Phew!  The last few weeks have been crazy!  With ice days, benchmarks, and Valentine's Day we have been busy, busy, busy.

In Math we wrapped up Patterns and Expressions and moved into Geometric figures.  We studied the different types of figures and their characteristics.  We then moved into talking about ordered pairs and the coordinate plane and was a skill that all students in my class mastered.  We are currently working on measurement so please practice with your student at home: give them a ruler and have them practice measuring various items throughout the house to the nearest inch, 1/2" and 1/4".  We worked on measuring shapes using area, perimeter, and volume.  The formulas do not have to be memorized but they do need to know how to apply them to problems given a certain set of data. We will begin talking about conversions this week and the differences between the metric and customary systems of measurement.

In science, we have covered the different biomes, ecosystems, and how the different parts of a food web/chain depend on each other to keep the ecosystem flourishing.  They have a science at-home project that was assigned last Monday and will be due on Monday, Feb. 24th.  Any day it is late, 10 points will be deducted with NO projects being accepted after the 28th.  They were given a rubric with the requirements.

In social studies, we finished up the first Industrial Revolution and discussed how America made great gains in industry during the 1800s.  We are now moving into the Civil War and will be spending the next couple of weeks discussing it.

In reading we have finished discussing Author's Purpose and will now be moving into the genre of drama.  Please make sure that your students are reading at least 30 minutes every night to meet their AR goal for the 9 weeks.

We took benchmarks in reading and math last week and scores were sent home in the HOWL folders.  We will be testing on Tuesday the 18th in Science.  Please make sure your scholars are well-rested and have had a good breakfast.  Only a few more weeks until the STAAR and we will be super busy brushing up on our skills in preparation for these very important tests!