WEEK OF JANUARY 6

Happy Holidays!
I hope you all enjoy your time with family and friends over Winter Break. It is difficult to believe that "just around the corner" is the start of 2014! I will see you in the new year!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 15 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given on Friday. *Starting in January, students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We will begin a grammar unit on pronouns. Pronouns are words that can take the place of nouns.
• Reading - Students will be working with historical fiction in January. We will be practicing a variety of reading strategies as we read a novel together. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - Book choices have been approved, so students can begin reading their biographies. Students should be taking notes on the "Biography Shape Booklet Notes" worksheet while reading. (This was one of the hand-outs students received about the project.) 
• Science - We are learning how ecosystems change over time. Students will compare and contrast primary and secondary succession, and learn how changes in an ecosystem sometimes cause the extinction of an entire species.
• Social Studies - Our classroom trade fair was a huge success! Students gained an appreciation for the work involved in making something by hand, and learned a great deal about supply and demand. Next, we will read about everyday life in the colonies.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Our next chapter covers addition and subtraction of decimals. We will review decimal place value, practice rounding decimals to various places, and learn how to estimate sums and differences.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 21 - Jan. 5 - WINTER BREAK

Jan. 7 - Reading MAP Testing for Mrs. Strong's Class

Jan. 9 - Math MAP Testing for Mrs. Strong's Class

Jan. 15 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF DECEMBER 9

School Lunches Available for Field Trips
Students received a flyer with information about school lunches offered for field trip days. Parents who are interested in that option should keep the form in a safe place. We do not have any upcoming 5th grade field trips where a sack lunch is needed; however, the school wants to alert parents of this new offering.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 14 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given on Friday. *Students may print 10 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We have been identifying common and proper nouns in sentences, and learning the many rules for forming plural nouns. Next, students will learn about singular and plural possessive nouns. 
• Reading - Students will continue working with their assigned novels. It is important that students complete the assigned reading and Literature Circle role sheets on time so they are prepared for small group discussions. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - Students received hand-outs about the Biography Shape Booklet project. Biography book choices are due by Friday, December 13!
• Science - We are learning how organisms compete and survive in an ecosystem. Students should be able to tell you some examples of structural and behavioral adaptations, and describe the three types of symbiosis. Next, we will read about predator-prey relationships.
• Social Studies - Students have received guidelines for our upcoming Trade Fair. Product ideas are due by Tuesday, December 10. Once ideas are shared and approved by the teacher, students can begin production. Our trade fair is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue working in Chapter 4 about dividing by 2-digit divisors. We will review how to adjust the quotient when our estimated quotient is too large or too small, practice precision when dividing greater numbers, revisit some of the other strategies we learned for division, and do some problem solving application.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 9 - Chicago Bears Spirit Day

Dec. 10 - Prairieview Band and Choir Concert (9:00 a.m.)

Dec. 13 - Comfy/PJ Pants Spirit Day and Classroom Movie Reward

Dec. 17 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Dec. 18 - 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

Dec. 20 - All-School Movie at the Tivoli

Dec. 21 - Jan. 5 - WINTER BREAK

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25 and DECEMBER 2

2nd Trimester Tidbits
As we begin our next trimester, students will be given the responsibility to check themselves out at the end of the school day. Students will remain independent as long as there is no issue with late homework. If a trend of late homework begins for a student, he/she will be put on a teacher check-out system.
Late Homework Policy for 2nd Trimester:
1 day late - minus 15 %
More than 1 day late until unit test is taken - minus 25%
After unit test is taken - 0% earned
*Ungraded work - 1 point deducted from "Homework Completion" bank of points

Community Service Opportunity - Reminder
Prairieview students have the opportunity to sponsor a therapy dog for Edwards Hospital. Students were asked to earn $3-5 by doing small jobs/chores at home or around the neighborhood. If your child chooses to participate, the deadline for coupon sheets and money was extended to November 26th!

5th Grade - Top Coupon Book Sales
The 5th graders have earned a reward for selling the most coupon books for PTO! They will be watching Monsters University and receiving a small snack. The movie will be shown in the gym, and students may bring a blanket and stuffed animal.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 13 pretest will be given on Monday, December 2. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given that Friday. *Students will only be able to print 10 words "just in case" starting the week of November 18. Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - Our next grammar unit is about nouns. Nouns name a person, place, thing, or idea. 
• Reading - Students will continue working with their assigned novels. It is important that students complete the assigned reading and Literature Circle role sheets on time so they are prepared for small group discussions. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - I will provide hand-outs and formally introduce the Biography Shape Booklet the week of December 2.
• Science - We will be sharing our owl slide show presentations with some of the 3rd grade classrooms. After Thanksgiving, we will begin Chapter 6 - Ecosystems and Change. The first lesson discusses how organisms compete and survive in an ecosystem.
• Social Studies - Chapter 6 will focus on life in the colonies. In the first lesson, students will learn how people in the 13 colonies produced a variety of goods and developed trade routes.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students will take the Chapter 3 Test on Monday, November 25! Then we will move into Chapter 4 about dividing by 2-digit divisors.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 22 - End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 26 - Robert Crown Field Trip

Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 - Thanksgiving Break

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 18

THINK ENERGY Program

You should have received an email from me regarding this program and the free TAKE ACTION KIT that was sent home with your child. Please make sure you read the email and let me know if you have any questions!

Community Service Opportunity - Reminder
Prairieview students have the opportunity to sponsor a therapy dog for Edwards Hospital. Students were asked to earn $3-5 by doing small jobs/chores at home or around the neighborhood. If your child chooses to participate, coupon sheets and money need to be returned by Nov. 19th!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 12 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students will only be able to print 10 words "just in case" starting the week of November 18. Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We will be doing some creative writing activities to put our capitalization and punctuation skills to good use. Our next grammar unit will be about nouns.
• Reading - Students will be doing a novel study during the next several weeks to practice various reading skills. I will introduce the books and assign groups on Monday.  I will introduce the next reading genre/project when 2nd Trimester begins.
• Science - We will learn more about owls next week. Students will work collaboratively to research and create a slide show presentation using Google Apps.
• Social Studies - The students will compare and contrast the geography and resources of the three regions of English colonies: New England, Middle, and Southern. The Chapter 5 Test is scheduled for Thursday, November 21!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will review the various methods for dividing by a 1-digit divisor, learn how to use mental math to do "short" division, and understand how to interpret remainders to solve word problems involving division. The Chapter 3 Test is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 25!

