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Join the Barnes And Noble’s Summer Reading Program to earn some FREE books for your kids! Read any eight books in this summer reading program and get a free book.

More details:

https://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Becentsable/~3/tpa1g1OqciQ/

Here are some ideas we discussed at spring conferences this last week:

• Third Grade Math Review. The class is reviewing third grade math skills using MobyMax TestPrep Math. Most students are less than 50% complete. Working at home for 5-10 minutes a night would help everyone to finish their third grade review and move on to reviewing fourth grade skills.
• Math Facts. Some students haven’t finished their math facts mastery yet. We use MobyMax Fact Master for 5 minutes most days. Doing another 5 minutes at home, or using another method (flash cards, aaamath.com, mobile app) would help.
• Math Homework. We don’t have paper math homework this year. In its place, working for at least 15 minutes in MobyMax Math or Khan Academy would help each student work toward completing fourth grade math skills by the beginning of September.
• Daily Homework Time. One way to build responsibility, end homework battles, reduce missing assignments, and help students work ahead is to implement a daily homework time. This would be a 40 minute time every school night, no matter if there is homework from school or not. Have your student work on writing, math, and other homework for 15 minutes each. Even if a student forgets their actual homework, still have them work on homework type tasks. Students will stay on top of projects, get cursive done better, and keep working through math skills. Building the habit now will make 5th grade, and beyond, much easier.
• Reading. Keep having your student reading 20 minutes or so before bed (or another time they like). If your student struggles with being interested in reading, find an exciting book (here’s an idea) and read it to them. They aren’t too old and once the interest is there, they’ll want to read more by themselves.
• Current Grades. The third marking period ends on March 28. Students can improve grades by correcting papers, quizzes and tests. Just have your student make corrections on another sheet of paper, with an explanation about why their new answer is better, and then staple to the original paper, if available. We take many digital quizzes and tests. Results are always emailed to students. They can find the message sent and make corrections from that.
• Mackinac Trip. The trip is on May 9 (more details). There will be a Read-a-Thon fundraiser on March 28. Payments toward the trip by the end of April would be appreciated.
• 5th Grade. I’ve traditionally been a looping teacher. That is the plan for next year. Please complete this short survey to share your preference of teacher for 5th grade.
• Handouts. A bunch of handouts (see ’em all):
  • Homework helps
  • Family Science Night on March 27
  • After school homework help sessions (free)
  • Summer Skills books and order (cost is free if you fill out an order form)
  • Camp Learn-a-Lot Summer School brochure
  • Grand Blanc Sinking Fund facts
  • Grand Blanc Parent Survey
• Parent Survey. Did you complete the GB Parent Survey yet? Here it is.

This note will be sent home with students this week:

As you already know, the fourth graders at McGrath will be given the opportunity to participate in field trip to Mackinaw in May.  It is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with fellow classmates and teachers while seeing the historic places they’ve learned about throughout the year.  It is a nice way to end the fourth grade experience; one that both students and teachers look forward to annually.

Students earn the privilege to attend this field trip by following the “High Fives” and working hard during the school year.  Unfortunately, students who continually choose to not follow the “High Fives” receive office referrals.  Students who receive three office referrals, beginning February 10, 2014 and ending May 8, 2014, which is the day before the field trip, may lose their privilege to attend the field trip.  Our hope is that every student will earn the right to go and not miss out on this wonderful experience.  We ask for your support in talking to your child about the importance of school rules to help ensure that all students will earn the privilege of going to Mackinaw.  Please take a minute to go over this letter with your child.  It is important that they understand the expectations, and then sign, have your child sign, and return this form to your child’s teacher by February 17, 2014.

Find out more details about the Mackinac trip here.

View our class adventure stories below:

• Allison’s firey house aventure
• Amarion’s gold mine
• Andrew’s The assassin
• Ariana’s And the sapphire statue
• Brendan’s the killer
• Caleb’s under sea mining adventure
• Dagan’s Jinglebell Adventure
• gabe’s sea monsters
• Isaiah’s six the only human left on earth
• Jailyn’s KidNap Aventure
• Jordan’s jordan skycity adventure
• joshua’s the flag in the moon
• kailees under the sea adventure
• Kaitlyn’s the island
• Kyle’s resource mine
• lacies dog adventure
• Lindsey’s Escape
• Madelyn The descovery in the wild
• Madyson’s under water city
• meaghan’s BAT CAVE!!!!!!!!
• Mwuena’s finding atlantis
• Parker’s Robery Crisis
• Robert’s golden bullet with Diamond in it
• Ryan’s Traped
• sydneys advencher expres
• Veronica’s v w6 Run
• Zachary’s indoninesia tiegher find

¡Hola Mexico!

This isn’t your normal party. There won’t be any cupcakes. No balloons or pointed little hats. Room 130 is going south of the border to learn more about our neighbor —Mexico.

Over 12% of our country is Hispanic, and one in ten residents of our country speak Spanish. More than half of the foreign-born population in the US is from Latin America, with more immigrants coming from Mexico than any other country.

Yet, many of us have little exposure to the rich culture of a significant and growing population in our own country and an important neighbor to the south.

In December and January, Room 130 will experience Mexico and its traditions through a look at the holidays Mexicans celebrate during this time of the year. This study will be in conjunction with our reading of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Esperanza Rising is about a young girl from Mexico who must move to California to start a new life after family tragedies in Mexico.

Nuestro Fiesta de Navidad

Our class will learn about Mexico through study of the following traditions celebrated during this time of the year:

• Arbol de Navidad—typically a decorated artificial tree or shrub. Ours is will be displayed with Flores de Noche Buena (poinsettias).
• El Nacimiento—the primary holiday display in most Mexican homes, a nativity scene, complete with moss, lights, animals, cactus, mountains, and many people.
• Las Posadas—celebrated from December 16th to December 24th (Noche Buena). This is a reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem. Entire towns in Mexico form processions to “seek shelter” in the inn (posada) and have a huge fiesta when they finally find room in the stable. Children are usually treated to a piñata.
• Noche Buena—December 24th, the last night of Las Posadas processions. This evening usually involves a meal with traditional tamales (corn husks lined with corn dough and filling and steamed), and champurrado (a corn-thickened hot chocolate). Buñuelos de Navidad (fried flour tortillas with sugar and cinnamon) are also enjoyed.
• Dia de los Reyes—Three Kings Day, January 6th. This is the traditional day in Mexico that children receive gifts. Their shoes are left out and they awake to find little gifts in their shoes left by the visiting Wise Men.

In addition to studying about these Mexican traditions, our fiesta will include making traditional Mexican tacos (not like Taco Bell!), buñuelos, and Mexican hot chocolate (move over Swiss Miss!), having a piñata, singing a few traditional canciónes (songs), and playing games. Later in the day, we’ll play the Jewish dreidel game and compare that game and tradition to a similar game Mexican children play.

The ultimate goal will be to experience the culture of such a large and growing portion of our own country and one of our nearest neighbors. This will allow us to celebrate the differences among cultures, appreciate the wealth of diversity our country enjoys, and recognize the value of our own traditions and cultures. The hope is that the world will become a little smaller place to Room 130. And so, to that end,

 ¡Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Does your family have a holiday tradition that you would like to share with our class? Feel free to email or send in a note and we’ll compare and contrast with Mexican traditions.