FAMILY GAME NIGHT!

The third floor is sponsoring a Family Game Night on Wednesday, April 13^th at 5:30 p.m. We will be focusing on math games that the family can play as a whole. This will not only support the benefit of family time, but also enhance academic knowledge.

I hope to see all of my families there, especially since OUR floor is sponsoring it. Snacks will be provided and we will be raffling off the games that are played that night. Be one of the lucky winners to leave with a FREE game!

Exhibition Reminder

Milestone 1

Due THIS Thursday, April 14^th 

In order to pass Milestone 1, THREE things are needed in addition to 

filling out the Milestone 1 form:

1.    3 Books:

a.    the actual books need to be brought in

2.    3 Websites:

a.    printed off pages from the actual websites

3.    Interview:

a.    Interviewee ‘s Contact Information- on the Milestone 1 form

b.    Interview Questions- at least 10

*The actual interview does NOT have to be conducted until Milestone 2. However, the interview questions and the interviewee’s contact information are due for Milestone 1.

“Do Something” Proposal:

Due THIS Thursday, April 7^th 

Write your design proposal on the proposal form. Once you submit your proposal it is FINAL!

Proposals are due THIS week and it is CRITICAL that each student spend enough time conducting research to ensure that they have the following items solidified BEFORE they turn in their proposal on April 7^th:

1.    A location for their “Do Something” project confirmed

AND

2.     Contacted an expert who has agreed to an interview

MEAP Reports

Look for the MEAP reports in your child's Friday folder tomorrow, April 1st.  As always, please contact me if you have any questions and/or concerns.

FREE DRESS

Free Dress is tomorrow, Friday, April 1st.  We had discussions today in class regarding dress for tomorrow's performance.  Their clothing needs to be nicer than what they would typically wear on Free Dress day, and shirts should not have any wording or graphic designs on them.  

Anne Frank play

On Friday, we'll be going to see the Anne Frank play. Everyone in the class said they didn't need a lunch from the school. So, there will be no school lunches for our class--we had to submit numbers of lunches today. Please make sure your child has a lunch on Friday. In addition, lunch will be much later in the day (at approximately 1:00). We will not have any time for snacks, so it is imperative that all students eat a hearty breakfast that will hold them over until 1:00.

Students must be on time for school both days! We will be leaving around 8:30.

Anne Frank Play Field Trip

On Friday, April 1, 2011, the fourth and fifth graders will be traveling to the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn to see the play, The Diary of Ann Frank. The cost for the play is $5.00, and is due by Thursday, March 24th.

Please have your student to school on time, as we will be leaving school at 9:00 a.m., and returning around 1:00. There will be bag lunches for those students who normally get school lunch. All other students should still bring their lunch. 

Field trip to UPA Middle School

On Thursday, March 31st, we will be taking a field to UPA Middle School from 9-11:00.

This weekend please encourage your child to spend some time researching an area of concern in regards to their “Do Something” project.

Proposals are due in three weeks and it is CRITICAL that each student spend enough time conducting research to ensure that they will have the following items solidified BEFORE they turn in their proposal on April 7^th:

1.    A location for their “Do Something” project confirmed

AND

2.     Contacted an expert who has agreed to an interview

It is extremely important to have these two items secure BEFORE their proposal submission because remember, once your child submits their proposal it is FINAL!

That is why I am giving them more than THREE weeks to complete this task.

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Take a look at what the students are writing these days!  Click on the STUDENT WORK tab at the top of the page to read their writing.  Both are from weekend writings and they showcase how much the students have grown in their writing with specific examples and details.  The writings also give you an idea of how our kids view and understand what is happening in the world around them.

HOMEWORK ALERT

Students are responsible for Book in the Bag every week. They are due on Mondays. They are too read, summarize with one or two sentences, the number pages that have been read, and a parent's initials.  Students have NOT been turning these in and many are missing recess and lunch privileges.  Please monitor your student's reading and support their reading growth.  Thank you.