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 19 - Robert Crown Parent Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

Nov. 20 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Nov. 22 - End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 26 - Robert Crown Field Trip

Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 - Thanksgiving Break

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 11

THINK ENERGY Program

Our 5th grade will be participating in an activity provided by Nicor Gas and Com Ed called

THINK ENERGY.  The goal of this program is to help students and their families learn about energy and how to use it more wisely. Your child will be bringing home a "Take Action Kit" on November 15th, and parents are encouraged to review the contents with their child. You will get to keep all of the items for energy efficiency in your kit!

Community Service Opportunity
Prairieview students have the opportunity to sponsor a therapy dog for Edwards Hospital. Students attended an assembly to learn about this special program, and were asked to earn $3-5 by doing small jobs/chores at home or around the neighborhood. A flyer went home on Tuesday with more specific information. If you choose to participate, coupon sheets and money need to be returned by Nov. 19th!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 11 pretest will be given on Tuesday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students will only be able to print 10 words "just in case" starting the week of November 18. Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We have reviewed all the ways to write quotations correctly: when the speaker is at the beginning, the end, or in the middle of a sentence. Students will complete a "review" of quotation marks on Tuesday, then begin preparing for the Unit 5 Capitalization and Punctuation Test on Thursday, November 14!
• Reading - We will continue our word work with homophones. 1st Trimester Reading Project: The students did a nice job presenting their Memory Bag projects to the class. I will not introduce the next reading genre/project until 2nd Trimester begins.
• Science - We will preview some of the key concepts from Chapter 6 by learning about the barn owl.
• Social Studies - The students will read about the English establishing 13 colonies by 1733, and how these colonies were divided into three regions. We will compare and contrast the geography and resources of these regions: New England, Middle, and Southern.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will estimate quotients using rounding and compatible numbers, and learn two other methods of dividing larger numbers: Distributive Property and partial quotients.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)

Nov. 15 - "Think Energy" Program

Nov. 20 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4

Halloween Party Thanks
Thank you to the parents who helped make our Halloween Party a success! Mrs. Surdyk, Mrs. Morrison, and Mr. Rabig put together some great games and activities. Mr. Rabig, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Daly, Mrs. Garcia, and Mrs. Panico provided drinks and tasty treats. Thank you to Mrs. Flynn for coordinating these efforts. The students had a "spooktacular" time!

Conferences
I look forward to meeting with parents during conferences. Please be mindful that conferences are scheduled as 15 minute time slots and most of my conferences are back to back. It is important to arrive on time so that I can stay on schedule with other parents later that day. Thank you in advance for your help.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 10 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Thursday. *Students will only be able to print 10 words "just in case" starting the week of November 18. Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - I introduced quotation marks using the book The Mystery of the Missing Socks. A reporter had to write down the exact words of people he interviewed using quotation marks correctly. Next week, we will learn how to write quotes when the speaker is given at the beginning, when the speaker is given at the end, and when the speaker is given in the middle of a sentence. Students will also be challenged to find other words to use in place of "said" when writing dialogue.
• Reading - We will continue our unit working with non-fiction/informational texts with a focus on text features and organization. We will also do some word work with homophones. 1st Trimester Reading Project: The worksheet and Memory Bag is due November 5!
• Science - We will continue to learn how energy passes through an ecosystem. We will review food chains and webs, and do an activity to better understand the energy pyramid. The Chapter 5 Test is now scheduled for Wednesday, November 6! *I am giving the students one more study day so that the test is not the same day that the reading project is due.
• Social Studies - The students are now reading about more English colonies being founded. These colonies were established because people were trying to escape religious persecution in England.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have been using base-10 blocks to model the division of larger numbers. Next, the students will use the standard algorithm for long division. You should have received an email with a video link the students need to complete this weekend's homework. This will provide the foundation for upcoming class work.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 4 - Chicago Bears Spirit Day!

Nov. 4-7 - Fall Conferences

Nov. 8 - No School (End of Conference Week)

Nov. 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 28

Junior Achievement
During session 4, Mr. Blocker taught the students about finding a job. He discussed the importance of choosing a profession that you enjoy, the ability to communicate your strengths to a potential employer, and a common set of skills that employers look for when hiring. Mr. Blocker also gave each student a CD with games and activities related to this week's concepts. We will have our final Junior Achievement session on Tuesday, October 29. I thought it might be nice to present Mr. Blocker with a token of appreciation on his last session of Junior Achievement. JA representatives visit schools on a purely voluntary basis, and Mr. Blocker really goes beyond what is expected in regards to preparing lessons and materials. If you would like to contribute to a classroom gift, please send in $1 on Monday or Tuesday!

Costume Parade/Halloween Party
Students need to bring their costumes to school on Thursday. Please understand that costumes might need to be simplified for school purposes since students need to be able to change in a short amount of time. Also, students will be changing in classrooms designated for either girls or boys. Washrooms will not be available for costume changing. Finally, please remember that no weapons, even fake, are allowed at school.

Conferences
Thank you to those who have already signed up for a conference on Sign-Up Genius. If you haven't signed up yet, you should have received a reminder email from me providing the link again. I look forward to meeting with all of you about the progress of your 5th graders!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 9 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - I introduced commas by reading excerpts from a book entitled, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. The students laughed at the way changing the position of a comma, or adding/deleting commas, really made a big difference in the meaning of the sentence. Next week, we will practice using commas to list items in a series, and off-set introductory words, nouns in direct address, and interjections.
• Reading - We will continue our unit working with non-fiction/informational texts with a focus on text features and organization. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students should be finishing their realistic fiction books and beginning to work on the worksheet and memory bag. Keep in mind that the project must be completed by November 5!
• Science - We will continue to learn how energy passes through an ecosystem. We will review food chains and webs, and do an activity to better understand the energy pyramid. The Chapter 5 Test is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 5!
• Social Studies - The students will hear how the search for a Northwest Passage led to the founding of French and Dutch colonies in North America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will begin Chapter 3 which explores division by a 1-digit number. Please encourage your child to "brush up" on their basic multiplication/division facts. It is evident during class time that many students are not as fluent as they need to be. Thank you in advance for your help!

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 29 - Bulls Spirit Day!

Oct. 29 - Junior Achievement (Session 5)

Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade and Party

Nov. 1 - "Get Science" Assembly

Nov. 4-7 - Fall Conferences

Nov. 8 - No School

WEEK OF OCTOBER 21

Junior Achievement
During session 3, Mr. Blocker taught the students about unit and mass production. The students had fun assembling ballpoint pens to better understand how to make a product as efficiently as possible. We look forward to his next visit on Tuesday, October 22.

