Dear Parents,
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! We are already only
three weeks from the end of the quarter, after which will be a week of break.
This week will be a fairly normal week; no tests (at least in my classes) and
no half days or days off.
In math class this week, we will continue our study of
fractions, emphasizing the connections between mixed fractions and improper
fractions and working on comparing fractions. In science, we will continue our
study of the earth’s interior and also examine earthquakes, volcanoes, and
mountains.
As spring approaches, we also approach the time when schools
must administer state standardized tests. At Great Hearts, our philosophy on standardized
tests is that we do not “teach to the test.” We teach students important human
skills each day, giving them opportunities to engage in meaningful ways with
important ideas on a variety of subjects. We develop knowledge in specific
areas, of course, but we also teach students communication skills, reading
comprehension skills, and critical thinking skills. These skills will benefit
student throughout their whole lives, and they also aid students when taking
standardized tests. This eliminates the need for us to spend our time “teaching
to the test.” At the same time, we feel it is unfair to students to expect them
to take tests on material they have not seen. For this reason, we will use some
of our class time in the upcoming weeks to introduce students to material that
would otherwise not be directly covered in our curriculum.
These are all the
notes I have for you for the week! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns,
please email me at rwycklendt@archwaytriviumeast.org.
Sincerely,
Miss Wycklendt
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