CLASSROOM NEWS: WEEK OF JUNE 2

For Your Information:

Thank You, Chaperones!
We would like to thank Mrs. Calabria, Mrs. Foernssler, Mrs. Wozniak, Mrs. Schmidt, and Mrs. Brackett for joining us at the Museum of Science and Industry. We had fun viewing some of the exhibits, and we were successful at solving the mystery in the museum's crime lab.

Yearbooks Information
Yearbooks ordered by students earlier in the year will be handed out on June 5th. Any students who did not purchase a yearbook may do so on a first-come-first-serve basis on June 5th; they will go on sale after morning announcements. The cost will be $10.00 and children wishing to purchase should have this exact amount. Checks can be made out to Prairieview. Please understand that there is a limited supply!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - No spelling!
• English/Writing - We will work to finish publishing our short stories.
• Reading - The students will be doing some reader's theater of fractured fairy tales. This will be a fun way to work on fluency and expression.
• Science - We will finish up some activities in our Forensics booklet.
• Social Studies - We will see if any students are able to label all 50 states on a map. This will be a fun challenge - there is no test planned!

Mark Your Calendar:

6/3: 4th Grade Bowling

6/4: All School Picnic and Games

6/5: Last Day of School (Dismissal 9:30 a.m.)

CLASSROOM NEWS: WEEK OF MAY 27

For Your Information:

Response To Intervention (RTI)
Center Cass School District #66 is in the process of implementing an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) mandate, Response to Intervention (RTI). RTI is an array of procedures that can be used to determine if and how students respond to specific changes in instruction. RTI provides an improved process and structure for school teams in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational interventions. Please look for the additional information on RTI, which will be included with your child’s end of the year Report Card.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 35: Review of Lessons 28-34
• English/Writing - We will be finishing up the process of drafting, revising, and editing our stories. We hope to start publishing and illustrating our stories as well.
• Reading - The students did a wonderful job discussing the story, Doing Time Online. I was amazed at some of the thought-provoking questions and comments made by students about the characters and events of the book. We will be doing some other reading activities to reinforce and review the skills we learned during the year.
• Science - We have started to learn about forensic science. Our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry's Crime Lab will allow us to put some of these skills to work.
• Social Studies - We will highlight some of the exciting places in the Western region of the United States. Look for the yellow hand-out in your child's binder announcing where we will be and how to dress!

Mark Your Calendar:

5/26: No School (Memorial Day)

5/28: Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip

5/30: Favorite (Appropriate) T-Shirt Day!

6/3: 4th Grade Bowling

6/4: All School Picnic and Games

6/5: Last Day of School

CLASSROOM NEWS: WEEK OF MAY 19

For Your Information:

Flat Stanley Adventures
Our Flat Stanleys were expected back by Friday, May 16th, but I know that many students have not yet received them. Please be sure to bring your Stanleys to school when they make their way back so we can all hear about his many adventures with family and friends.

Boxtop Pizza Reward Party!
Our class has once again earned the pizza reward party for the most Boxtops for Education collected in 4th Grade!! We will be having our pizza lunch on Friday, May 23.



Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 34: Words with suffixes -ment and -ness
• English/Writing - Students are working on some creative writing. We have organized our ideas on a story map and have met in small groups to get some feedback on those ideas. Now we are adding in the interesting details as we work on rough drafts of our stories.
• Reading - We are currently reading a novel entitled, "Doing Time Online." The students will be completing a "Book Discussion Sheet" once we finish reading this story. The discussion worksheet includes various skills worked on throughout the year such as summarizing, connecting, and predicting. The sheet will also help prepare students for a group discussion about the book. Students have copies of the worksheet so that they understand what will be expected and can start "jotting" down some ideas they might use on it.
• Science - The students made a model of a fuse to demonstrate how it would "break" the flow of electricity if there was a problem within the circuit. We discussed that most homes now have circuit breakers to stop the flow of electricity if there is a problem. I have encouraged students to ask parents to show them the fuse box or circuit breaker in their homes. We will finish our unit by learning how electricity is measured in kilowatts. The Electricity Test is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21!
• Social Studies - We will be working on the Southwest section of our scrapbooks to learn more about the region.
• Accelerated Math - The students will be reviewing ratios, percent, and probability. There will be a "Ratio, Percent, and Probability Review" given on Thursday, May 22.

