Classroom News: April 8, 2011 AIMS TESTING NEXT WEEK

Academics
Reading/Writing: We continue to read short stories. Our goal this week was to “read between the lines” and make inferences.

This week in writing, students were instructed in how to improve their rough drafts. Students wrote a narrative and then applied revising and editing techniques to make their writing clear and interesting.

Next week students will begin brainstorming their own creative mixed-up animal stories.

Spelling: The spelling goal this week was to identify spelling errors. Students were tested on commonly misspelled words.
Vocabulary: Students took their vocabulary quiz last week, so new words will not be introduced until after the AIMS test.

Math:
Saxon Math concepts this week: Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions, converting fractions, decimals and percents, and area and perimeter. Students also continued to learn about Euler graphs.

AIMS Prep: We have been reviewing concepts each day in preparation for the AIMS test next week.

S.S./Counseling: Mrs. Russell taught students some relaxation techniques to think about before testing next week. She then played a game with students to practice testing strategies.

Science: Next week we will begin our unit on the solar system.

PARENT NOTES

AIMS Testing: Students will take the AIMS test next week. Please make sure your child is at school every day and on time. We will begin testing first thing in the morning. In order to be successful, students need to get enough sleep during testing week, and they should eat healthy food to keep their brains fueled.
There will be no homework during testing week except for missing, late or absent make-up work.

Reminder: Students with late work must attend detention. I remind them weekly that late and missing work negatively impacts their overall grade. We should all strive to be the best we can be! Homework is due the day after it is assigned unless it is a weekly assignment or a long-term assignment. Students are still required to read each evening and fill in their reading log.

Dress Code: Students need to come to school each day in the proper attire. Some students are wearing alternative colors under their red, white or blue shirt. Only the aforementioned colors are allowed. As the year has progressed, many students have grown and hence, outgrown their uniform clothes. Please make sure your child’s shirts and shorts/pants still fit. Girls’ shirts must be long enough to be tucked in and shorts and pants need to be loose enough for the shirts to be tucked in. Boy’ shirts should not be so long that it is difficult to tuck them in.

IMPORTANT DATES:
April:
8- Character Lunch
8- Spin Meeting/Bingo Night
11-15- Aims Testing
15- Glow Ball Event
16- Annual Golf Tournament
18-22- Penny War Week
20- Jump Rope for Heart
20- End of Coupon Book Sales
20- Spirit Week Begins
21-25- Easter Break
29- Last Student Council Dance

May:
3-7 Teacher Appreciation
12 Field Day
10-14 Book Fair
14 Breakfast with principal
26 Yearbook Signing
28 Last Day of School