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