coming weeks, the students will observe their mealworms and caterpillars and keep records of the changes in its behaviors and appearance.

<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Passport Check:</span></strong> <strong></strong>
<ul>
	<li>There is no passport check this week.</li>
	<li>Please let me know if you would like to present to the students.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes and Reminders: </span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>We have a field trip this Thursday, May 20<sup>th</sup>.  <strong>The students must bring a lunch to eat at school when we return from the trip.  </strong>If you have not done so already, please sign and return the permission slip for this trip no later than Tuesday.  Thank you!</li>
	<li>We also have a trip next Thursday, May 27<sup>th</sup>.   The number of chaperones for this trip is unlimited!  However, please tell me before the trip if you would like to join us!</li>
	<li><strong>Midterm reports</strong> will be sent home this week.  Please sign and return only the bottom portion.</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Questions to ask at home:</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Practice equal group problems like: There are 5 boxes. Each box has 6 crayons.  How many crayons are there altogether?</li>
	<li>Practice equal sharing problems with “remainders” like: 4 students share 17 books equally.  How many books does each student get? How many are left over?</li>
	<li>Practice multiplication and division facts using fact families.  (What are the four facts for 3, 4, and 12?) 3 x 4=12,  4 x 3=12, 12 ÷ 4=3, 12 ÷ 3=4</li>
	<li>What observations did you make about your mealworm or caterpillar this week?</li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Homework:</span></strong>
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<td width="74" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="110"><strong>Monday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Tuesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Wednesday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Thursday</strong></td>
<td width="110"><strong>Friday</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Math</strong></td>
<td width="110" valign="top">Home Link 11.5</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">Home Link 11.6</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">Home Link 11.7</td>
<td width="110" valign="top">Home Link 11.8</td>
<td width="110" valign="top"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="74"><strong>Reading</strong><strong></strong></td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
<td width="110">Read at least 15 minutes</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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