Conferences
You should have received an email from me with a link to Sign Up Genius. Please remember that each family should sign up for one slot. If for some reason you did not receive my email regarding conferences, please let me know!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 8 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - Students will learn how to write common abbreviations and titles correctly.
• Reading - We will continue our unit working with non-fiction/informational texts with a focus on text features and organization. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students should be finishing their realistic fiction books and beginning to work on the worksheet and memory bag. Keep in mind that the project must be completed by November 5!
• Science - The students will learn how energy is passed through an ecosystem.
• Social Studies - The students will continue to learn about England's first successful colony, Jamestown. Then we will hear how the search for a Northwest Passage led to the founding of French and Dutch colonies in North America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 2 learning more strategies for multiplying whole numbers. The Chapter 2 Test is scheduled for Friday, October 25!

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 22 - Junior Achievement (Session 4)

Oct. 24 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 14

Junior Achievement Program
During session 2, Mr. Blocker reviewed the profit model: revenue - expenses = profit. He also discussed the three types of resources (natural, capital, and human) and the concept of supply and demand. We look forward to Tuesday when Mr. Blocker will share about production.

Unity Day
Thank you to all of the students who wore orange to show unity against bullying.

Let's remember the message behind that day and treat others the way we want to be treated all year long!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 7 pretest will be given on Tuesday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - Students will begin Unit 5 about capitalization and punctuation. The first few lessons include a review of how to write the four types of sentences correctly, identifying proper nouns and adjectives, and how to use commas in a series.
• Reading - We will continue our unit working with non-fiction/informational texts with a focus on text features and organization. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students should continue reading their realistic fiction books. Keep in mind that the book must be read and the project completed by November 5!
• Science - We have started our Life Science unit with the theme "Interactions Among Living Things." Chapter 5 begins with a look at how plants produce food.
• Social Studies - The students will read about the Battle of the Spanish Armada, which turned England's attention away from founding colonies for a while. Then we will learn about the first successful English colony, Jamestown.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 2 learning more about the Distributive Property, estimating products, and other strategies for multiplying whole numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 11 - Check Grades via Parent Connect

Oct. 14 - No School (Columbus Day)

Oct. 15 - Junior Achievement (Session 3)

Oct. 17 - Fall Book Fair and Taffy Apple Sale

Oct. 18 - Prairieview Spirit Day (Wear Green & Gold)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 7

Junior Achievement Program
During our first session with Mr. Blocker, he introduced the class to many core concepts used in business today. The class learned about entrepreneurs, cost of business (expenses), profit, and supply and demand. We look forward to our next visit from Mr. Blocker on Tuesday, October 8!

Unity Day
Students are encouraged to wear orange on Wednesday, October 9 to signify a united stand against bullying. In class, we discussed some statistics about bullying and thought of strategies for preventing bullying behavior or helping a person who is being bullied. Wear orange to "shine a light" on this topic and work together towards ending the problem!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 6 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - Students will determine when to use the conjunctions and, but, and or, and learn how to fix a run-on sentence. Then we will review all the lessons to prepare for the Unit 1 Test scheduled on Friday, October 11!
• Reading - We will begin a unit working with non-fiction/informational texts. Students will learn about non-fiction text features and text organization. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students should continue reading their realistic fiction books. Keep in mind that the book must be read and the project completed by November 5!
• Science - We will review the steps of the scientific method next week.
• Social Studies - The students will begin Chapter 5 about the struggle to found colonies in the New World. We will read first about the lost colony of Roanoke. We will try to solve the mystery of this colony that just disappeared!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 2 learning about powers and exponents, and multiplication patterns.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 8 - Junior Achievement (Session 2)

Oct. 9 - Unity Day - Wear Orange!

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30

Junior Achievement Program
Our class will be starting Junior Achievement on Tuesday, October 1st. Our Junior Achievement volunteer, Mr. Blocker, will be visiting our classroom over the next several weeks to present lessons about creating and running a business. The sessions will teach students different concepts such as supply and demand, use of resources, cost of business, and profit. This program shows students real-world applications of several ideas from Social Studies.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 5 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - Students will review about subjects and predicates. Students will also learn about the implied you as the subject of imperative sentences, and determine when to use the conjunctions and, but, and or.
• Reading - We will finish up our work with tall tales. Then students will apply what they have learned about the elements of a tall tale by creating their very own. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students have all selected a "good fit" realistic fiction book to use for their Memory Bag Project. The next step is to start reading. It may be helpful for students to create a reading goal. For example, "I will read 40 pages each week so I finish the book by October 25th. Then I still have plenty of time to complete the project and practice presenting my Memory Bag."
• Science - We will learn about the scientific method and work through a fun investigation to put it into practice.
• Social Studies - The students will read more about life in New Spain. Ask your child to describe the different levels, or classes, found in Spanish society. 
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will head into Chapter 2 about the multiplication of whole numbers. Students will begin by recognizing the difference between prime and composite numbers. They will then learn several strategies for identifying the prime factors of a whole number, and understand how to express the prime factorization correctly.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 1 - Blackhawks Spirit Day!

Oct. 1 - Junior Achievement (Session 1)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23

Thanks for Attending...
Thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend 5th Grade Curriculum Night. If you were not able to come, your child brought home a packet of information for you to review. There are still a few students who have not returned the pink 5th grade policies form yet. Please find this in the packet and return it to me as soon as possible.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 4 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - Now that we know how to identify the "split" between the complete subject and predicate, we will try to identify the simple subject and predicate in sentences. In other words, we will find the word(s) that tell exactly who/what and exactly what is/what happens in the sentences. This can be tricky for some students, so you may want to do some practice or review at home.
• Reading - Students will continue to read Tall Tales and identify figurative language, use context clues to figure out difficult words, and practice summarizing the plot of the story. 1st Trimester Reading Project: Students received information about an independent reading project for this trimester (which can be found in their reading folders in their binders). The first step is to select a "good fit" realistic fiction book and get it approved by the teacher by Friday, September 27! 
• Science - We will learn about different inquiry skills used in science. Students will understand how these skills allow scientists to investigate the world around them.
• Social Studies - The students have read about the Spanish conquistadors defeating the mighty Aztec Empire. Ask your child about the Aztec mask they are creating as we learn a little about the culture of that group of Native Americans. Next week, we will read about the Inca and how they were conquered by the Spanish as well.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Ask your students what they learned about the Dewey decimal system. Students will review how to compare and order decimals, and learn how to solve word problems using a 4-step plan. The Chapter 1 Test is scheduled for Thursday, September 26! 

