WEEK OF APRIL 30

MAP Testing
Our class will be taking the MAP tests for Reading on Monday and Math on Thursday. Please encourage your student to concentrate and take the time necessary to do his/her very best!

IPA Winner in Our Classroom
Each year, two students from 5th grade are chosen to attend a special Illinois Principals Association breakfast. This year, one of our own classmates was selected for this honor. Congratulations, Sarah!

Bookworm Angels Book Drive Update 
5th grade is in the lead with over 1,060 books donated! There is still time to donate - books will be collected through Friday, May 4. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. Remember, the grade level that brings in the most books earns a "deluxe popsicle" reward!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 30 pretest will be on Monday. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice the words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - Students will learn how to use teach and learn, let and leave, sit and set, and can and may correctly. The Unit 3 Verbs test is scheduled for Friday, May 4!
• Reading - We will be starting fantasy novels next week. Students will be reading their assigned novels, completing book discussion worksheets that target the various reading comprehension skills covered this year, and participating in group discussions on designated days. READING TIC-TAC-TOE PROGRAM: The final Tic-Tac-Toe sheet is due May 25!
• Science - The students completed an investigation to discover that ocean waves are created by wind. We will read to learn more about how waves form and what causes tides and currents next week.
• Social Studies - Chapter 11 will teach us about the early years of the United States. The first lesson will focus on Washington as President.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We are learning about integers and how to compare these positive and negative numbers. Students will be learning how to plot ordered pairs of integers on a graph using all four quadrants.

Important Dates:

April 30 - Mrs. Strong's Reading MAP Testing

May 3 - Mrs. Strong's Math MAP Testing

WEEK OF APRIL 23

Bookworm Angels Book Drive
It's time for a little spring cleaning! Clear out those new or gently used books that your child has already read or out-grown! Your child brought home a flyer about the Bookworm Angels Book Drive at Prairieview from Monday, April 23 to Friday, May 4. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. The grade level that brings in the most books earns a "deluxe popsicle" reward!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 29 pretest will be on Monday. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice the words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - Students will learn more about subject and verb agreement with be and have, contractions with not, and irregular verb forms in the past tense.
  
• Reading - We will continue looking at how figurative language is used in poetry. This week we will specifically be looking at poetry that uses alliteration and hyperbole. READING TIC-TAC-TOE PROGRAM: The second Tic-Tac-Toe sheet is due April 25th!
  
• Science - The students will create a model of the ocean floor and learn how the ocean floor may change over time.
  
• Social Studies - The students are learning how the Federalists and Antifederalists had different viewpoints on the Constitution. The Chapter 10 Test is scheduled for Thursday, April 26!
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The Chapter 8 Test was changed to Monday, April 23! On Tuesday, we will extend our knowledge of percents by learning how to use a formula to calculate simple interest. Late in the week, we will start Chapter 9 on integers.
  

Important Dates:

April 25 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF APRIL 16

TGFD Graduation and Special Recognitions
I was happy to see so many parents attend our TGFD Graduation on Tuesday morning. Two of our students were recognized during the ceremony. Madison was one of five students chosen from 5th grade to read her TGFD "Promise Letter" to everyone, and Chris received an Honorable Mention from the Citizen's Bank essay contest. Congratulations to them and all the students who have promised to live drug free!

Spring Open House and Book Fair
Thank you to the many families who visited our classroom during the Spring Open House and Book Fair. I know the students were excited to show off their Chinese lanterns and brochures, Me Front Pages, and other works on display. I enjoyed the opportunity to chat briefly with so many of you, too!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 28 pretest will be on Monday. Homework will be assigned during the week to practice the words. Both regular and challenge word tests are on Friday.
• English - Students will learn about the present, past, and future tenses of verbs.
  
• Reading - We will be looking at how figurative language is used in poetry. This week we will specifically be looking at poetry that uses similes and imagery. READING TIC-TAC-TOE PROGRAM: The second Tic-Tac-Toe sheet is due April 25th!
  
• Science - We will begin Chapter 12 about "Earth's Oceans." The first lesson will help us understand characteristics of ocean water and the ocean floor.
  
• Social Studies - The students are learning how our current plan for government, the U.S. Constitution, was established. The students will learn the Preamble and what each part of it means.
  
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 8 about ratios, proportions, and percents. Students will learn how to write percents as decimals and fractions, and solve problems involving percent. The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Friday, April 20!
  

Important Dates:

April 13 - Check Student Progress via ParentConnect

April 25 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)