WMS: Math/Science Update

Dear Families,

I hope you had a wonderful Spring Break! We so lucked out in that things weren't too rainy and they ended with an AMAZING sunny Sunday! What a nice way to come back to school! I just want to send a quick note about math and science to help everyone get reoriented after break.

WHAT'S THE HOMEWORK?

I been keeping my homework calendar up to date. You can find it under the calendar tab on my website [link]. Homework is usually assigned the day before it is due. How do you know if your child is turning homework in? I will stamp your child's planner on the date that the homework is due. If your child's planner is missing stamps, then he/she is not getting their homework turned in on-time. I only stamp the planner if all of the homework is complete. So if your child only finishes the math review and part of another assignment (but not all of it), then I won't stamp at that time. But your child is welcome to get things stamped the next day when they are done.

MATH

We have completed our unit on measurement and geometry. We just got our new books today (Variables and Patterns) that delves into algebra by focusing on variables, tables, and graphing. MSP testing and MAP testing won't be happening until May, so be on the look out for more information about those dates. We are doing all computerized testing for math this year (in grade 6 students are only tested in Math and Reading). 

SCIENCE

We are closing our unit on Populations and Ecosystems and will be starting this week on Earth History. It opens with a discussion of the differences between observation and inference. Both skills are vitally important in geology because nobody was around to tell us what happened. All we have is the evidence at-hand (our observations) and our stories that try to explain the evidence (inference). Sometimes students have a very hard time limiting themselves to observations, so be on the look out for your child to have questions about that. Also be expecting quizzical looks about the age of things. The geologic time scale is much much larger than what we are used to dealing with, so there may be lots of good opportunities to discuss timelines and geological events with your child. 

Welcome back and welcome the sun! :) I hope it stays around a little more this spring.

Sincerely,

Brian MacNevin

brian.macnevin@bellinghamschools.org

http://www.mrmacnevin.com