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 26 - Fall Pictures

Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16

5th Grade Curriculum Night
Don't forget that 5th Grade Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. I look forward to the opportunity to share some important information about the 5th grade curriculum, classroom expectations and routines, and how we might work together to make this a successful school year.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 3 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - We will identify the two parts of a sentence: the subject and the predicate. The subject answers the question "who/what" is the sentence about, and the predicate tell "what is/what happens."
• Reading - Students will continue to read Tall Tales. We will identify figurative language in them, such as simile/metaphor and hyperbole. We will also talk about the use of context clues to help us figure out word meanings. During "Read to Self" time, we will continue to build our reading stamina. Ask your child how he/she might work on stamina at home.
• Science - We will talk about the difference between weight and mass, and identify the tools used to measure these attributes. We will also discuss safety and why it is important to have rules in a laboratory.
• Social Studies - The students will review the "big ideas" about Christopher Columbus and his voyages before reading about the Spanish conquistadors establishing new colonies in North and South America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will apply what we know about writing whole numbers in expanded form to expressing decimals in this way. We will also compare and order decimals. Ask your child to think about how a librarian might use decimals in his/her job.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 17 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night (6:30 p.m.)

Sept. 26 - Fall Pictures

Sept. 27 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9

Request for Head Room Parent
No experience necessary! I would like to have a head room parent who can be in charge of organizing and contacting the other parents signed up for our classroom parties. This person does not need to attend any of the parties. Please contact me if you are interested or have any questions.

5th Grade Curriculum Night
Don't forget that 5th Grade Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. I look forward to the opportunity to share some important information about the 5th grade curriculum, classroom expectations and routines, and how we might work together to make this a successful school year.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 2 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - We will recognize the difference between a sentence and a fragment, and identify the four types of sentences.
• Reading - The students have organized our classroom library and have selected "good fit" books. We have developed a list of expectations to follow during "Read to Self" time, and we had our first few practices of it. We will continue to build our independent reading stamina next week. Also, we will begin a unit on Tall Tales. Students will distinguish between realistic and exaggerated details in the stories.
• Science - Did your child tell you about our exciting Sewer Maggots activity? If not, ask them if Mrs. Strong really ate one in the name of Science!! We didn't get a chance to explore some of the tools used in scientific inquiry, so we will do that this upcoming week.
• Social Studies - The students have started Chapter 4, Lesson 1 about the voyages of Columbus.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will use models to make the connection between fractions and decimals, and understand decimal place value.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 9 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off

Sept. 11 - Red, White, and Blue Spirit Day in Remembrance of 9-11

Sept. 17 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night (6:30 p.m.)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2

Our First Week Together
We are off to a fantastic start to 5th grade! We have had a chance to get to know each other, review rules and expectations, and have a little fun along the way. Hopefully your child has shared with you some of their first experiences of their final year at Prairieview. Let's continue to move forward with a positive attitude and strive to do our best!

5th Grade Curriculum Night
Don't forget that 5th Grade Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. I look forward to the opportunity to share some important information about the 5th grade curriculum, classroom expectations and routines, and how we might work together to make this a successful school year.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 1 pretest will be given on Tuesday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday.
• English - We will finish up some beginning of the year writing activities and start our first grammar unit about "The Sentence."
• Reading - We will begin our year with a focus on "good fit" books. In order to effectively practice reading strategies when reading independently, students must know how to pick a book that serves their purpose for reading, is interesting to them, and has words they know and understand. Students will help organize our classroom library and begin selecting books for "Read to Self" time.
• Science - The students will be exploring some of the tools used in scientific inquiry.
• Social Studies - The students will take a "scavenger hunt" to discover the wealth of information found inside their Social Studies textbooks. We will also begin our study of early America in Chapter 4 as it explains how "Spain Builds an Empire."
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will start our year looking at place value in Chapter 1.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 2 - No School (Labor Day)

Sept. 3 - MAP Testing (Math)

Sept. 5 - MAP Testing (Reading)

Sept. 17 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night (6:30 p.m.)

WEEK OF JUNE 3

Reminders - Outdoor Games and Bowling Days
On June 3, students must have gym shoes to participate in the outdoor games. Students may wear other footwear to school, but for safety reasons, they must change to gym shoes for the games. Also, on our bowling day, June 4, students are asked to bring a sack lunch. Many students "fill up" on snacks at the bowling alley, so we want the students to be able to bring home any foods from lunch they are not able to eat. Thanks in advance for following these guidelines!


Final Thoughts...

• Thank you to my students for a terrific year! I hope all of you have a relaxing summer. I encourage you to read some great books, visit some new places, and spend some quality time with friends and family. I welcome news about your summer adventures, so please keep in touch this summer! I am just an email or letter away!


• Thank you to the parents of my students for a terrific year! I appreciated all of the support you gave to your students and me. It helped bring about their many achievements and successes in 5th grade. Best of luck to you and your students as you venture across the parking lot to Lakeview next year!

Mark Your Calendar:

June 3: 5th Grade Talent Show

June 3: Outdoor Games/Picnic/Rope Warrior Assembly

June 4: 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

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

WEEK OF MAY 27

Important Notes - Outdoor Games and Bowling Days
On June 3, students must have gym shoes to participate in the outdoor games. Students may wear other footwear to school, but for safety reasons, they must change to gym shoes for the games. Also, on our bowling day, June 4, students are asked to bring a sack lunch. Many students "fill up" on snacks at the bowling alley, so we want the students to be able to bring home any foods from lunch they are not able to eat. Thanks in advance for following these guidelines!

Subject Update:

• Spelling - No lesson next week!
• English - We will continue persuasive writing and adverbs next week.
• Reading - The students will be sharing their completed Photo Story projects. Students should save their projects on a flash drive so they can bring their projects home and share with families (if they have not done this already).
• Science - We will review what oceans are like, how ocean water moves, and what forces shape shorelines to prepare for the Chapter 12 test scheduled for Wednesday, May 29!
• Social Studies - The students are learning how, under Thomas Jefferson's presidency, our nation doubled in size and expanded settlement westward. Next week, we will also learn about another war with Britain, the War of 1812.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students are learning about lines and angles in Chapter 10. There will be a final homework review over Ch. 10, L. 1-6 on Thursday.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 27: No School (Memorial Day)

May 28: Indian Prairie Library Talk (Summer Reading Program)

May 28: Mrs. Strong's Class - LV Library Summer Book Check-Out

May 29: Prairieview School Talent Show

May 29: Guest Speaker - Joey's Grandmother

June 3: 5th Grade Talent Show

June 3: Outdoor Games/Picnic/Rope Warrior Assembly

June 4: 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

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

WEEK OF MAY 20

Lakeview Visit and Parent Meeting
The 5th graders will be visiting Lakeview on Monday afternoon. They will meet the 6th grade teachers, get a tour of the school, and learn about a typical day of 6th grade. On Monday evening at 6:30 p.m., there is a meeting for parents to learn about the curriculum and programs at Lakeview.



Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 31 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - We will continue persuasive writing next week. We will also begin working with adverbs.
• Reading - The students are identifying character traits for their main character, and providing evidence from the text to "prove" it. They will use these traits in a final activity for their book.  4th Quarter Reading Project - Students will finish their Photo Story projects this week in the computer lab. Students should make sure they have a working flash drive at school so they can bring the completed project home and share with their family!
• Science - We are learning about different ways ocean water moves: waves, currents, and tides.
• Social Studies - The students have started Chapter 11 "The Young United States." The first lesson discusses Washington as our first president.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - A Chapter 8, Lessons 13-16 Homework Review will be given on Monday. There is no Math scheduled on Tuesday due to a special assembly. We will finish the week working with geometry concepts from Chapter 10.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 20: 5th Grade Lakeview Visit and Parent Meeting

May 27: No School (Memorial Day)

WEEK OF MAY 13

Teacher Appreciation Week
Thank you to the many families who contributed to our delicious lunch and breakfast feasts -  your thoughtfulness made this week extra special!

Book Worm Angels... Last Week of Collection
Do you have new or gently used books just sitting on your shelves? Please consider donating some or all of them to our PBIS service project collection. Books will be given to inner city schools for classroom lending libraries. Check out the flyer sent home with your child for more specific details. Thanks in advance for helping this worthy cause!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 30 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Students will do some persuasive writing. I also hope to introduce adverbs later in the week.
• Reading - We will finish our Literature Circle work with our realistic fiction novels, and discuss how the main characters evolved, or changed, over time. 4th Quarter Reading Project - Students will complete the next phase of the project at school by May 24.
• Science - Students will create diagrams of the ocean floor. Then we will explore how ocean water moves.
• Social Studies - The students are learning how the Federalists and Antifederalists had differing opinions about the Constitution. The Chapter 10 Test is scheduled for Thursday, May 16!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue learning about probability - compound events, permutations and combinations, and making predictions.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 6-17:  "Book Worm Angels" Book Collection

May 16: 5th Graders Preview "Annie" at LV

May 17: Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF MAY 6

Book Worm Angels
Do you have new or gently used books just sitting on your shelves? Please consider donating some or all of them to our PBIS service project collection. Books will be given to inner city schools for classroom lending libraries. Check out the flyer sent home with your child for more specific details. Thanks in advance for helping this worthy cause!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 29 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Students will review all about verbs: action, linking, and helping verbs; direct objects, tenses, contractions with not, and commonly misused verbs. The Unit 3 Verbs Test is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8! 
• Reading - We have completed our first round of Literature Circle roles. Students will continue Literature Circle work next week. I have enjoyed listening to the students discuss their books when they meet with their groups, and I look forward to hearing more thought-provoking questions and conversations about their books! 4th Quarter Reading Project - Students should be finishing their books and "script" that is due Wednesday, May 8!
• Science - We will begin Chapter 12 about Earth's oceans. The first lesson will discuss characteristics of ocean water and the ocean floor.
• Social Studies - The students are reading (and singing) about the Constitution. Students have been given the challenge to recite the Preamble to me before the end of the chapter. Ask your student to tell you the 6 goals of the Constitution outlined in the Preamble.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 8 - expressions and equations with fractions, probability, compound events, and permutations and combinations.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 6-17:  "Book Worm Angels" Book Collection

May 17: Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF APRIL 29

Spring Open House and Book Fair
I enjoyed seeing so many of you Tuesday evening at our Spring Open House and Book Fair. I know the students appreciated the opportunity to show off their hard work on various classroom projects. Also, I was able to purchase several new classroom library books using generous donations from PTO and homeroom families - Thank you!

MAP Testing
We will be taking our Math M.A.P. on Tuesday, and the Reading M.A.P. on Thursday. Please help your child prepare by getting plenty of sleep and a healthy breakfast each morning. Also, encourage your child to work carefully and do their very best!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 28 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Students will practice using irregular verbs correctly and learn about verb phrases with more than one helping verb. They will also learn how to use certain verbs correctly that people commonly mix up: teach/learn, let/leave, sit/set, and can/may. 
• Reading - The students have been given their realistic fiction books, a reading assignment schedule, and a copy of the grade sheet I will be using to assess their Literature Circle work. Each day, students have time to discuss the assigned reading with their group. 4th Quarter Reading Project - Students need to read their story and complete a "script" for retelling it by Wednesday, May 8!
• Science - We will continue to track our daily weather and work with a weather map. We will also review in order to prepare for the Chapter 11 Test scheduled for Wednesday, May 1!
• Social Studies - The students will learn how early leaders in our country faced the challenge of strengthening our national government. The end result was the U.S. Constitution.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 8 - dividing with whole numbers and mixed numbers, applying the order of operations with fractions, and working with fractions and money.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 30 - Math M.A.P. Testing

May 2 - Reading M.A.P. Testing

WEEK OF APRIL 22

Spring Open House and Book Fair
The Spring Open House and Book Fair has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 23 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. I hope to see everyone there!

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


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 27 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Students will learn about subject-verb agreement, contractions, and irregular verbs.
• Reading - We will be doing Literature Circles with realistic fiction in the weeks ahead. I will give a quick "book talk" on several realistic fiction novels next week. The students will then give me their "Top 3" choices, and I will consider their preferences when assigning them novels. 4th Quarter Reading Project - Students now have hand-outs explaining the Fantasy Photo Story Project. They should be reading their fantasies at this time!! There are 2 due dates: read the story and complete a "script" for retelling the story (at home) by Wednesday, May 8; and then create a "Photo Story" on the computer (at school) to present to the class by Friday, May 24.
• Science - We will learn more about the water cycle, and different types of clouds and precipitation.
• Social Studies - The students will begin Chapter 10: Forming a New Government. Lesson 1 will discuss how our new nation struggled to govern itself under the Articles of Confederation.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have started Chapter 8 which covers multiplication and division of fractions, as well as probability.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 22 - Earth Day - Wear Earth Day T-shirt or "Earthy" Colors!

