I have had a few notes and calls from parents about heavy backpacks. I appreciate the communication very much. Thanks! Let me share what I shared at Open House. The only homework I assign is Spelling. It is the lightest book. If your child is coming home with more than that book, I would encourage you to have a conversation about what they are doing in class. I give more than enough time to finish an assignment in class. I have noticed that some kids take forever to get started. They spend more time looking for a place to sit around the room and getting their notebooks out than they do working. My rule is, if you don't finish it in the time allotted, it becomes additional homework. I know that some kids brought home their SS packet today to finish up their California Grid map this weekend. They are due Monday morning. Thanks!
Next week we start our NWEA Map testing. This reading and math test is done on the computer and the results are instantly printed. We have our reading test on Wednesday morning and our math test on Thursday afternoon. Please, please, please make sure your child is at school on these days. It is very time consuming to make up testing sessions and kids then miss that much more time of classroom instruction/activities. I also encourage you to send a high protein snack on those days to be eaten right before the test. Already hard boiled eggs are the best! I have a fridge to store them in until that time. Peanut butter and apples also rock! Students may also bring gum to chew during both testing sessions. Research shows that both of these two things have been proven to improve concentration levels during testing situations.
Next week we will also be back into the science lessons. As you may have noticed this week was social studies. It will be alternated weekly. We will also be studying the character trait of Trustworthiness in our Character Circle Meetings.
Tonight is the Football Fun Night and Saturday is the Bitterroot Ice Skating Day. If you attend either or both of these events simply write me a note in your child's planner to earn them $500 for each event. Students also have one more week to sell their fundraiser cards for PTA. Please make sure kids are filling out the form in their packet so we know who they sold them to and the number sold. Thanks!
Have a great weekend. A special weekend going out to our Birthday Boy, Jaylon!!
