News.....news.....news!

Hi Everyone!

With the fourth quarter being so busy I wanted to touch base with you about some important upcoming events and where we're heading with our learning!

Report cards went home on Friday.  Please sign and return the envelope and report card feedback paper ASAP.  If you have any questions about the new report card please let me know.

AIMS testing is next week!  In 4th and 8th grades the students are tested on Science as well.  We will take the Science test on Monday and the Reading and Math tests Tuesday-Thursday.  It is SO SO important that each kiddo is here on time and has a balanced breakfast.  I will be sending home a letter this week with our schedule and some helpful tips for food, rest, etc.  There will be no homework this week to help take away any stress!

We will be going on our field trip to the Old Pueblo Archaeology site on April 28th.  The letter and permission slip went home today.  Please return at your earliest convenience. 

We have been working on our published books for the last two weeks.  We are writing an A-Z book about Arizona!  Each kiddo picked a letter of the alphabet, researched information, and started their rough drafts.  They will start their final drafts this week.  Everyone has the opportunity to purchase a book.  The order form went home in today's homework folder.  The books are $14.95 + $2.95 shipping and handling.  The order forms are due Friday, April 8th.   These are a wonderful keepsake for your child!

Our class has been blessed with field trips and guest speakers this year because of tax credit money.  Some of the things we've been able to do are........Kartchner, Mad Science, AZ Historical Society, Old Pueblo Dig, etc.   I can't tell you what an impact it makes on their learning.  Thank you so much for donating!

*Be sure to see the previous post's Smilebox from the third quarter!
*Student Council is sponsoring a coin drive for the next two weeks.  All proceeds will go to the Red Cross to help the victims of Japan's earthquake and tsunami.  We'll take change or bills.  The winning class gets an Eegees party!
*Book orders are due Friday, April 8th.
*The T-bird Trot is Saturday, April 16th. 
*Spring Fling is Friday, May 13th.   

Here are some of the skills your child is working on!

Math:  We started chapter 9 today.  This chapter will cover converting %, fractions, and decimals as well as multiplying and dividing decimals.  We continue to take our multiplication timed tests.  More and more kiddos are testing out of the multiplication and division every week!  Ask your child to show you how to convert 53% to a decimal and a fraction.  Then ask them to convert 0.04 to a fraction and a %. 

Reading:  see teacher's website.  We are working on our Power Point Book Reports here in class.  They are turing out awesome!  They've incorporated pictures, sounds, movie clips, etc.!

Language Arts:  We are continuing to work on Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and the parts of speech.  We are on Unit 12 for spelling. 

Science:  We just finished our unit on Weather and the kiddos did a fabulous job!  Ask your child about the 4 cloud types.  This week we are working with Vertebrates/Invertebrates and Renewable/Nonrenewable Resources.  Ask your child to compare and contrast the difference between each of these.  Next week we will begin our study on Animal Adaptation (mimicry, camoflauge, etc.). 

Social Studies:  We just finished learning about Modern Arizona!  Our study took us from 1900-2011.  We have been researching and writing our rough drafts for our published books about Arizona.  We will be finishing these next week and then learning more about the Economics of Arizona.  Ask your child which letter they picked for the A-Z book and then read their rough draft.  They took these home as homework tonight.

The year is flying by.  Our class is an AMAZING one and I look forward to finishing this last quarter with them.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Mrs. Ronnie


*This is one of my favorites!