April is Here

     April and warmer weather are here! There is much to be said for outdoor recess.  Here's hoping April will be warm and dry so we can get outside with more regularity.
     Our homeroom finishes up PARCC testing this Friday, and I am very proud of the way the children worked on these tests.  Even though they were told that these were field tests, and would not be counted, they took the testing seriously, worked hard, and checked their answers.  Many enjoyed doing the test on Chromebooks instead of the traditional paper and pencil.
     Students have also been working in homeroom groups on geometry in math and poetry in ELA.
Our math unit focused on classifying triangles and quadrilaterals based on their characteristics.  Remembering these properties is essential in order to reason through the problems in the unit.  Next week we will be back in our regular math classes and we will be tackling division of decimals.  Likewise we will be meeting in our usual ELA groups.  Mrs. Lee's class will begin reading a wonderful book, "Bud, Not Buddy."  We will start wit a few background lessons on the Great Depression, the setting of the book.  Regular spelling, grammar and vocabulary homework will also resume.
     In Social Studies our own War For Independence is underway. Students in rooms 13 and 14 have been divided into two groups.  They compete for points over the course of the unit.  Loyalists have a slight lead over the Patriots as of this writing. Points are given for answering questions, following the rules, etc.  During the unit students work with partners and groups to research and share information about the American Revolution.  Students will write an informational piece, create a poster or Google presentation, and write a persuasive letter from the point of view of a colonist.  Classes will also visit the Concord Museum for an interactive experience about the events of April 19, 1775.  Students will "become" prominent citizens of Concord to better understand the reasons for the "shot heard 'round the world."
     We are all looking forward to Arts Night on May 7.  Mrs. Coroniti, Ms. Calhou, Mr. Napierkowski, and Mr. Scarpula are all working hard with your children to showcase their amazing abilities in music and art.  I hope to see you all at the show!