M-STEP schedule

M-STEP Schedule 

April 4, 2018

Dear Families,

Below is the schedule for the M-STEP Test 2018. M-STEP, Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, is a newly, designed standardized assessment given to grades 3- 8, and grade 11. This year the test window is April 9- May 1, 2018 for fifth-graders. Your fifth-grade child will be tested in the subject areas of ELA Reading, Mathematics , Social Studies and pilot Science.  If your child is tardy or absent on a test day, he or she will have to make- up the missed part of the test on a rescheduled date. Keep a copy of the calendar posted or handy.

Info to Know:

• M-STEP is not a timed test.
• Having a peaceful night’s rest helps.
• Eating a balanced breakfast and lunch is important.
• Be mindful of the schedule as you plan appointments or early student pickups
• Homework assignments and some classroom assignments will decrease.
• No Homework, the day of a scheduled test.

What M-STEp means, what it offers, etc.

We need your help!  On the calendar are the types of food we will need. The count is 24.  If possible, try to have the snacks in one day prior to the scheduled date.  Avoid popcorn, as well as chocolate, nuts or tree nuts. All food must be labeled or store bought. Sample list is below. If you are able to send in a snack, send a note or email as soon as possible, subject line, M-STEP snacks along with the date.

Suggestions:

Breakfast: Fruit, cereal, bagels (cream cheese), yogurt, or a protein bar

Beverage: milk, 100% juice boxes or small, 8-oz bottled water         Students should bring a reusable water bottle too. (No refills during the test.)

Healthy snack: sandwich crackers, fruit, pretzels, or yogurt

Gum: sugar-free, spearmint types (as needed) or peppermints

Snacks: Packaged treats ( Individually wrapped snacks) needed for make ups too

Paper products:  bowls, napkins and spoons

Gratefully, Avery V. Hubbard

Abbreviations

CAT- Computer Adaptive

ELA- English Language Arts

	April  2018
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9Math CAT 9:20-11:20 AM Lab C Breakfast Beverage Snack Gum mints	10	11 Science  Lab C 9:20-11:20 AM Breakfast Beverage Snack Gum mints	12	13	14
15	16	17 ELA-CAT 1:00-3:30 PM Lab C Snack Beverage Gum mints	18	19 Yearbook photos Social Studies Part I 1:00- 3:30 PM (Lab C) Snack Beverage Gum mints	20 Earth Day/ Day of Service No Testing	21
22	23	24 Social Studies Part II 1:00-3:30 PM (LAB C) Snack Beverage Gum mints	25	26	27	28
29	30 Last Make up for Fifth Grade 5/1	Notes: NWEA and Reading Inventory, RI, formerly SRI, May 1- June 15, dates will be sent in May.

March Update 2018

March Update 2018

Report Letters went home on Thursday, 3/15/18. In the envelope, you should have received:

1. Winter Report Card
2. PLP (Personalized Learning Plan)
3. NWEA Winter Report
4. Spanish report letter (5th grade only)
5. Instrumental Music Letter (5th grade only)

Please sign and return the PLP and envelope. 

Today, 3/16, there was no homework today, please encourage reading.

 Wacky week

Dress for the Daily Theme!

3/19, Monday is Dress for Success, Career Day

3/20, Tuesday is Find a Partner and coordinate, Twin Day!

3/21, Wednesday is Crazy Hair Day!

3/22, Thursday is Sports Day, Wear your favorite sports attire

3/23, Friday is Pajama Day and Stuffed Animal Day. 

(Be sure your pajamas are appropriate for school)

3/23 Spring break begins at 3:59 PM.

3/23, Last day to turn in Read-a-thon monies

4/2/18, School will resume from Spring Break. 

4/4/18, Visit from 

POP in Visits

Parent Pop IN Visits are another strategy I am willing to try to assist with our classroom climate. I am encouraging Parent Pop In Visits. Try coming in unannounced to visit our classroom to support and help our classroom climate. You can shoot me an email or you don't have to announce your arrival. 

Favorite or Worst Colony (Opinion)

My favorite colony or Worst Colony (Opinion)

Part II (Part I is your story board comic strip)

If you were alive during this period in history, in which colony would you have chosen to live? Why?  Give 3 reasons. (3 Pros)

Write a letter to one of your friends in Great Britain persuading him or her to migrate to a colony of your choice. The time frame is the 18^th century (1700's prior to 1760).

Requirements

     Historical Date

  Greetings

   Introduction stating:

o   Colony

o   Colonial region (New England, Middle, and Southern)

o   Location (North, South, East or West, Atlantic ocean, near etc.)

     State 3 reasons why this colony is the best colony

    One of your reasons must contrast one of the opposing colonies or Regions (possible Con)

o   New England

o   Middle

o   Southern

     Use one con to prove your point. 
    Uses voice to persuade the reader of the letter (Use special words to target his or her wants and needs.)

     Closing Paragraph (Conclusion), restates main ideas, friendly chatter

     Salutation

   Less than 3 misspelled words

   Use a combination of complex and compound sentences. (Avoid run ons.)

   Use transition words within the paragraphs and changing paragraphs.

   Less than 3 grammatical errors

(Challenge)

If you were alive during this period in history, in which colony would you have refused to live? Why?

Write a letter to one of your friends in Great Britain persuading him or her to never visit or do business with this colony.

Differentiation

• State 3 reasons why this colony is the worst colony
• Use of economic terms as a reason: natural resource, human resource, good, product, manufacturing, trade off, opportunity cost, etc.

Sample letter 

Favorite Colony

December 9, 1731

Dear Penny,

            Good morning! I hope you are doing well back in the Old World of England. I have settled into New Jersey in the Middle Region, which is south of the colony of Massachusetts Bay.  If you are looking for a colony with plenty of great land, a democratic government and plenty of job opportunities, in my opinion, New Jersey is the place for you.

            First, the main reason for coming to New Jersey is the chance of having plenty of great land. New Jersey began as a colony, because New York was too crowded. Sometimes, I felt like in New York, my cabin was going to touch another one. Our newly started colony gives colonists a chance to farm with great land. Also, our land provides opportunity for lumbering of trees. The soil is so rich, that you will be able to grow almost any crop. I know how much you like working in your garden.  To add to the opportunity to gardening, a nickname for the colonies in the middle is the breadbasket, because we are home to several colonies that have lots of farms.

Another reason to move to New Jersey is the democratic government. WE are so different from New York, another middle colony. They have a strict appointed governor who appoints people. No one votes. In New Jersey, your husband will be able to vote, because he is a white male. Voting will provide a chance to have a say in the matters of the colony.

Lastly, I know you are thinking New York has an opportunity to have a job fur trading but the trading business is really competitive with the Natives and the Dutch. Don’t waste your time in that business. Our colony offers skilled workers, farmers, and business owners. I even heard of someone working as a blacksmith.

To sum it all up, It may take a while but you will eventually have a nice area of spacious land, voting privileges and a new job in your future home, New Jersey. Tell aunt Bessie that I love her and send my well wishes to my old neighborhood. See you in a month in the best colony, New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Avery Hubbard