Crumb Chronicles, Issue 11

Crumb Chronicles

***A Family Newsletter***

April 4, 2013 – Issue 11

Dear Families:

The class has earned a "read-in" for tomorrow's early release day.  We will still have our final spelling opportunity and specialist, but the rest of our class time will be an extended D.E.A.R. time.

Although there is no official homework over spring break next week, the rough draft of the March/April reading project ("A Tale of Two Lives") is due the week we get back.

In about a month, 4th graders will be taking the M.S.P. ("Measurement of Student Progress").  Testing will take place for our class on the first four Wednesdays in May (May 1: all-day Writing 1, May 8: all-day Writing 2, May 15: Reading, and May 22: Math).  For both the reading and math sections, students will be taking the test online in the computer lab.  The writing sections are strictly paper and pencil.  Please note that all of the school's 4th graders will take the writing portion on the same days, but the reading and math will occur on different days for different classrooms (we only have one computer lab, after all).  Finally, the school will be sponsoring an M.S.P. kick-off breakfast for all of our 4th grade classrooms tentatively scheduled for April 30 (confirmation will be coming soon).

We would like to provide some healthy snacks for our class during these four days of testing.  If you can, please donate items to share for at least 27 students and send them in anytime after Spring Break.  Ideas include: trail mix, granola bars, crackers, pretzels, fruit (dried or fresh), veggies, fruit juice boxes, cheese sticks, bagels & cream cheese, sugar-free chewing gum, etc.  Please remember that we have one member of the class with a nut allergy.

Testing can be a stressful and intimidating time for many students.  For this reason, we will spend some time reviewing basic test-taking skills and completing practice tests similar to what your child will be seeing on the actual test.  The purpose of this time is to learn successful test-taking strategies and to reduce the anxiety associated with these types of tests (a.k.a. "opportunities").

We are well into our final trimester, so expect to see a progress report in the near future. (and please turn in 2nd trimester portfolios if you haven't already done so).  Thanks . . . I hope some spring weather returns next week.

                                                                                                   Sincerely,
                                                                                                   Michael Crumb