Week 35 - May 21 - 25

Early release - Wednesday, May 23 is an early release day. This is a report writing day for teachers.

NWEA testing - We will be taking the Math and ELA NWEA tests next week.  We will take reading on Tuesday, May 29 in the morning. We will take math on Wednesday, May 30 in the morning. If your child will not be in school on those days, please let me know. I can make arrangements for your child to test on another day with another class.

Field trip forms - I have sent home 3 field trip forms. Please take note that one of them is double sided. All 3 should be signed and returned as soon as possible. The Buhr Pool trip is $6. It is helpful if you can send this in as soon as possible as well. All students able will be going on the field trip. If you are unable to send in the $6 let me know. I will make sure that all students are covered!

Baby pictures! It is that time of year! We are getting things ready for the promotion ceremony. One of the fun events is a slide show with baby pictures of the students and a current picture. I need you to send me a picture of your child as a baby or toddler. If you don't have one you can email, send it in with your child. I can scan it and send it right back. Thank you to the parents that have already sent one in.  (That's my daughter below!)


Field Day - Friday, June 8th. Volunteers are needed if you are available! Be sure to send in a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle with your child that day.

Week 31 - April 23 - 27

I hope everyone had a chance to get out and enjoy the great weather that we are finally having. I'm looking forward to finally opening windows in the classroom and getting some fresh air in!

M-STEP testing - Due to the fire, we had to push our testing schedule into this week. We will be testing on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Monday the students will be finishing up the ELA that they started last week. Tuesday and Wednesday are the 2 parts to the Social Studies test.
Thank you to the families who have sent in snacks for the class. The crunchy snacks as well as the fresh fruit have really helped energize the kids when they need a break.

International Night - Please join us this Thursday from 6:30 - 8pm. There will be food, fashion, and fun! Our class is representing China.

Transition Day - May 2 is Transition Day. All fifth graders in the district will be visiting the middle school that they will be attending. Look for a permission slip to be coming home. If your child will not be attending Tappan, but another middle school in Ann Arbor, you can make arrangements to take your child to the school that day. You will want to contact that school to make those arrangements.

Spring Pictures - These will be rescheduled for some point in May. I will keep you updated with that information.

Week 28 - April 2 - 6

Welcome back! I hope that everyone had a great time with our week off. It went by quickly for me but I was able to get a lot of sleep during that time! 

Before break, report cards and PLPs came home to you. I am still missing several of them. If you have not returned those, please sign them and return them both.

M-STEP : It is time for this to begin. We will begin testing next week. Our first testing day is going to be Tuesday, April 10. Most of these tests take a few hours with a break at some point. We will have to be flexible during this time. The tests are not timed. If students are not able to finish on the day (or 1/2 day) that we take the test, they will make it up on a different day.

Tuesday, April 10 - Math  

Thursday, April 12 - Science

Monday, April 16 - ELA

Wednesday, April 18 - Social Studies Part 1

Monday, April 23 - Social Studies Part 2

Snacks: Thank you for the parents that have been sending in class snacks. I have had a couple of parents send in boxes of individually wrapped pretzels as well as bananas, clementines, and apples. The kids have been loving the fruit that has been sent in. 

We will need snacks during the M-STEP testing time.  If you are able to send in snacks for the whole class that would be great. If you can't but are able to send in an individual snack for your child, please do that. Please DO NOT send in a large bag of food (chips, cheetos, etc.) for your child to eat on his or her own. This should be individually packaged and sent in. We have had issues with students bringing in large bags of snacks and trying to share them with other students. The students should also not be bringing in pop or candy. 

Math: We are starting Unit 6 this week. Our focus for this unit is line plots, volume, and decimals. If your child is not secure in his or her multiplication facts these should be practiced daily. Xtramath is still an option. 

Week 17 - January 8 - 12

 

Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope that everyone had a happy and safe break and is ready to start the new year. We have several things coming up that I want to put on the calendar. 

Winter Survival - Our winter survival trip is this Friday, January 12! Today the class will go over what each student has agreed to bring for food and additional items to support his or her group. These lists went home before break so I'm hoping that you have already seen this. Please double check this list. All items should be brought in on Friday. If your child is ill or unable to attend on Friday for any reason, please make arrangements to get the supplies to school. This could be through another student (in our class or another) or it can be dropped off to me. Please sign and return the field trip form.

Heart Healthy 101 - We are taking a special science field trip to St. Joseph Hospital to learn about the heart and lungs. The students will be watching a movie of an actual open-heart operation. They will also go to hands-on stations to learn more about lungs and hearts through investigations with pig's heart and lungs. Please sign and return the field trip form for this. There is a parent letter copied on the back of the form for you to have more information on this. I think that I have enough chaperones at this point but if you are interested in attending the trip, please join us. 

NWEA Testing - The students will be taking the winter NWEA tests on Tuesday, January 16th and Thursday, January 18th in the morning. 

Math - We are beginning Unit 4 in math. Students will be studying decimal concepts and coordinate grids. Your child can always access games and support on the EDM math website. Passwords were sent home at the beginning of the year but if you can't find it your child has it taped into his or her planner. I can always give that again too!