Hello! Congratulations to the students for successfully completing the SAT10!! They all did a GREAT job - everyone worked very dilligently, raised their hands if they had questions, used their repertoir of various strategies to solve problems, and really took the time to double - even triple check their work! Thank you students for all your hard work, and thank you parents for your support, as always!

We will be going back to our typical homework assignments this week. Students will be coming home with their new spelling lists on Monday, April 12th. Our last unit of study was comparing consonant digraphs and blends. Students discovered that the word "digraph" has the digraph /ph/, the word "blend" has the blends /bl/ and /nd/! Digraphs can be made up of either vowels or consonants - and are made up of two letters creating one sound - such as the "f" sound with "ph". Blends are also made up of at least two letters, however you can hear the sound each individual letter makes. For example, with the /bl/ blend, you can hear the "b" and the "l" separately. We are going to take this knowledge we've gained about digraphs and blends and SLIDE it on over to diphthongs!

Diphthongs and digraphs are VERY similar - in fact so similar I needed to refresh MY memory on the difference between the two! Both are made of two letters, both create one sound. There are two major differences that make a diphthong different from a digraph: first, diphthongs are only a combination of two VOWELS - no consonants here; second, a diphthong is created by the tongue SLIDING from one sound to the other. The word "audience" is a great example of a word with both a digraph and diphthong. First, the /au/ is a vowel digraph - creating the "aw" sound. The /ie/ is a diphthong - say "audience" slowly, notice how you "SLIDE" from the i, to the e, and finally to the rest of the word? That's what makes it a diphthong!

Common diphthongs include, but are not limited to: /ie/, /oi/ as in "boil", /oy/ as in "boy". /ea/ as in "created", and /io/ as in "Pinocchio". We will be focusing on these - but be on the lookout for any others!

In math we will be beginnning a combination unit focusing on money, time, and temperature. We will begin the unit with money! We will review how to add and subtract money, as well as make change using the least amount of coins. In an effort to make a connection to our last Social Studies unit (Economics) I was hoping to be able to show the students different examples of currency. If you are willing/able to send in any examples of foreign currrency with your child to share with the class it would be most greatly appreciated! The currency will be sent back home the same day :)

Finally, your child will be recieving an invitation in the mail within the next few days. This will be addressed to him/her "and family." Since the students were a part of our engagement, I would be honored if they (and parents) could join us for our wedding ceremony as well. The ceremony is Saturday, July 17th, 3:30 in the afternoon, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church - located at 35 East Church Street in Downtown Frederick. I have made arrangements with our photographer to plan for a group picture with us immediately following the ceremony. We will send a copy of the picture to you once we get them :) No gifts, please, your attendance will be gift enough!

Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week!