Week of March 9-13

I can feel Spring in the air! March is going fast and soon it will be Spring Break and before you know it . . . the end of 3rd grade! There are plenty of activities between now and the end of the year.  This week on Thursday evening are Parent Teacher Conferences.  If you would like to schedule a meeting or if you received a note requesting a conference, please send back the form indicating a preferred time.  Confirmation notes and times for those that already sent in a request have been sent home.

We have been busy doing research and writing biography reports for Young Authors Day (April 30).  Your child brought home a form giving you a chance to purchase an additional copy of their book.  Even if you do not wish to purchase extra copies, the form with a parent signature needs to be returned.  Every student gets a FREE copy of their book.

This week we will read the informational text called Washington Weed Whackers and a NEWSELA article on the emerald ash borer.  Students will use the Compare and Contrast comprehension strategy (3.RIT.9) as they read about the conservation work being done in Padilla Bay in the state of Washington.  They will compare these two informational articles on invasive species as they prepare for the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) in May. The spelling words this week are the soft sound of c and g.  Students will learn that when the letters c and g are followed by the vowels e, i, or y, the letter makes the soft sound of /s/ and/j/. Practicing the words at SpellingCity.com can provide extra help.

Students will have a science test on Thursday on Chapter 8--Changes on Earth.  They have vocabulary words, a Summary Sheet of the chapter, and notes for the written answers.  These tools can help them study and be prepared for the test this week.  The test will be multiple choice and written responses.

IMPORTANT DATES
March 11 Dodgeball Tournament Fundraiser
March 12 Parent Teacher Conferences
March 20 Science Fair and Mom and Son Bowling
March 23-27 Book Fair
March 27 End of the Third Marking Period
April 3-10 Spring Break
April 30 Young Author's Day
May 11 Voyageur Encampment
May 19 and 20 ELA M-STEP
May 27 and 28 Math M-STEP