June 1, 2017
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Old Deerfield Field Trip Reminders:
Please be sure to arrive at school on time on 6/2 with a packed lunch (unless you ordered a bagged lunch), water bottle, and sturdy shoes on. Make sure that your child’s lunch has their name on it or iseasily recognizable. Students will NOT have a snack, so make sure that they eat a hearty breakfast. We will go on this field trip rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. If your child decides to bring a camera, make sure that s/he is responsible for it and has an easy way to carry it safely. We are excited to go back in time to the colonial era!
Farm Field Trip Reminders:
This field trip is the following Friday, 6/9, from 12:30 to 2 pm. A huge thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to chaperone this trip! I will send you all a reminder email next week, but please plan to arrive at school at 12:15 and stay until 2:10. Everyone should dress to be outside, working on a farm! Here is the info from Grow Food Northampton: Students should wear clothes that can get dirty. Your child will be outside for the whole field trip. Sunscreen, hats, water bottles and closed-toed shoes are all good ideas.You can send in a baseball or other brimmed hat. You may also want to make sure that your child wears sunscreen that day and brings a water bottle.
Reading Testing
I am almost finished with our reading testing for the end of third grade. Students have been showing great growth in decoding, fluency, and comprehension! Next week I will send home your child’s end of year level with summer reading recommendations. It is definitely clear that the more students read, the more they improve. Remember that everyone should be reading at least 20 minutes every night.
Writing
Students have been working hard on their opinion essays and have started to revise, proofread, and write final drafts. Find out what your child’s argument is and what their reasons are to support their argument. Next week we will do a writing assessment on opinion writing.
Math
You will find your child’s geometry math test in the folder. Scores were low for this test so we will continue to revisit and practice these concepts. Feel free to keep it or sign and return it for your child’s portfolio.
Science
This week in science we explored the mystery, “Where do clouds come from?” Your child observed important clues, such as the fact that water changes from a liquid to a gas (even without boiling!). You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by pointing out water vapor whenever you see it rising off hot water in the kitchen or bath, or pointing out tiny droplets of water forming on a mirror, windows, or glasses. Engage their minds by asking, “Wow, why do you think this is happening?”
Yours truly,
Jessica Harwood