We have a student from SUNY  Geneseo visiting us this week during her spring break.  She is Bethlehem native Shannon McShane.  She is studying to be an elementary education teacher.  She has been working mainly with small groups of students during reading and math.  She seems to be a natural. 

Many thanks to all of you who attended or plan to attend a conference!  I love being able to share the good news about your child's progress with you.  It is also wonderful to have the opportunity to touch bases with you each month as you generously offer your time and expertise to our classroom.

Reading:  This week we have been concentrating on inference skills.  The children use their schema and textual evidence to get information from what they are reading.  They asked me to tell you that they are "getting better".

Math:  We have been continuing to use subtraction regrouping strategies, including subtraction on a number line.  We also took the 16 page District math test!  This test gives me a good idea about what I need to cover more fully before the year's end.

Writing:  We are writing "How To"  essays.   The children wrote How to Catch a Leprechaun, and How to Blow a Bubble (complete with bubble gum). They are becoming adept at using transitional words and indenting for paragraphs.

Science:  We began our second District required science unit.  It is a soils unit.  It is full of hands on activities and "labs".  So far we have made folders and examined soil from my backyard.

Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement.  I really appreciate all you do for us.