Exciting Updates and Grade Highlights

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Hey families! Welcome back to another episode of Paws and Progress. It's Mrs. Nicholson here, and I just wanna say—it feels good to be back in your earbuds for another round of classroom updates, reminders, and, you know, a bit of Husky cheer! If you’ve been around for previous episodes, you know we always have something brewing in our classroom labs and learning spaces. So let’s just dive right in because there’s a lot going on!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Alright, first up—STEM updates. I know a lot of you have been asking about our annual Science Fair. So here's your friendly nudge: projects are coming due real soon, and I'm seeing some great progress already. Remember last time how we talked about turning feedback into growth? Well, this is one of those big moments. Students should be double-checking those final boards, making sure their results are as clear as can be, and—please, please—don’t forget your visuals! I know, glue sticks run away in this house too, so grab those ahead of time.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Oh, and here’s something new—our Detroit Blitz math game! I—I’m honestly a little too excited about this. We’ve been piloting it during our math rotations, and it’s already becoming a class favorite. The kids get to practice quick calculations, teamwork, and, honestly, a little friendly competition never hurt anybody, right? If your student comes home all hyped about scoring “Blitz Points,” just know that’s math fluency in action!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

So between science boards and Blitz beating, it’s been a busy week. But let’s get specific—what’s happening in fourth grade?

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Fourth grade families—hello, I see you! So, in our room lately, we’ve been deep-diving into fractions and decimals. Now, I think I say this every year, but this is where a lot of us—me included when I was in school—kind of pause and squint at the board, right? But I promise, it’s all clicking! We’re using base-ten blocks, number lines, and even—yes, actual snacks. If your student comes home explaining that half a cookie is “zero point five,” they’ve been listening!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

And reading—oh man, we just wrapped up a particularly lively discussion about main ideas and supporting details. We’ve been reading these anchor texts all about animal habitats. The connections kids are making between science, reading, and real life have been so fun to witness. Actually, I think I saw a few “a-ha!” moments last Thursday—love it!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Speaking of connecting, as we talked about in an earlier episode, it's so helpful when families reinforce these skills at home. Even something as simple as asking your child to explain the “main idea” of a TV show you’re watching together makes a big difference.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

All in all, I’d say our fourth graders are really showing up. Keep an eye out for some sample work on Friday folders this week—I’m excited for you to see the progress.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Alright, 5th grade stars, it’s your turn in the spotlight!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Fifth graders, don’t worry—I didn’t forget about you! So, math-wise, we’ve started exploring multi-step word problems and diving deeper into operations with decimals. I know that sounds a little intimidating, but trust me, your students are rising to the challenge. We’re working on strategies to break those big problems down—annotating, underlining important info, and, yes, showing our work even when the answer seems obvious!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

In reading and writing, we’ve been thinking a lot about author’s perspective. Our class has been comparing a couple of different texts and talking about why writers might include certain details and leave others out. Sometimes the conversations go a little off-track—one day someone started talking about their favorite comic books and... well, you know how that goes! But honestly, that’s how real learning happens. Connecting classroom reading to personal interests—that’s the good stuff.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Oh! And quick reminder: many of our fifth graders are preparing for the upcoming debate project. If you hear arguments about whether cats or dogs make better pets, just know it’s all part of the lesson plan.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Last thing, for both grades: don’t forget your Science Fair deadlines—this is your chance to showcase your curiosity, your hard work, and, hey, maybe even make some lifelong memories.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Now, we’re almost at the finish line for today’s update, but I want to send you off with a little encouragement.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Thank you, families, for tuning in—really, your support makes all this learning magic possible. Whether you’re helping glue down science fair graphs, quizzing on fractions at the dinner table, or just cheering from the sidelines, it means the world to us. If you have questions, especially about the Science Fair or the new math games, you know where to find me—drop me a note or catch me at dismissal.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

That’s it for this week’s Paws and Progress. Keep encouraging those curious questions and big ideas at home—I’ll be back soon with more updates from our amazing Huskies. Until next time, keep growing and glowing! Go Huskies!