What's+Happening+in+Room+09+in+April?

** SPECIAL EVENTS **
===**We have two days of MSP testing this month, April 14th and April 19th. Both are writing. The first assessment will require the students to write a story - prewrite, first draft, and final copy. In a single day. The second prompt will require a four paragraph essay. Same three steps. Same time frame.** ===

**Not to worry. Your children are ready.**
===**Look for an example of each piece of writing that was done this last week. I will be sending them home on Friday. I've scored them as I believe they would be scored by the testing staff. Please take the time to go over the work with your child. Make suggestions, coach, teach. Encourage. Think about how far he or she has come. Trust me, they are, each and every one, sincere in their desire and earnest in their efforts to show mastery and produce quality writing. I am so very proud of them.** ===

** CURRICULUM **
** ﻿ Science ** ===**We are finishing up the Alien Hyper Studio stacks. Yet to draw the aliens. Most kids have recorded their planet's conditions and adaptations.** ===

Social Studies
===**Still learning about Washington. We have several projects in the works. Glogster. We will be involved in two video conferencing/Skype activities soon.** ===

**Reading**
===**Free Reading Log. Every student has set a goal for the number of pages that he or she will read before June 16th. The minimum was 800 pages. The students may read any books they choose. I am encouraging them, of course, to choose books that are appropriately challenging. I will check weekly to make sure progress is being made. If this format does not provide adequate structure then I will provide individuals with required reading lists. I will be reading with small groups.** ===

**Math**
===**I have introduced two digit by two digit multiplication. We are still practicing addition and subtraction with decimals and fractions. We have been talking a lot about math vocabulary. I hope you got the comprehensive list. Next week, we will spend some time on two dimensional shapes and three dimensional figures.** ===

**Writing**
===**We have been practicing, practicing, practicing. All the steps - prewriting, writing, etc. Everyone has become fast friends with the dictionary. Independent proofreading and editing. I have recently had several long pieces turned in without a single error. Very thorough and methodical. Each and every child is showing rapid mastery of this process.** === ===**I have started enrolling children in my class at www.storybird.com. This is a really fun story writing site. Fantastic art. Cool format. They will have the same user name and password as they do for Edmodo.** ===