News from Mrs. Drudy 04/04/2016
"We exist so children can excel."
What We're Learning in Challenge
3rd and 4th Grade
This Week's Share Topic: Siblings
Tell us about your brothers or sisters or other kids that live with you. Do you get along or fight? What do you argue about? You may bring in pictures of them or write a story about a time you did or did not get along. If you don’t have siblings, then how about telling us about your cousins?
Next Week's Share Topic: Poetry!!!!
April is National Poetry Month. You may write your own poem or read or memorize one that is your favorite to share with the class. Think about some visual aids or props that would make your poem “come alive.” While not required, Google Slides documents or PowerPoint presentations always make the share topics more interesting.
As we explore poetry, we will be addressing the following Indiana Academic Standard:
- "Explain major differences between poems, plays, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems and drama."
Both Classes
Last week, both classes had big fun exploring palindromes. A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward or forward. Make sure your child gives you come examples of palindromic words, phrases, and/or numbers. More important that that, though, ask him or her to share with you how the poem Lost Generation, by Jonathan Reed, is both optimistic and pessimistic.
Note: The exploration of palindromes is not an Indiana Academic Standard. However, it is a concept recommended by the National Association for Gifted Children.
5th & 6th Grade
Speaking of The Lost Generation, students once again had the opportunity to hone their skills on argumentative writing as they argued whether our world should be viewed in a more optimistic or pessimistic light. Encourage them to tell you how they utilized QR codes to quickly obtain information on the Internet (in this particular case, the Lost Generation poem).
Additionally, we are continuing our readings in Countdown.
Library News
Mrs. Frondorf has passed along several dates of interest.
April 8th: Last day to take Young Hoosier Book tests
April 15th: Vote for favorite Young Hoosier Book
April 18th-22nd: BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
April 29th: Last day to take A.R. quizzes to qualify for party
May 4th: Accelerated Reader party
May 6th: Last Day to check out library books
May 13th: All books due to library
Sixth Graders Only: To the Beach!
We are still in need of your help as we get ready for our Carnival on Friday, April 29th. I inadvertently listed that date as a Saturday in last week's newsletter. If you are willing to help, please send an item that goes along with our sixth grade basket theme: To the Beach!. Check out the list below to help you with ideas of things we could use in our basket! If you would rather donate money for us to purchase items to fill the basket, you may do that, too. We would like to have all donation items by April 25th, so we have time to put everything together for the Carnival. Thank you so much for being the amazingly supportive parents/guardians that you are!
Basket ideas:
- Beach towels
- Water toys
- Picnic supplies
- Outdoor games
- Bubbles
- Water bottles
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
These are only ideas, so take these suggestions and run with it. We sincerely appreciate all your help!
Favorite Sport Oral Share Topic
Powerful Palindromes
Students are seeking peers who are able to name the palindrome as they conduct a Powerful Palindromes people hunt.
Concept Development: Palindromes
Notes from the Teacher
Coming Up:
Early Dismissal: Wednesday, April 6th
Spring Pictures: Monday, April 11th
MCS Drama Club Production Into the Woods Junior: April 21st & 22nd @ 6:30
Carnival Friday, April 29th 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.