April 23 - Spring Open House and Book Fair (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

WEEK OF APRIL 15

Too Good for Drugs Graduation Notes
Thank you to all of the parents who attended our T.G.F.D. Graduation. Also, congratulations to Joey for being selected to read his promise letter during the ceremony. I hope all of our students keep their promise to be drug-free and make good decisions in the future! Finally, thank you to all who contributed to the group gift for Deputy Seward. He very much appreciated the joke book and gift certificates.

Spring Open House and Book Fair
I hope to see everyone Thursday, April 18 between 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. for our Spring Open House and Book Fair. The students will have several projects on display, and it is a great opportunity to find a good book and visit with other families in our school community.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 26 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Students will continue to learn about verbs. Next week we will work with the three verb tenses: present, past, and future.
• Reading - Students will finish their travel brochures for China. Students may bring in special scrapbook paper or supplies if they want, but this is not necessary. I will supply construction paper and "fancy edge" scissors in the classroom. 4th Quarter Reading Project - Students should begin reading their fantasy stories. Although I have briefly explained the Fantasy Photo Story Project, students have not received specific expectations yet. I plan to share this information with students on Monday. There will be 2 due dates: read the story and complete a "script" for retelling the story (at home) by Wednesday, May 8; and then create a "Photo Story" on the computer (at school) to present to the class by Friday, May 24.
• Science - We will continue to learn about Earth's atmosphere and how winds form. Ask your child which layer is where most of our weather occurs. 
• Social Studies - The students will finish the chapter by reading how the Continental Army was able to win the Revolutionary War with help from France and Spain. The Chapter 9 Test is scheduled for Thursday, April 18!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will work with fraction expressions and equations before reviewing all of the concepts from the chapter. The Chapter 7 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17!

Mark Your Calendar:

April 12 - No School

April 16 - Weatherman Phil Schwarz Visits 5th Grade

April 18 - Spring Open House and Book Fair (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

April 22 - Earth Day - Wear Earth Day T-shirt or "Earthy" Colors!

WEEK OF APRIL 8

Too Good for Drugs
Please remember to bring in $1.00 towards the group gift for Deputy Seward by Monday if you choose to contribute. Also, remember that Thursday, April 11th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 a.m. in our gym. Parents are invited to attend!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - No spelling lesson due to the short week.
• English - Students will learn how linking verbs "link" the subject in the sentence with a word in the predicate. We will also begin learning about the different tenses of verbs.
• Reading - Students are now using a variety of sources to research China more independently. We have learned how to record "just the facts" and make note of our sources on notecards. Students will use all of this information to create a travel brochure for China. 4th Quarter Reading Project - Fantasy book choices are due by Wednesday, April 10!
• Science - We are learning the causes of weather, characteristics of Earth's atmosphere, and how winds form. 
• Social Studies - We will hear a story about Washington crossing the Delaware, and students will write a letter pretending to be a soldier under Washington's command. We will also read about the contributions of African-Americans and women during the war, and about winter at Valley Forge.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 7: subtracting fractions and mixed numbers, and evaluating fraction expressions and equations.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 8-10 - Spring Conferences

April 9 - No School (Teacher Institute Day)

April 11 - T.G.F.D. Graduation (8:15 a.m.)

April 12 - No School

WEEK OF APRIL 1

Too Good for Drugs
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, April 11th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 a.m. in our gym. Parents are invited to attend!

4th Quarter Notes
As your students head into the final quarter of the year, they may want to set some goals based on their 3rd Quarter progress. Also, please make note of the late homework procedure for the 4th Quarter...
1 day late = minus 25%
More than 1 day late, until the unit test is taken = minus 50%
After end of unit = 0% earned
*Ungraded late work = 2 point deduction from bank of "Homework Completion" points for that subject

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 25 pretest will be given on Tuesday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - Many students have finished their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. Any students who have not finished will do so after the break. When we return in April, we will begin a grammar unit on verbs. Verbs can tell about an action or state of being.
• Reading - The students will continue their study of China using various sources of information. 4th Quarter Reading Project - The next project will be announced after Spring Break.
• Science - We will be heading into our unit on Earth Science. Chapter 11 will be about weather and the water cycle.
• Social Studies - We will continue to learn about the colonies declaring independence and how the contributions of a wide variety of people helped the Continental Army win important battles.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will begin Chapter 7 after break. This will continue our work with fractions as we learn how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 22 - End of 3rd Quarter

March 23 - April 1 - SPRING BREAK

April 5 - Jumprope For Heart Assembly

April 8-10 - Spring Conferences

April 9 - No School (Teacher Institute Day)

April 11 - TGFD Graduation

April 12 - No School

WEEK OF MARCH 18

Naper Settlement Field Trip
A special thank you to Mrs. Selig, Mr. and Mrs. Bastuga, and Mrs. Blazevich for braving the weather and chaperoning our field trip to Naper Settlement. The students had a wonderful experience!

Too Good for Drugs
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, April 11th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 a.m. in our gym. Parents are invited to attend!

Spring Conference Notes
As you know, Math parents are given first priority for Spring Conferences. If I have any time slots still available after March 20, I will send the link for signing up to Homeroom parents on March 21. Also, please remember that you may contact me at any time with questions and/or concerns about your child's progress.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 24 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will continue working on the final article for their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. Some students still need to bring an 8 x 10" (or smaller if you don't have 8 x 10") picture of themselves. (This picture will be returned unharmed!)
• Reading - The students will continue their study of China using various sources of information. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - All students have turned in their projects. The next project will not be announced until after Spring Break.
• Science - Lesson 4 will focus on how people use energy resources. The Chapter 15 Test is scheduled for Thursday, March 21!
• Social Studies - We will learn more about the colonies declaring independence and how the contributions of a wide variety of people helped the Continental Army win important battles.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will review for the Chapter 6 Test (L. 1-15) scheduled for Tuesday, March 19! Then we will explore rational numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 19 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

March 22 - End of 3rd Quarter

March 23 - April 1 - SPRING BREAK

WEEK OF MARCH 11

Naper Settlement Field Trip
Please remember that we visit Naper Settlement on Monday, March 11! Students should dress appropriately for the weather since we will be outside during certain parts of this experience. Also, students must bring a disposable sack lunch.

Too Good for Drugs
During our last session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward played a game to review all of the information learned over the many weeks of the program.
*SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, April 11th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 a.m. in our gym. Parents are invited to attend!
*Students have been given information about a final assignment for T.G.F.D.- a promise letter.

ISAT Reminders
Please remember that students have one more day of ISAT testing on Tuesday morning. It is important that students get enough sleep, a nutritious breakfast, and attend school on time. THANK YOU to the many parents who helped supply healthy snacks for testing days!! The students really appreciate it!

