CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information:

Dr. Tiede 's Visit to 4th Grade
Dr. Tiede visited each grade level this past Tuesday to share his love of reading with Prairieview students. He read selected items from the Chicago Tribune to show that examples of the six pillars of character can be found everywhere.

Spring Break Reading
Since the students will not be given homework during Spring Break, please take the opportunity to share a book with your child. Try to read together for about 20 minutes each night, then have your child summarize, make connections, predict, and discuss the characters with you. If you happen to discover a great book, encourage your child to share it with the class when we return!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 26: Review of lessons 19-25
• English/Writing - The students will write limerick, diamante, and free verse poetry.
• Reading - We made a change in our reading plans this past week. Instead of starting fantasy, we read a story about problem solving. This story showed us that we may need to try many different ideas before we find a solution to a problem. This lesson about problem solving is a nice introduction to inventors and inventions. We will read more about inventors and inventions after Spring Break.
• Science - The students will learn how rocks break down into sediments which can form into sedimentary rocks. Then we will learn how heat and pressure deep inside the earth can make rocks change form into metamorphic rocks.
• Social Studies - As we continue our study of the Midwest, we will focus on the people and history of our own state of Illinois. Students will receive information about a famous Illinoisan research project on Monday, March 31!
• Accelerated Math - The students will review multiplication of decimals before moving on to division of decimals.
  

Mark Your Calendar:

3/21 - 3/30: No School (Spring Break!)

4/2: Amazing Animals Assembly

4/4: Prairieview School Spirit Day!

CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information:

ISAT Testing Update
We had to make some adjustments to our original ISAT schedule, so we have completed all of our testing!! The students were very cooperative and worked hard all week - they should be commended for their efforts!

Horton Hears A Who! Fundraiser
I hope many of you will be attending the district fundraiser this Sunday. I plan to be there from 12:00-1:00 to do face painting. Stop by to check out my "artistic" work!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 25: Words ending with -ture
• English/Writing - The students will continue to create their own poetry. We will be writing haiku, quatrain, and concrete poems.
• Reading - We will be starting a unit on fantasy. In this genre, there are characters, settings, and/or events that cannot happen in real life. We will be identifying parts of the story that are realistic, as well as parts of the story that make it fantasy.
• Science - The students have learned how igneous rocks form by the cooling of fire-hot magma from deep inside the earth. Next we will distinguish between the three types of volcanoes.
• Social Studies - The students have been learning about the states and water areas of the Midwest. There is a Midwest Map Test scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th! The students were given extra practice maps to help them prepare this weekend. Also, we have read about the waterways, landforms, and farms of this region. The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19th!
• Accelerated Math - The students will be learning how to multiply and divide decimals in Chapter 8.

Mark Your Calendar:

3/14: No School

3/20: March Madness Spirit Day - Wear your favorite team's colors or spirit wear!

3/21 - 3/30: No School - Spring Break!

CLASSROOM NEWS

For Your Information:

ISAT Testing Suggestions
Next week we will be taking ISAT tests. It is important that your children arrive at school on time! We will be conducting all tests first thing in the morning. Also, it may be helpful to talk about testing with your children. You might ask about some of the activities we have done in preparation, and encourage them to put forth their best efforts.

Conferences
Although conferences have only been scheduled by parent or teacher request this trimester, please remember that you may contact me at any time to discuss the progress of your child.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - No lesson next week - ISAT Testing!
• English/Writing - The students will be creating their own poetry as we learn about many special kinds of poetry. We will start with acrostic, couplet, and cinquain poems.
• Reading - We will be catching up on some current events by reading and discussing some articles in "Time For Kids" magazine.
• Science - The students have learned a lot about minerals. Since all rocks are composed of 2 or more minerals, we will now learn about the 3 different types of rocks . We will start by looking at igneous rocks. These rocks are created by the cooling of magma.
• Social Studies - We will be learning about the Badlands of South Dakota and how they have changed over time.
• Accelerated Math - The students will be completing the 3 math sections of ISATs in their math classrooms, but no lessons will be taught during the week.

Mark Your Calendar:

3/10 - 3/13: Parent/Teacher Conferences

3/10 - 3/18: ISAT Testing

3/13: Spirit Day - Wear Green for St. Patrick's Day!

3/14: No School