Upcoming Events and Tests

We are on the final stretch of the school year! With the warmer weather the kids are getting anxious for summer.  We had a "family meeting" this week and talked about how we have to finish strong and keep following the behavior expectations.

In reading we are working on reading non-fiction and writing a summary with text evidence.  All the books are based on ocean life.  We have been really working to cite text evidence that is relevant to the main idea. We continue to work on fluency and comprehension.  Our fluency goal is 154 correct words per minute.

Next MONDAY AND TUESDAY the children will be taking the state mandated reading test.  This is the "Fast" test that we report to you at conferences.  PLEASE have your child at school these two days! 
In math we are working on measurement ,capacity, and volume.  Children are working to recognize which measure to use in a given situation.  We are also working on conversions.

In Social Studies we will start our famous Iowan project next week.  Your child will be bringing home a paper with an at home project that will be due on May 6th.

Upcoming Events:
Fast testing - April 18th and 19th
Book orders due - April 18th
Family life - April 22nd
PTO Spring Event - April 24th
District Reading Test - April 25th
District English Language Arts test - Week of May 2nd
Fishing Trip - May 3rd in the afternoon
Social Studies project due - May 6th
District Math Assessment - Week of May 9th
Taft Play - May 12th
No school - May 13th
Hoover Field Trip - May 17th
Awards Assembly - May 20th
Memorial Day - May 30th
Battle of the Books - May 31st
Park Day - June 1st (no rain date)
Last Day of school - June 2nd (half day)

Spring Carnival

 

Truman Spring Carnival Baskets

          

The Truman PTO will be sponsoring a Basket Raffle as part of the Spring Carnival activities on Sunday, April 24th.    We are asking that each student contribute something to create the basket.  Please consider donating a theme related item (some suggestions are listed below) or you may choose to give a small monetary donation to be used to purchase items for the basket.  All donations are to be given to your classroom teacher by Monday, April 18th.  You will have an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for one dollar each the night of the carnival; these can be used to enter into the individual drawings to win the basket of your choice.

 

 

4^th-5^th grade - Let’s Bake/Foodie : cookbook, pot holders, cookie cutters, measuring cups, measuring spoons, muffin mix, cookie mix, rolling pin, baking pans, cake mix, frosting, spatula, apron, timer, bowl

The Week of April 4th

The kids had a great week!
 We completed the district writing prompt and I am pleased to see all of the great growth in writing and conventions. After checking their writing prompts I can tell that we still need to work on using transition words in our writing.
In reading we are reading informational non-fiction books and working on a graphic organizer so that they  are able to write a detailed paragraph about the big idea of the story. 
In math we continue to work on geometry.  The kids are doing a great job in Karate Math and are excelling on their levels.
Please remember that I will be gone all next week.  I will be attending a national swim meet that my daughter has qualified for.  Mrs. Snell will be here Monday - Thursday. On Friday the kids will have Mrs. Griffith. I am confidant that they will continue to be on their best behavior, like they always are.  

The Truman Spring Carnival is Sunday, April 24 at Planet X. Information was sent home regarding the raffle basket that 4th and 5th grade will sponsor.  Our theme is Let's Bake/Foodie. You may donate a theme related item, or you may choose to give a small monetary donation to be used to purchase items for the basket. Please turn in your donated item by Monday, April 18. You will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for one dollar each the night of the carnival. The tickets can be used to enter into the individual drawings to win the basket of your choice. Suggested items for our basket is:  cookbook, pot holders, cookie cutters, measuring cups, measuring spoons, muffin mix, cookie mix, rolling pin, baking pans, cake mix, frosting, spatula, apron, timer, bowl.



Upcoming Events:
Monday, April 4:  K-1 Music Program at Taft 1:30-2:00. We will start to walk over around 1:15.
Wednesday, April 13:  1:30 Early Dismissal
Friday, April 22:  Family Life Presentation (Additional information will be sent closer to date.)
 at the end of the day.. (Additional information will be sent closer to date.)
Friday, May 6:  Pride Day
Thursday, May 12:  We will go to Taft to see a play 1:30-2:30. We will start to walk over around 1:15. Friday, May 13:  No School
Tuesday, May 17:  Hoover Museum (We will leave at 9:00 and return around 3:00. Additional information will be sent closer to the date.)