PBIS Service Project
The Prairieview PBIS team is providing a wonderful community service opportunity for our students. We will be holding a Food Pantry Drive at school for the West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge from March 11-15. Boxes will be provided in each classroom to collect the non-perishable food items. Girl Scout Troop 50251, comprised of third and fourth grade students from Prairieview, has graciously volunteered to pack up and deliver the donated food on March 16th.  Thank you in advance for your generosity of spirit and deed!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 23 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will continue working on their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. Students will need to bring an 8 x 10" (or smaller if you don't have 8 x 10") picture of themselves. (This picture will be returned unharmed!) Students will also finish their adjective alphabet books. 
• Reading - Ni Hao! Hello from China! 5th graders will be learning about this interesting country in the weeks ahead as we use trade books, the Internet, and other resources to gather information. Students will also practice paraphrasing, or putting the information in their own words. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should be working on their puzzle pieces. Remember to use the project grader hand-out to make sure you have followed all expectations. Projects are due Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - We will focus on heat, or thermal energy, in the next lesson. Students will identify materials that conduct heat well, and learn three ways heat can be transferred.
• Social Studies - The students will finish their cause-effect activities. Then we will begin Chapter 9: Winning the Revolution.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue to relate fractions and decimals. Students will also learn how to deal with terminating and repeating decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 11 - Naper Settlement Field Trip (Sack Lunch!)

March 12 - 3rd Trimester Reading Project Due!!

March 12 - ISAT Testing

March 19 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

March 23 - April 1 - SPRING BREAK

WEEK OF MARCH 4

Too Good for Drugs
During our 9th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward talked about the dangers of inhalants. Students received a fact sheet about inhalants that should be shared and discussed with a parent.

ISAT Reminders
Please remember that students begin ISAT testing Tuesday morning. It is important that students get enough sleep, a nutritious breakfast, and attend school on time. Thanks in advance for following these guidelines to ensure your child's best performance!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 22 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will continue their work on a writing piece for their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. Students will also extend their study of adjectives by creating an alphabet book. 
• Reading - We will be reviewing various skills and completing some reading activities relating to our next issue of Time For Kids magazine. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should be finishing their mystery books and working on their puzzle pieces. Projects are due by Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - We will learn more about the different forms of energy and their uses; and understand how one form of energy often changes into another form to make it more useful to us.
• Social Studies - The students are working on a project that reinforces the historical ideas from Chapter 8, as well as our work with cause and effect.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We only have Math scheduled on Monday and Friday due to ISAT testing. We will be finishing up some extended response practice and working on relating fractions to decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 5-7 - ISAT Testing

March 6 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 10)

March 11 - Naper Settlement Field Trip

March 12 - ISAT Testing

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25

Too Good for Drugs
During our 8th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about marijuana. Students learned some of the myths people believe about this substance, and then learned the actual facts about it. Students received a myth/fact sheet about marijuana that should be shared and discussed with a parent.

Naper Settlement
A permission slip for our field trip to Naper Settlement will be going home with students on Monday. Please return by Friday, March 1. Any parents who signed up to help with field trips at the beginning of the year, write a note to me at the bottom of the slip if you are interested in joining us.

Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 21 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will finish the unit by learning about proper adjectives. The Unit 4 Adjectives Test is scheduled for Friday, March 1!
• Reading - We will continue to focus on the skill of cause and effect. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should be finishing their mystery books and rough draft work. Projects are due by Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - Students will learn about different forms of energy such as solar, chemical, and mechanical energy. 
• Social Studies - We will do some review activities early next week. The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue Chapter 6 by relating fractions to decimals. Students will learn how to convert from fraction to decimal form, and from decimal to fraction form. We will also learn how to deal with repeating decimals when dividing the numerator by the denominator to find the decimal form.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 25 - Cancer Smashers Kickoff

Feb. 26 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Feb. 27 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 9)

March 5-7 and March 12 - ISAT Testing

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 18

Too Good for Drugs
During our 7th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about alcohol. Students learned some of the myths people believe about this substance, and then learned the actual facts about it. Students received a sheet with myths and facts about alcohol that should be shared and discussed with a parent.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
A special thanks to Mrs. Selig, Mrs. Zimmerman, and Mrs. Jarmakowicz for chaperoning our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. We all enjoyed our hands-on lab experience and our time exploring various exhibits. Also, thank you to our Valentine Party helpers. Mrs. Blazevich, Mr. Bastuga, and Mrs. Zimmerman did a wonderful job planning and running our party. Mrs. Rapinchuk sent in some delicious treats, Mrs. Barowski sent in plates and napkins, and Mrs. Topp provided juice. We all had a great time!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 20 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will continue their work on another writing piece for their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. We will also continue our unit on adjectives: comparing with adjectives, comparing with forms of good and bad, and proper adjectives.
• Reading - We will focus on the skill of cause and effect. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should be reading their mystery books. Projects are due by Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - Students will begin Chapter 15 about energy. Energy is the ability to cause changes in matter. We will learn how different types of energy can be categorized as either potential or kinetic.
• Social Studies - We had a "tea party" in our room as we learned about the Boston Tea Party and other events that continued to build tension between the colonists and Britain. Next, we will read about the First Continental Congress and the colonists getting ready for war.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue Chapter 6 by recognizing when fractions are close to 0, 1/2, or 1 whole, finding the least common multiple of 2 or more numbers, and comparing and ordering fractions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 15 - Check Student Progress via ParentConnect

Feb. 18 - No School (President's Day)

Feb. 20 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 8)

Feb. 21 - Spring Pictures

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11

Too Good for Drugs
During our 6th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about tobacco. Students learned different ways people use tobacco and how each of those uses negatively affects the human body. Students received a fact sheet about tobacco that should be shared and discussed with a parent.

Valentine Reminders
Students will be able to exchange Valentines with classmates on February 14. Please note that if students choose to exchange Valentines, they should bring one for each classmate. A class list was sent home with students on Wednesday. Also, students will not be permitted to exchange with students outside of our classroom.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 19 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will work on another writing piece for their "Me Front Page" newspaper projects. We will also begin our next grammar unit on adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns.
• Reading - We will continue to focus on identifying author's viewpoint as we read various stories. Authors often show their viewpoint, or opinion, through their word choice, information included or left out, and purpose for writing. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should be reading their mystery books. Projects are due by Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - Students will review all about matter and physical vs. chemical properties and changes. The Chapter 14 Test is scheduled for Thursday, February 14!
• Social Studies - We will read how certain events in Boston brought the colonies and Britain closer to war.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have begun Chapter 6 with concepts of number theory: divisibility rules, prime and composite numbers, and prime factorization. Next, we will find equivalent fractions, identify the greatest common factor (GCF) of two or more numbers, and use different strategies to find the simplest form of fractions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 13 - Mrs. Strong's Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip

Feb. 14 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 7)

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Party

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 4

Too Good for Drugs
During our 5th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed how the decisions we make are influenced by friends and family, as well as our own personal values. Although students did not receive a homework assignment, I encourage families to share with each other about times when important decisions had to be made and how others influenced those decisions.

