Hello Families!

I hope you all have a great Spring Break.  Tomorrow, I will post the answers for the Spring Break packet.  I know many of you are using some of Spring Break time to work with your students!  I hope you find the items in the packet helpful.  If you have any questions, please call me.  I may not answer immediately, but if you send me a text or voice mail I will contact you when I get in range. Update, Mr. Danny was waxing the floors so I don't have access to the classroom over break. :(  But if you have any questions, please contact me.

Ask your student for your copy of the conference form, on the Monday following Spring Break.  If you weren't able to attend conferences, I will meet with you over the phone or in person. 

Speaking of conferences, many families were asking about the big test in April.  A big thing you can do is download the released test items from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  When you download the items, you will find sample test questions from last year's test along with answers. {see more at http://ok.gov/sde/test-support-teachers-and-administrators#OCCT-Rel-Items }  Third grade items are listed under OCCT Released Items. 

Our class will be having a "Rock the Test" meeting, Friday, March 29th from 4-5 p.m.  It will be a lot of fun and should be very informative! 

Remember to make a stop by the Tulsa City-County Library during Spring Break.  The more you read, the more your child will achieve!  Many of you have asked how to tell if a book from the library is on your child's reading level. First, have your child open a page in the middle of the book.  Then have your child read a couple of pages.  If your child makes five or more mistakes, the book is too hard for him/her to understand.  On the other hand, if your child picks up a book where they know all the words...the book is too easy.  

When a book is too easy or too hard, I always ask a student, "What's your purpose in reading this book?"  If your child wants to check out a book for you to read to them at bedtime, then a difficult book is okay because you will be reading it!  If your student wants to check out an easier book, but they want to read it to a little brother/sister then that would be okay too!  

I hope I answered some of your questions!  Have a great spring break!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Cowan