 

 

 

 

 

Picture Day is Monday

The children had a great week at school! We have been busy adjusting to daylight savings time and getting back to a regular schedule.
Please welcome Deijah to our class. She joined our room Tuesday.
This week we worked on geometry in math. We measured angles and used academic vocabulary to categorize the angles.
In reading we are reading books on whales and working on writing a complete summary with good conventions.
We have started the Iowa unit in social studies. We have just finished era one which taught the kids how the land changed with glaciers.

Next week we will continue these things and take the district writing prompt.

My high school daughter has qualified to swim at the YMCA National Swim Meet in North Carolina.  It is a very huge accomplishment for her.  I will be attending this with her.  I will not be in school the week of April 4th.  Mrs. Snell will be here for me.  Some of your children had her as a substitute in first grade when Mrs. R. was on maternity leave.  I am NOT giving the children homework that week.

Upcoming events
Friday, March 25:  No School
Monday, March 28:  Spring Pictures
Wednesday, April 13:  1:30 Early Dismissal
Friday, April 22:  Family Life presentation (information will be sent closer to the date)

Science Week

I am so proud of how hard the kids worked on the Iowa Assessments! They were focused and determined the entire week!  Thank you to everyone who sent in things last Friday to help us celebrate the end of this test!
This week we will be doing mainly science.  Our unit is called Soil, Rocks, and Landforms. We will be exploring soil and different properties of rocks.
We are also going to be working on the region unit this week is Social Studies.

The children have earned a classroom celebration for their Tiger Tickets. I am planning a special afternoon for them.  Our school wide celebration is also that day and it will be sports day.. wear team jerseys etc.

Please have your child bring in 5 - 10 small to medium special rocks that they find outside.  Please do not send in collectable rocks as we are using them for our celebration.


Upcoming Events:
March 14-18:  Spring Break
Friday, March 25:  No School
Monday, March 28:  Spring Pictures
Friday, April 1:  Pride Day
Wednesday, April 13:  1:30 Early Dismissal

Iowa Assessment Week

We are taking Iowa Assessment next week (Feb. 29th - March 4th). We will be testing every morning. Please have your child get a good night sleep and eat a good "brain boosting" breakfast.

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY HOMEWORK NEXT WEEK!  I told the kids their homework is to be ready to rock the assessments!

Please send in donations of gum and extra healthy snacks if you are able!
Upcoming Events:

Friday, February 26:  No School
Monday, February 29-March 11:  Iowa Assessments
Friday, March 4:  Pride Day
Monday, March 14-18:  Spring Break
Friday, March 25:  No School
Monday, March 28:  Spring Pictures

Iowa Assessments

Dear 4^th grade families,

Your student will be taking the Iowa Assessments on Monday, February 29^th.  As you know these tests are very important!

As a class we have been practicing our skills and test taking strategies for weeks to prepare for this test.  The children have worked very hard and I am confident that they are ready to take the test!

There are a few areas that you could help me with during this week:

1.       Please have your child to school daily and on time.  We will be testing every day from 9:00 – 10:30.

2.       Please make sure that your child is getting enough rest.  A tired child does not test well.

3.       Please encourage your child to eat a hearty breakfast. The brain needs food!

4.       Please encourage your child with little notes, high fives, or a “you can do it” daily.

5.       Please ask your child how they felt like the testing went each day! If a kiddo has anxiety about the test this will allow them the opportunity to talk about it.

I would like to have some extra snacks on hand so if a child comes to school hungry they can have a quick snack before testing.

I am looking for donations of extra snacks so that I can have them to offer to the kids.  Even dry cereal would be great!

Research shows that chewing gum helps with focus so I am also looking for donations of sugar free gum.  I will be having the children chew gum during testing.

 

After everyone has completed testing we are planning on having a celebration of our learning!  More information will be coming about that!

Thanks for all you do!

Mrs. Thompson

Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, February 23:  Grades 2/3 music program at Taft 2:00 (we will be walking over)
Friday, February 26:  No School
Monday, February 29-March 11:  Iowa Assessments
Friday, March 4:  Pride Day
Monday, March 14-18:  Spring Break
Friday, March 25:  No School
Monday, March 28:  Spring Pictures