Dear Parents, March 9,2007

I hope that everyone had a restful vacation. The class came back eager to learn and to begin our new unit on biographies! We have begun to do research on various famous historical figures through read a-loud and the internet. It is so much fun to watch the class become interested in someone from long ago. Long ago in our class can mean anything from the 1400s to the 1970s (The class was shocked to find out that I was alive when Elvis was!) We have read about Abraham Lincoln, Ruby Bridges, Harriet Tubman and Snowflake Bentley so far.

Please keep April 4^th open. That will be the date of our Biography Wax Museum. At this time children, dressed as a famous person, will stand “frozen” in front of a life sized painting. When a visitor presses a special button, they will come to life to tell about the life of this person. This is an exciting day for us. The class will have spent three weeks getting ready and they are so proud to “show off”. We are just beginning to investigate people that the class would like to study, but they will need to have a good idea of some choices for next Wednesday.

We will also be looking for volunteers to help us to paint and set up for the wax museum. A notice will be going home next week.

We have begun a new homework routine. We will no longer be sending home homework every Monday. With the nicer weather coming (hopefully), it is so important for them to be playing outside! They will still be responsible for reading for 20 minutes each night. However, if any class work is not completed, it will be coming home as homework that is due the next day. The class will also be responsible for doing part of their biography report at home. More details will be coming home next Friday.

We are doing multiplication, division, measuring and fractions in Math. Any time an opportunity comes to practice up at home please run with it! While you are cooking, let them measure the ingredients, double the recipe or cut it in half. Talk about how to divide a pizza up equally or even cutting a sandwich in different ways. We are working on all of these concepts at school and what better way to practice than with real life situations.

Net week is a four day week. There will be no school on Friday, March 16 for a teacher workshop. Enjoy the warmer weather!