Happy Summer Birthday Dominic!

Hi there.

We began our new Montana History Unit today. The Natives now have horses and guns and life as they knew it is now in the past. Today, we added the Louisiana Purchase to their plate and will discover how very different their life will be very soon. We will travel along with Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea to explore the West that we purchased from France. We talked about how this is often known as the Westward Expansion, but it is equally known as the Easter Invasion. It all depends on which group of people's perspective you are looking at.

To go along with this unit, I handed out a novel called The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark. This will be our final book report book for the year. Tonight's homework is to read Ch. 1, New Life. They may listen to you read it, take turns reading it with you, or read it alone. They are NOT to read past the assigned chapter each night. Their morning work will be a quiz over the chapter read the previous night this week. I highly recommend you reading along as well as your rich discussions will help kids make connections and understand it more. Even if they chose to read it alone, if you could also read it and talk about it in the car that would be so powerful. Kids will need to show mastery of this content (pass quizzes) in order to come along on the Pompey's Pillar field trip. If they don't get this book, then they will not be able to make the connections there and will most likely become a behavior problem. Thanks for your  help on this one! :0) Enjoy a quality bed time story! :)

Spelling words have been posted to the right. Alternate testers will be decided by Friday's test.

States and Capital's test is this Thursday. I showed kiddos 4 games online (go to my old blog) today to help them practice matching them correctly. I encourage them to play those at home as well. There are also MANY apps for iPods and iPads out there for free too.

I printed off 20 missing assignment papers today. AHHHHHH!!! This is rare for this class. Some of us had a VERY serious discussion this morning how this is not acceptable. Many kids stayed in at recess to get caught up, and there are only a few left to finish tonight. Please check online to see if this applies to your kiddo. The gradebook is up to date! Everything turned in as of 3:00 today has been graded and recorded.

It has been asked by the 4th grade team that we order another bus for Pompey's Pillar. We only had two busses for 115 kids to Arbor Day. That was without backpacks and three in a seat. It was pretty squished. Pompey's is a 45-50 minute ride and it might get a little more squished with all the gear taken along. Would it be ok if we took the $3 you payed for the Arbor Day Trip that I have to refund you and put it toward another bus for this trip? Please write YES or NO in the planner for $50. If you write NO, I will refund your money to you. Thanks.

Chaparones are needed for the following. Please write in the planner if you can help out.
Pompey's Pillar (June 2nd, all day)-1 Parent needed
Grewell Ranch (May 22nd, all day)-1 Parent needed
Spinners Bike Ride-(May 29, 11-1)-2 Parents needed to ride along (I already have Avery's mom as the 3rd) and 1 Parent with a truck needed to follow in case of break downs. (Mr. Dowler???????)

It was GREAT to have Hanna back today. She shared all about her trip to DisneyWorld today. Fun in the sun!!! We hope to have Cayden back soon, and are thinking of him during this difficult time. Gabrielle...have a wonderful trip to Florida to see your brother!

Happy Summer Birthday to Dominic. He sure did make some cash selling those super yummy cupcakes. I have never seen Oreo or Mint Chocolate Chip cupcakes before. Yum! I hope your real day is just as fun Dominic!

Have a wonderful night. Emma finished Volleyball this weekend, so I can actually go home and have dinner tonight! Fantastic! :0)

Mrs. Grewell