As our school year draws to a close we are busy as ever, academically and co-curricularly. We welcomed new 4th grade student, Mariah this week. We also enjoyed "ACES" (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) on Wednesday- particularly showing off our jump rope moves. It was nice to see so many of you at the music concert on Thursday, too!
Reading: The reading standard we're working on now is comparing different versions of literary texts across cultures. I love this standard; not only does it allow us to use a multi-cultural lens through which to read, it helps us focus on many different elements of narrative texts. For example, we are comparing plot, setting, character and theme.
Writing: The students rough drafts of their rewritten fairy tales have turned out great! We've worked hard to establish a new point of view. It's been a challenge for the kids to incorporate the basic elements of the original story with the twists they put into it, but through some revision and plenty of sharing, we're catching any loopholes we notice in their writing. Their (unrevised, unedited) rough drafts are due in typed form on Monday. We've worked on them throughout the week so many are already finished. Ask your kids what story they've chosen to rewrite, and how their 'detective' figures out who is guilty!
4th Grade Math: Unit 7 is complete! Next up is Unit 8: Perimeter and Area. We'll use adding and multiplying skills and apply them to various concepts involving area and perimeter. To kick off our unit, the first lesson asks the kids to study various kitchen layouts to analyze the effectiveness of the "work triangle" (the perimeter of work space). My class always enjoys a very official "conference call" with my dad who is a kitchen designer at Normandy Builders. Stay tuned for more on this fun little kick-off!
5th Grade Math: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Miscellaneous:
- Order your Whittier Yearbook today! Deadline for pre-ordering your yearbook is April 19th. After that, we will continue to accept orders with payment until the extra supply runs out. Order forms are available on the Whittier Information Rack -or- at the PTO website store: www.whittierpto.org. Email questions to yearbook@whittierpto.org.
- Final call this year for BoxTops for Education. Please ask your students to bring in the last of of their BoxTops by May 15th to help your classroom win the Whittier BoxTops Traveling Trophy award. As you know, the program helps raise money for the Whittier PTO and support our school.
- 5th grade parents: If you are available to volunteer for the 5th grade Transition Picnic on Friday, May 17th, please click here.
- Thanks for a Great Food Drive! We collected 823 food and toiletry items and $125.50. This was one of our largest collections for the Fienstein Challenge! Everything that was donated will help people in our community. We appreciate your generosity!