Looking Ahead... Valentine Tidbits
Students will be able to exchange Valentines with classmates on Valentine's Day. Please note that if students choose to exchange Valentines, they should bring one for each classmate. Also, students will not be permitted to exchange with students outside of our classroom. I will send a class list home with students next week.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 18 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students must use cursive handwriting on all tests!
• English - The students will work on a writing piece for a "Me Front Page" newspaper project.
• Reading - We will focus on identifying author's viewpoint as we read various stories. Authors often show their viewpoint, or opinion, through their word choice, information included or left out, and purpose for writing. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - Students should begin reading their mystery books. Projects are due by Tuesday, March 12!
• Science - Students have learned about the physical properties and changes of matter. Lesson 3 will now help us understand chemical properties and changes.
• Social Studies - We will continue to read about the taxes imposed on the colonists and different ways they protested against them.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - There is a Chapter 5 Test scheduled for Tuesday, February 5! Then we will move into the next chapter for some number theory and fractions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 4 - Lincoln Assembly and PBIS Recognition

Feb. 6 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 6)

Feb. 13 - Mrs. Strong's Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip

Feb. 14 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 7)

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Party

WEEK OF JANUARY 28

Too Good for Drugs
During our 4th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed peer pressure and the difference between positive and negative peer pressure. Students learned and practiced many strategies for dealing with negative pressure, such as the "broken record" and "state the facts." Students received a homework assignment that should be completed with their families to reinforce the ideas shared during session 4.

Classroom Spelling Bee
Congratulations to Alex B. and Jay, the winner and runner-up of our Classroom Spelling Bee! These fine spellers will represent our class in the 5th Grade Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 30.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 17 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students only have one more week to print up to 5 words on the tests "just in case" they are unsure of their cursive! Please continue to review cursive at home!!
• English - The students will finish the unit by learning how to use the pronouns we and us with nouns in sentences. The Unit 6 Pronouns Test is scheduled on Thursday, January 31!
• Reading - We will finish up our work with idioms and review the various skills presented in our Language Skills packet. There is a Language Skills Quiz scheduled on Wednesday, January 30! Then we will focus on identifying author's viewpoint as we read various stories. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - The students received information about the Mystery Book Puzzle Project. Mystery book choices are due by Friday, February 1!
• Science - Students will learn more about density, compare/contrast mixtures and solutions, and identify physical changes in the world around them.
• Social Studies - We will begin Chapter 8: The Road to War. We will learn how British taxes led to greater cooperation among colonies. We will also read and identify the causes of the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will relate our work with integers to Celcius and Fahrenheit temperatures, make tables to solve problems, and review other problem solving methods.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 30 - 5th Grade Spelling Bee

Jan. 30 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Jan. 31 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 5)

WEEK OF JANUARY 21

Too Good for Drugs
During our 3rd session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed decision-making. Students learned how the decisions a person makes impacts their character and reputation in either positive or negative ways.

Spelling Bees
We will have our official classroom bee on Thursday, January 24. The winner and runner-up from our classroom bee will participate in the 5th grade bee which will be scheduled the week of January 28.

3rd Quarter Late Homework Procedure
Late homework can impact your child's grades. Please notice the changes for 3rd Quarter!
1 day late - minus 20%
More than 1 day late, until test is taken - minus 50%
After unit test is taken - 0% earned
*Ungraded work - 2 points deducted from "Homework Completion" bank of points


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 16 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students only have two more weeks to print up to 5 words on the tests "just in case" they are unsure of their cursive! Please continue to review cursive at home!!
• English - The students will differentiate between subject, object, and possessive pronouns, use contractions with pronouns, and learn how to avoid double subjects by eliminating pronouns in sentences. A unit test will be scheduled the week of January 28.
• Reading - We will continue our unit on figurative language. Students will be writing their own examples and locating examples in poetry. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - The next reading project will be announced soon - look for details next week!
• Science - Students will describe the three states of matter, understand density and how it relates to volume, and compare/contrast mixtures and solutions.
• Social Studies - We will review how the Spanish, French, and English fought for land in North America and how it affected the Native Americans already living there. The Chapter 7 Test is scheduled for Thursday, January 24!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will use the order of operations to evaluate expressions with integers and solve algebraic expressions with integers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 18 - End of 2nd Quarter

Jan. 21 - No School (M. L. King's Birthday)

Jan. 23 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 4)

Jan. 24 - Mrs. Strong's Classroom Spelling Bee

Jan. 30 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF JANUARY 14

Too Good for Drugs
During our second session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed the importance of communication. We learned that communication involves a sender and receiver of information, and that messages can be sent verbally and non-verbally. Once again, students received a homework assignment that should be completed with their families to reinforce the ideas shared during session 2.

Spelling Bees
Each student received a list of words for our upcoming spelling bees. We will hold 2 classroom bees: a practice bee on Friday, January 18, and our official classroom bee on Thursday, January 24. The winner and runner-up from our official classroom bee will participate in the 5th grade bee which will be scheduled the week of January 28.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 15 pretest will be given on Monday. The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students may only print up to 5 words on the tests "just in case" they are unsure of their cursive! Please continue to review cursive at home!!
• English - The students will learn about object pronouns, the correct way to use the pronouns I and me, and possessive pronouns.
• Reading - We will continue our unit on figurative language. Students will be writing their own examples and locating examples in poetry. 2nd Quarter Reading Project - The next reading project will not be announced until this quarter officially ends.
• Science - Students will learn more about the organization of the Periodic Table of Elements and the differences between the three states of matter. We will also learn about some physical changes of matter.
• Social Studies - We are reading Lesson 2 about the French exploring the Mississippi River and expanding New France. Lesson 3 will teach us about the French and Indian War.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will be adding, subtracting, and dividing integers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 16 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 3)

Jan. 18 - Mrs. Strong's Practice Spelling Bee

Jan. 18 - End of 2nd Quarter

Jan. 21 - No School (M. L. King's Birthday)