W.L. Miller
March 20-21 Newsletter
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten scientists have been working on weather. They have explored various types of weather and have learned about thermometers and measuring temperature. These young meteorologists were busy tracking and recording the weather in Mansfield and Orlando. Students then compared how the weather is different in these 2 locations. We all agree that we are ready for Spring!
1st Grade
Walking Rainbow
First grade experimented with a walking rainbow! We made predictions and created our very own. Students were able to work together to talk about how they thought this was going to work! We had so much fun!
Writing
We are beginning to write about realistic fiction! We will use our own imagination to create a character of our own. We are going to make our own book series. If you are able to send in a cereal box that would be great. Our classes will decorate a cereal box to store their own book series in. Please be sure to ask them about their character!
2nd Grade
Second grade is starting many new units this month!
In math, we are moving on to our money unit. Students are reviewing the coin names and values. They are learning how to count money, make the same amount with the fewest possible coins, and make change from $1.00. Keep practicing these skills at home, as they are essential life skills to have.
In writing, second grade is just starting our opinion writing unit. We started off by writing an Amazon book review on our favorite book. Now we are working hard at mastering the OREO graphic organizer.
0- state your opinion
R-Reason for your opinion
E-examples to support your reasons
0-restate your opinion with feeling.
3rd Grade
March is a busy month in third grade math . We have started a new unit on measuring data. Students are creating surveys about their “favorites“ and recording their results in variety of ways including charts, pictographs bar graphs and line plots.
In reading, we have been celebrating the enjoyment of reading during Read Across America week. We have been reading a variety Dr. Seuss books and applying many of our reading skills. We will conclude our celebration with our read-a-thon and by sharing our readers theaters.
4th Grade
In reading and writing class March will be focused on nonfiction text. Students will be writing nonfiction books, including research-based books. Their goal is to utilize text features (sidebars, heading, images, captions, tables, and graphs) to add details and interest to their writing.
After the realization that history is the study of “his story, her story, and our story,” students will dive into nonfiction reading by studying early Pennsylvania history.
5th Grade
Mathematicians in 5th grade have been working on prime and composite numbers, powers of ten, exponential numbers, and Quadrant I of the Coordinate Plane. Last week we began memorizing our Mode, Median, Mean & Range song/poem as part of our Probability and Statistics Unit.
In addition, we are also finishing up our work with factors (GCF) and multiples (LCM) in preparation for our Fractions Unit!
Mrs. McKrotzer
Readers will be diving into Module 4, Analyzing Paired Texts! This module focuses on combining knowledge throughout the year, while comparing and contrasting multiple texts. This is an especially challenging module because readers will need to look for connections in multiple texts with the same main idea. As part of their writing workshop lessons, we will be focusing on text dependent analysis writing. I look forward to seeing our readers meet the challenge of this module!
Mrs. O’Eglesia
5th graders are blasting off into space! We have visited the sun, the moon and a few other planets so far in this module. Students will continue to explore the universe by choosing a personal topic for their culminating project. Choices include a biography on Neil Armstrong or Sally Ride, designing and building a Lunar Rover prototype or exploring the possibility of visiting Mars sometime in the near future.
Mrs. McRoute
6th Grade
This month in 6th grade, students are celebrating Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Week. We are reading The Sneetches and exploring theme of acceptance and diversity. We are also reading and discussing All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury, a science fiction story from the 1950s. All Summer in a Day is about children who live on Venus, where it is cloudy and rainy every day. We will be diving into themes of the science fiction genre, and exploring the mysteries of space.
Art
Art works by 2nd and 4th graders all using symmetry and pattern.
Physical Education
Once again, the Kids Heart Challenge was a tremendous success. Warren L. Miller Elementary School raised $4312.17 for the American Heart Association this year. I am continually impressed and thankful for the generosity of our families and community. This program allows students to learn about keeping the heart healthy through exercise and fitness while raising money for an important cause at the same time. Thank you for your continued support of this program.
After Spring Break, physical education classes will still be held outside as much as possible. Please continue to send students to school with sneakers and remind them to dress for the weather. I appreciate your cooperation in this matter!
Music
Each year we celebrate Music In Our Schools throughout the month of March with special activities during music class. One of these activities is a March Madness bracket with some favorite songs from the 70’s-2000’s, country, movie music, Disney and more! Each day we listen to 2 songs and vote on our favorites. At the end of the month we will be left with the winner!
Our WLM teachers and staff submitted song ideas for this year's bracket! We are having fun listening to some new songs and trying to figure out who requested them.
Thank you for supporting your students in music and the arts!
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at
Title I
Vocabulary Boosters
Talking with your child helps to increase vocabulary. For example, a waiter may describe an entree or the dentist may talk about molars. Encourage your child to figure out unfamiliar word meanings by the way the word is used.
Help your child add verbs and adjectives to his/her vocabulary. Let your child hear you comment on such things as “the softball soars” or “the runner who sprints.” When writing thank you cards, suggest using descriptive words (a polka-dot shirt, or a fantastic birthday.)
Library
This month, students in K-3 will be working on coding skills using hands-on materials and a kid-friendly program called Scratch.
Grades 4-6 will be wrapping up learning to use the non-fiction resources available on the library website.