Shanna's UM Elite Experience

Nadia, Jalib, and Shanna have experienced workshops at U of M three times this year.  They have learned about different engineering programs, computer labs with statistics, and explored the animation studio.  They have also been involved with diversity workshops with students from other schools at U of M.  Shanna has written an interview piece that describes how she experienced U of M.  Please click on the Student Work tab at the top of the page to read this fabulous interview.

DO SOMETHING PROJECT

Here are a couple of notes that I want to mention about the third trimester exhibition project.

1. The project needs to be something that the child cares about and can do something about. It is not a project where they can just say, "I'm going to pick up trash on the street with my friend."

2. For Milestone #1, if students are unable to find books on their topic (if it's too new or obscure), they can use newspaper articles or magazine articles to substitute for the books. Chances are, if your child thinks it is a problem, someone else has too and has written about it somewhere. Try going to news websites and checking their archives for old articles/stories.
The websites listed below are good places to start looking.

• www.cnn.com
• usnews.com
• http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids

3. Stay away from money fund raising. Those projects are difficult to manage, but if they are interested in helping with relief to some place like Haiti or Japan, they can do a project getting people to donate needed items (do an online search for items disaster relief locations need if that is going to be your child's focus on the Do Something Project.

4. This project should be kid-focused and based on things that your child can actually do.

5. Creativity and action are key to this project!

Do Something Project

Students will be choosing a service project for their 3rd Trimester Exhibition.  Please view the presentation for examples and ideas.

Do something project presentation

Exhibition Rubric 2nd Trimester 2010-2011

Below you will find the rubric that will be used to score your student's exhibition.  Notice that there are changes to the visual aid scoring and to the delivery.  Students will be scored on neatness and speed.

2nd Trimester Exhibition Rubric

Rubric Tri. 2 3-11docx

Exhibition Schedule

Wednesday, March 9th          9:00  Larry


Thursday, March 10^th           9:00  Joshua

                                            10:00  Jalib

                                              1:15  Alexus

Monday, March 14^th             9:00  Tailor

                                            10:00  Lance

                                             1:15  Hailey

Tuesday, March 15^th            9:00  Kaitlynn

                                            10:00  Khalif

                                              1:15  DeShawn

Wednesday, March 16^th              1:15  Faith

                                                 2:15 Kacie

Thursday, March 17^th           10:00 Shanna

                                                1:15  Brandi

                                                2:15  Renardo

                                     

                 

                                                       

To all families who donated electrical tape, poster boards, and aluminum foil for our outstanding and fun science and math quiz boards.  If you haven't seen it in action, ask your student how it works!  

To Hailey's family for suppling much needed tissue and hand santizier.  To Khalif's family for the valuable pencils!

WOW!! What awesome performances at our Wax Museum on Tuesday!  We heard from Sidney Poitier, Levi Watkins, Rebecca Crumpler, Thurgood Marshall and many other African American doctors, educators, inventors, and law makers.  View the slideshow to see how your child was transformed into their person! 

FIELD TRIPS

Friday, March 25, 2011

The fifth graders will be traveling to Motown Museum with Mrs. Ritter.

On Friday, April 1, 2011

On Friday, April 1, 2011

The fourth and fifth graders will be traveling to the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn to see the play, The Diary of Ann Frank.  The cost for the play is $5.00.

We will be learning more about Ann's life prior to the field trip.  This past week, students read about Mies Giep, the woman who hid the Frank family, as well as other families from the Nazis.  Ask your student about what makes a person courageous.

EXHIBITION SIGN UP FORM

You will find the sign up form for your child's exhibition under the "Permission Slips & Forms" tab.  Please choose 3 days and 3 times.  I will do my best to give you your first choice.  We are starting exhibitions a few days early as the students and I decided that 4 exhibitions a day was too much, so we are going for 3 each day.  The students have been given time in school to complete many of the requirements on the checklist.