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