Monthly Newsletter IMPORTANT DATES *Dr. Suess’ birthday:  Sun. Mar. 2nd *No School (Conference Prep Day): Fri.    Mar. 7th *Farmer Nelson & ‘Perfect the Pig’ visit:   Wed. Mar. 12th *MIA field trip:  Fri. Mar. 14th *Spring Conferences: Tues./Wed. Mar.     18th/19th (4-8pm) *No School (Conferences): Thurs. Mar20th *No School: Fri. Mar. 21st *Spring Break: Mar. 31- Apr. 4th March Birthdays: Alex! Other News: #A special thanks to Jean Bergstrom and Tiffany Wortman for chaperoning our field trip to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.  #March is Women’s History Month.  Conversations at home about fabulous women of today and yesterday are encouraged! #MCA II testing is coming up in April. We are working on strategies to prepare us for the tests next month. What we are studying... Math: Our Mathematicians are working on Unit 7: Multiplication and Division.  Unit 7 extends the basic multiplication and division skills learned in the first part of the year.  The four main areas of focus are: review multiplication/division patterns, extend basic facts, practice making estimates of cost and explore ratios and geometric figures.  (Please continue to study multiplication facts every night until they are mastered!!) Reading:  Students continue to work largely with nonfiction text.  We have discussed a variety of reading strategies.  We are looking at the use of bold print and underlining within a passage, supporting our opinions with facts from a passage and identifying the main idea within a passage.   Writer's Workshop: Students are working on report writing.  They selected an Endangered Animal of Minnesota that they are interested in.  Each student is creating a brochure about their animal.  They have gathered information about: the animal’s habitat, appearance, food source and the threats to its existence.  The brochure also include facts about Minnesota. Content (Social Studies or Science):  Social Studies: Consumers & Producers and Community Development Science: Germs & Bacteria and Plants