Mark Your Calendar:

5/19: Robert Crown Field Trip

5/20: Indian Prairie Library Summer Program Information

5/23: Red, White, and Blue Spirit Day!

5/23: Mrs. Strong's Boxtop Pizza Reward Party!

5/23: Prairieview Music Concert (1:15 p.m.)

5/26: No School (Memorial Day)

5/28: Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip

CLASSROOM NEWS: WEEK OF MAY 12

For Your Information:

Thank You, Helpers!
Thanks to the Hartenberger and Kozlowski families for providing the popcorn and drinks for the reward party. The students enjoyed these treats while watching a funny video about electricity.

Don't Forget - Robert Crown Information Meeting
The informational parent meeting about the Robert Crown field trip is Monday, May 12 from 7-8:00 p.m. at Prairieview. Even if you did not respond on the permission slip that you would attend, please come if you are interested!

More Thanks
Thanks to all of the families who helped in some way to create an amazing Teacher Appreciation Week. Most of all, thank you to those students who took the time to write a quick note of thanks to me - those are the most precious thank yous to receive!!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 33: Words with -tion
• English/Writing - The students will review pronouns early in the week in order to prepare for the Unit 6 Pronouns Test on Wednesday, May 14!
• Reading - We will finish our unit on fantasy. The students will take the fantasy theme test on Monday, May 12. Please remember that this is not a "test" for which students can prepare. The classroom work and discussions should have prepared students for this final activity.
• Science - The students will distinguish between series and parallel circuits. Then we will create a model of a fuse.
• Social Studies - We will review about the environment of the Southwest. The Chapter 10 Test is scheduled for Thursday, May 15! The students know that the Southwest Map will be the last section of this test. The students received a practice map for review at home.
• Accelerated Math - The students have been learning how to calculate perimeter, area, and volume. Students should know how to accurately label for these measurements.

Mark Your Calendar:

5/12: Robert Crown Parent Information Meeting (7-8 p.m. at PV)

5/15: Beginning Band Concert (7:00 p.m. at LV)

5/16: Favorite Book Character Day!

5/16: Character Counts Assembly

5/19: Robert Crown Field Trip

CLASSROOM NEWS: WEEK OF MAY 5

For Your Information:

Classroom Reward Earned!
The class has earned a video/popcorn party! They filled the marble jar for all of the compliments they have received about good behavior. Nice job, class! If anyone would like to help out by contributing popcorn or juice pouches, please email or call me by the end of the day Monday.

Summer School Courses
Check out the information about summer school courses which is currently posted on the district website. Be sure to check out all the exciting opportunities for students. Registration is due in the school office by May 9th!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - Lesson 32: Words spelled with consonant + le
• English/Writing - The students are now learning about pronouns. We will learn about the correct usage of pronouns "I" and "me," using possessive pronouns to replace possessive nouns, and contractions. We will also distinguish the difference between such homophones as "your" and "you're."
• Reading - We will continue the genre of fantasy. We will read an interesting story entitled, "The Stranger."
• Science - The students should review activities #1-8 in their Electricity booklets to prepare for a quiz on Tuesday, May 6th! Then we will assemble circuits with different kinds of battery arrangements to determine how it affects the brightness of the bulb, create a model of a switch to demonstrate how it opens and closes a circuit, and construct a circuit puzzle.
• Social Studies - We will continue to learn about the environment of the Southwest. We will read about the arid climate of the deserts in this region.
• Accelerated Math - The students will create some circle and line segment designs to enrich our understanding of geometry. Then we will learn the differences between perimeter, area, and volume.

Mark Your Calendar:

5/5 - 5/9: Teacher Appreciation Week

5/12: Robert Crown Parent Information Meeting (7-8 p.m. at PV)

5/15: Beginning Band Concert (7 p.m. at LV)

5/16: Character Counts Assembly