April 8 Library Visit
April 12 No School
April 18 Student-Led Conferences
April 18 Last Day for Talent Show Sign Ups
April 19 No School
April 26 Earth Day Bike Ride 1:30
Homework Due by Friday, April 11th
1. Read for at least 20 minutes every night.
2. Complete 20 minutes of typing practice.
3. Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice (click here for DreamBox).
4. Optional - Compete Opinion Paragraph of the Week
Prompt: Where should we go for our next vacation day? Give 3 reasons. (Parents, Vacation Day is an imaginary field trip to a different country and the students get to do activities and eat foods related to that place)
Weekly Multiplication Game
3rd graders are beginning to learn and memorize their multiplication facts. They should be comfortable counting by 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s, and then they can start practicing other combinations. I will post a simple game every week to help support multiplication skills at home, and 4th graders can try them too for extra review!
Game: Multiplication Tic-Tac-Toe
Directions:
- Draw a tic-tac-toe grid.
- On each square, write a different multiplication fact (no answers).
- Answer the multiplication fact correctly to write the X or O in the square.
- Take turns marking Xs and Os like regular tic-tac-toe
- Play the game several times with different facts. See how many times each player wins the game!
Upcoming Out and Abouts
This week and next week we will go to the Backyard Garden. This week, we will be learning about pollinators, trying on bee suits and sampling some local honey! Please help your student dress appropriately for the weather.
Volunteer Opportunities
Out & About Chaperones - Needed 5/1 (Jackson Bottom Wetlands).
Student-Led Conferences: April 18th
All Plovers are expected to participate in a conference with their family on Thursday, April 18th. Student participation is required because students are leading their parents/guardians through a presentation of their recent school work. These conferences will last about 20-30 minutes and provide an opportunity for your Plover to highlight their growth this year, as well as their strengths and challenges. There will be multiple families in the classroom simultaneously; I will be available for questions, but I will not be meeting individually with each family. The Plovers will be working hard over the next weeks to rehearse and prepare for leading their conferences, so we hope to see you there! If you haven't already, please contact the FGCS office (503-359-4600) to schedule a conference.
Earth Day Bike Ride: April 26th at 1:30
Students in 1st-3rd grade must ride with a parent/guardian or adult rider approved by a parent/guardian - sorry, we cannot make any exceptions to this. Students in 4th-8th grade may ride on their own with parent permission. The full ride is a 6 miles loop; a shorter out and back option is 2-2.5 miles. We strongly recommend that younger and less-experienced cyclists choose the shorter route. Please be aware that both routes have some short but steep hills along the B Street Trail.
All student cyclists must have a signed permission form/waiver of liability to participate in the bike ride. Click here to download a form or pick up a copy in the school office. All bike ride participants, adults and minors, must wear bike safety helmets and carry a water bottle.
State (SBAC) Testing
Level 2 students will begin state testing on Monday, April 29th. Testing is administered in the computer lab in short sessions, and students have the opportunity to work on the same test over multiple sessions so they can work at their own pace. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the English Language Arts (aka Reading and Writing) test and look at some sample questions together. Students will also have the opportunity to complete a practice test in the computer lab. Please help support your Plover by: encouraging them to do their best, making sure they eat breakfast and bring a snack, and helping them get plenty of sleep.
Under Oregon law, parents have the right to exclude students from standardized tests. Parents are required to sign an opt-out form and submit that to the school office. Use this link to download opt-out forms, or you can request forms in the school office.
Weekly Review
Last week, the Plovers explored Fernhill Wetlands, which is part of Clean Water Services. Fernhill utilizes natural treatment systems, or wetlands, to improve water quality by removing nutrients, cooling, and naturalizing the water after conventional treatment. Fernhill is designated an Important Bird Area and is also home to beavers, frogs, coyote and other wildlife. Students went on a hike to search for signs of the many birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals that reside at the wetlands. They will also played a game to learn about the adaptations some birds have developed to survive and thrive in their environment over time. Students will be learning more about wetlands and the animals/plants that live there for their next informational writing project!
Communication
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Parents and students can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also leave a voice message on the class phone or set up a time to meet with me before/after school.