April 4th Update

Good afternoon,
A short but productive week in room 14.  I am happy to say that our California Mission Reports are finally done!  So far they look great and I can't wait to look at the brochures closer as well as view all of the slide show presentations.  I really enjoyed the extra credit projects a few students brought in as well.  After Spring Break the class will begin a new research project on an animal that goes along with our current science unit.  I will be giving the class more specific details later this month.

I finally got the unit 8 math tests graded this week and you find these in the Friday Folders.  Over all the class did really well with this unit on fractions.  This week  we started unit 9 and are now working with decimals and exploring how they are related to fractions.  On Monday and Tuesday I was lucky enough to get to attend  a two day professional development about using the workshop model to teach math.  I am really excited to bring back so many great ideas to our class and use them to help students learn how to better talk about their learning and understanding in math. 

In science we have continued to observe our terrariums...boy have those plants grown quickly.  Next week we will add a new component to them by introducing isopods (the students like to call them rollie pollie bugs).  Students will get to observe the isopods in three different situations to see which one they prefer to live in. 

In writing we are finishing up our response to literature essays and many students have begun to turn them in already.  They are all due to me no later than next Friday, April 11th.  After Spring Break we will start our final unit in writing-narratives. 

In reading we are continuing to read Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Students who didn't finish the packet for chapters 12-13 know that it is due on Monday. 

In social studies we are reading all about the events that lead up to California becoming a state and students are very excited to start learning more about the California Gold Rush.  During our read aloud time after lunch we are reading a very exciting book, By the Great Horn Spoon, which is about the adventures of a young boy and his butler as they travel to California from the east coast to try and strike it rich during the gold rush.  Students are really enjoying this book and can't wait to hear more every afternoon.

This coming Tuesday, April 8th, is Ability Awareness Day.  Thank you to my volunteers who will be helping to guide the students through the different sessions.  I am looking forward to working with all of you. 

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Barkve