WEEK OF JANUARY 31

Too Good For Drugs
Our fourth session of TGFD focused on making choices and the people who might influence the choices we make. The students did NOT receive homework this week, but this would be a great topic for a family discussion at the dinner table!

Valentine's Day Tidbits - Looking Ahead
The classroom Valentine's Day Party will be on Monday, February 14. Students may bring valentines for their classmates. Please understand that students will only be able to exchange within their own classrooms. Also, if students choose to bring valentines, they should bring one for each student in their classroom. Students were given a current class list on Friday. Also, students should not bring any candy treats as part of their valentine exchange - any candy treats brought in will be sent back home with students. Thanks in advance for following these guidelines!


Subject Update:

• English - The students will finish their expository writing pieces. We will also begin our next grammar unit on adjectives.
• Science - We will review all about matter to prepare for the Chapter 14 Test scheduled for Thursday, February 3!
• Social Studies - The students will hear about Paul Revere's famous midnight ride and the official start of the Revolutionary War!
• Mrs. Strong's Spelling Class - We will begin Lesson 18 on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words. A final test will be given on Friday.
• Mrs. Strong's Reading Class - We will practice writing an extended response using a nonfiction text. This will help us succeed when taking the ISAT tests! We will also be identifying cause and effect relationships using a variety of instructional materials.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 4 as we explore factors. Students will identify factors, learn methods for prime factorization, and find the greatest common factor (GCF) of a given set of numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 2 - T.G.F.D. (Session 5)

Feb. 9 - T.G.F.D. (Session 6)

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day Party

Feb. 15 - Argonne Field Trip

WEEK OF JANUARY 24

Too Good For Drugs
Our third session of TGFD focused on decision making. The students received a homework assignment to reinforce the concepts presented. Once the activity is completed, the sheet must be signed by a parent and returned to school by Wednesday, January 26.

2nd Trimester Progress Check
Please continue to check your child's progress via ParentConnect. I encourage parents to review grades weekly with their students. It helps them better understand how each and every grade has a direct effect on their overall average!

Help Wanted
Would anyone be able to supply drinks for our upcoming Valentine's Day Party? You would not need to attend the party, simply send in the refreshments. Please email or send a note with your child if you are willing to help us out.
Also, I need 2 chaperones for an upcoming field trip to Argonne. Please let me know by Tuesday if you are interested. Due to security at Argonne, these chaperones would need to bring a valid driver's license for identification on the day of the trip. Our classroom is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15 from 9:30 - 1:30 (permission slip coming home soon).


Subject Update:

• English - The students will work again with expository writing. We will explore different ways to better elaborate on our ideas.
• Science - We will review about physical changes of matter before reading about chemical changes and how they are different.
• Social Studies - The students are learning about the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party.
• Mrs. Strong's Spelling Class - We will begin Lesson 17 on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words. A final test will be given on Friday.
• Mrs. Strong's Reading Class - We will continue to understand the author's viewpoint and to distinguish between fact and opinion using instructional level materials.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students should be reviewing for the Chapter 10 Test scheduled for Tuesday, January 25. Then we will move into Chapter 4 about number theory and fractions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 22 - Mrs. Strong's Winter Party

Jan. 25 - District Spelling Bee

Jan. 26 - T.G.F.D. (Session 4)

WEEK OF JANUARY 17

Too Good For Drugs
Our second session of TGFD focused on communication skills. The students received a homework assignment to play a special game of charades with their families to reinforce the concepts presented. Once the activity is completed, the top portion of the page must be signed by a parent and returned to school by Wednesday, January 19.

2nd Trimester Progress Check
January 14 marked the 2nd trimester midpoint. Please be sure to check your child's progress via ParentConnect. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me right away.

Special Recognition
Congratulations to our Classroom Spelling Bee winner Makaila Scheiblein and runner-up Zach Bandyk! They will represent our class in the 5th Grade Spelling Bee on Tuesday, January 18. We wish our spellers the best of luck!

Subject Update:

• English - The students will review all about pronouns on Monday to help prepare them for the Unit 6 Pronouns Test on Wednesday, January 19. We will finish the week with some creative writing as we compose winter haikus.
• Science - We will learn how matter changes states. The students will also learn about density and the difference between mixtures and solutions.
• Social Studies - At the end of first lesson, British warships and more soldiers arrived in Boston Harbor, worsening the tension between the colonists and Britain. The next lesson will discuss the events in Boston that brought Britain and the colonies closer to war.
• Mrs. Strong's Spelling Class - We will begin Lesson 16 on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words. A final test will be given on Friday.
• Mrs. Strong's Reading Class - This week we will be determining the author's viewpoint as we read selected stories. We will also be focusing on the difference between fact and opinion.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will continue in Chapter 10. They will learn and apply formulas for finding the volume of rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, and cylinders. A homework review is planned for Thursday.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 17 - No School (M. L. King Day)

Jan. 18 - 5th Grade Spelling Bee

Jan. 19 - T.G.F.D. (Session 3)

WEEK OF JANUARY 10

Too Good For Drugs
Deputy K presented our first TGFD lesson on setting goals. (Officer Stejskal was unable to hold the first session, but the students will meet her next week.) The students received a homework assignment to set a goal with their families. This page must be completed along with a parent signature by Wednesday, January 12. Students were told that they will earn a participation grade for Science/Health by completing these kinds of assignments on time and demonstrating appropriate behavior.

Subject Update:

• English - The students will learn how to use possessive pronouns and contractions with pronouns. They will also learn how to avoid writing double subjects and determine when to use we or us.
• Science - We are learning about the properties of matter. Students should be able to tell you the difference between an atom and a molecule.
• Social Studies - "No taxation without representation!" That was the protest cry of the colonists over the Stamp Act of 1765 imposed by the British government. Next week, students will hear more about the problems between Britain and the colonists.
• Mrs. Strong's Spelling Class - We will begin Lesson 15 on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words. A final test will be given on Friday.
• Mrs. Strong's Reading Class - We will be working on story structure using a story map template while reading various literature selections.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will continue in Chapter 10. The students will complete a short open-book homework review on Monday. Then we will identify different solid figures and learn how to calculate surface area and volume.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 11 - Practice Classroom Spelling Bee

Jan. 12 - Juggler Assembly about Bullying

Jan. 12 - MAPS Testing

Jan. 12 - T.G.F.D. (Session 2)

Jan. 13 - Official Classroom Spelling Bee

Jan. 14 - 2nd Trimester Midpoint - Check Student Progress!