March 23, 2014

Dear Parents,

     Welcome back from spring break to our final quarter of the school year.  It's hard to believe we are finishing up the year, when it seems as though we just began.  I look forward to the learning that will take place over the next ten weeks or so.  The second graders will finish their historical fiction unit this week and have the opportunity to publish their writing.  We will not have an opportunity to complete this writing project digitally, but I plan on them creating an "old-fashioned" book.  On Monday they will start a science unit on life cycles.  This weekend I ordered painted lady larvae, so the students could observe the life-cycle of a butterfly.  This unit will be about a month long, studying living things and their characteristics.
     The third grade students are working on their health unit.  They have currently studied the circulatory system, respiratory system and the digestive system.  They have researched and written a couple of paragraphs about each system, along with created a hands on example demonstrating how the systems operate.  This week the goal is to complete the muscular system and skeletal system, but we may have difficulty due to Spectra and Wednesday's field trip.  Then next week they will finish up with the nervous system.  Once they complete this unit they will move into science, force and motion, and magnets.
     This quarter bring the MAP test.  I will send home the official dates but I believe it begins April 22nd and ends on May 9th.  During this time the second grade students switch schedules with the fifth grade students.  Their special time during these three weeks will be at 10:15-11:15 and lunch will be at 12:35-1:25.  The third grade schedule will not switch.  The third graders will take the MAP test in our classroom, beginning first thing in the morning.  On the days I give the MAP the second grade students will go to Mrs. Parker's room.  I will make sure they have something to work on that goes along with what we are doing in class.  They will return to our room at 11:15 when their specials are over.  It worked out well last year, it was just a bit hectic, but the kids understood it was due to the MAP test.
     This week the third grade students will go on their field trip to Bush Wildlife on Wednesday.  The schedule for the rest of the week will stay the same.  A final announcement for the second grade parents a note is coming home about tickets for the second grade musical.  Make sure you fill that out and return it as quickly as you can, tickets go quickly and are a hot commodity.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carrie Hepburn