This upcoming week brings us our annual ERB Testing. Each day, Monday through Thursday, we will utilize 2 periods for the testing. If a student happens to miss one of the testing days, there will be an opportunity to make-up the test on Friday or possibly the following Monday. The tests will encompass topics such as math, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. While testing can be a stressful situation, the students should in no way be concerned or fretful about the tests. ERB results are intended to assist the school in ascertaining that its programs are meeting important benchmarks, and the results have no bearing on the students’ grades. One way to look at the testing process is to view it as practice for future standardized tests, such as the SSAT, that the students will face during their academic career.
In math this coming week, we will be focusing on 2-digit multiplication skills. The children have shown they are ready for this challenge. It is important to continue to practice basic multiplication facts as complete mastery of these will help the students more easily grasp these new, more complex problems.
In English, we are continuing our weekly work on vocabulary with Wordly Wise, and our spelling is being drawn from our vocabulary units, as well as the students’ writing and fourth grade spelling “demons,” otherwise known as commonly misspelled words. This week we are starting a new in-class reading book, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar, the author of The Wayside School series and the book, Holes. The students will be writing reaction paragraphs to various plot discoveries that we will share and discuss together.
Finally, in social studies, the students have made great strides in their research on their selected states. Some of the students are ready to begin their posters this week, and I believe the remainder will be ready by the week’s end. If you get a chance, stop by the bulletin board near our classroom. The children have all written a short description of a place they would like to visit in the states they are focusing on. We will add to this board as we learn more.
Homework assignments this week will be minimal due to the ERB Testing. It is very important that the children are well rested for the tests, so the decreased homework is meant to insure they have every opportunity for rest the nights before the tests. Your help in making sure your children are well rested is greatly appreciated!