This Week in 3M: Welcome back from break! We are entering the home stretch of this school year! On the calendar page I added a few important dates, including the field trip days that we are going to Boston and out ponding in Wellesley. Both are really fun trips, so room parents will contact you soon to sign up if you can. In Boston we will be visiting a tour group called Discovery Roxbury, having a picnic lunch on Fort Hill, and then going to an African-American Art museum in the afternoon. More details to follow...! This week we started our Social Studies unit on Boston, and that will continue for the remainder of the year. We will be focusing on the different neighborhoods and how they came to be, including what immigrant populations have come to each area and why. If you have a chance on the weekends, this is a great time to visit some of the historical sites that we will be talking about. Kids are always welcome to take pictures and share what they learned. We have been working on fractions and decimals in math (which is pretty hard stuff!) and the kids have been doing a great job. If they are feeling confused, don't worry - this is just supposed to be an exposure to these topics so that they recognize them a bit next year. No mastery is expected! In reading and writing we have been focusing on realistic fiction. The kids have been writing realistic fiction stories that have been coming out fantastic! I can't wait until they are published and you get to read them. In reading groups we are also reading realistic fiction to see how great author's describe characters and feelings. I hope you enjoyed reading the poetry books that the kids brought home before break. They were very proud of them. Stay cool! Emily Macht