May is Here!

May is here...the year went so fast!  Here are the important notes for the last few weeks of school.  I will most likely not do another blog post until the last week of school.  I will however, send out a couple of quick email reminders about things when needed.

Reading:
Our last couple of weeks will be spent doing one last book club.  We will be reading a variety of books written by Beverly Cleary.  She writes wonderful stories that are intended for this exact age group.  As we read these, I hope that this may be a good introduction to reading over the summer.  Beverly Cleary has so many different books that reach all interests and my hope is that I will hook most of the kids enough that they will want to read another one of her stories over the summer.

Writing
We are finishing up our last big writing unit and will be publishing our non-fiction pieces next week.  We will see how much time we have left once these are published.  I would like to do a couple of shorter and more informal pieces, but that depends on time.

Math
I have planned out my goal for math until the end of the year.  We will be going through lesson 101.  Here is the testing schedule (of course this may vary if we need to review a concept or if flooding/achievement tests bend our schedule).
May 5 - May 11 - Lessons 91 through 96
Thursday May 11 - Study Guide sent home
Friday May 12 - Test
May 15 - 18 - Lessons 97-100/100
Thursday May 18 - Final Study Guide sent home
Tuesday May 23 - Last Math Test

Social Studies
We will spend the next two weeks looking at Immigration into America.  I will be sending a note home that explains more of what we will cover.  The basic overview is that we will take a virtual tour of Ellis Island and look at the various groups that have immigrated to America through Ellis Island.  We will not be talking too much about our country's current immigration.  However, this will be a good opportunity for you to talk with your kids about the following:
1. Where did your family come from? We would love to have them be able to share some personal stories about how their families became Americans!  
2. Current events with immigration in our country.  I know this is a sensitive and controversial topic.  While I do feel that it is important for our kids to be a part of the discussion, I do not feel that it is always my place to give them all of that information, especially at this young age.  I encourage you to help them be good researchers and look up reliable information on this topic.  My goal is not to sway them in one direction, but rather to make them learn how to be informed and knowledgeable citizens as they grow up.  I hope that my students can learn how to take in information and form their own opinion based on facts (not heresay) and God's Word.

Grandparents' Day Photos
I took a photo of each child with their guests last week and have put them into a google folder for you to download/print on your own.  I will be having them use these photos in the thank you notes we send out next week, so please don't share with grandparents just yet! At least wait until they get their thank you letters in the mail.  I had a great time meeting your parents!

Here is the link to the folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1BE3J0po_8JUmFvblpfaVVrSDQ?usp=sharing

Amazing Race Field Trip

Monday May 22nd is our field trip to Forest Park for the Amazing Race.  This is a very fun day that requires a lot of parents to be present.  I guarantee you will have fun while getting exercise for your legs and brain!  Here's a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Parents will be assigned to a group of 3-4 students (we can put more than one adult in a group if you can only come for part of the day)

2. Make sure you and your child wear weather appropriate clothing.  We will be outside ALL DAY! You will want to wear exercise clothes and tennis shoes.  

3. This is a giant scavenger hunt that parents lead the kids on around Forest Park.  The clues are on an app called Klikaklu.  This app is only on iphones unfortunately.  If you don't have an iphone, you can still come.  We will just arrange our groups accordingly.  

4. We try to start the race as close to 9 am as possible.  Groups finish at different times so we just have the finished groups head over to the playground while they wait.  We will eat lunch there and then head home sometime around 1:30.  

5. If you know that you would like to come, please RSVP and let me know if you have access to an iphone or ipad with cell service.  It's easiest if you tell me what type of device you have available to you.  

6. We will be going rain or shine, as long as it is safe for the kids (obviously no thunderstorms or giant downpours.  

Field Day

Friday May 19th is Field Day!  Mrs. Knost is very good about sending out emails that explain this day to parents.  Be sure to look for her emails for more information.  Just remember: 

• Chapel Family color assignments
• $1 for Ted Drewes ice cream (Give to Mrs. Glackin)
• Bring water bottle and extra clothes (probably even extra shoes and underwear)

Important Dates

May 19th: Field Day

May 22nd: Amazing Race Field Trip 

May 26th: Last Day of School - Closing Chapel at 8:45 a.m. - please join us

                 Dismissal at 11 a.m.