WEEK OF DECEMBER 15

Bowling Day
On our bowling day, December 17, students are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Many students fill up on snacks at the bowling alley, so we want them to be able to bring home any food they do not eat from lunch.

Too Good For Drugs
Deputy Seward from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department visited our classroom on Wednesday for our first session of T.G.F.D. Students received a family homework assignment which you are encouraged to complete before our next session.

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - Due to many activities scheduled in our final school week before Winter Break, there will not be a spelling lesson.
• English - The students will review what a noun is, the difference between common and proper nouns, and how to spell plural nouns correctly. 
• Reading - The students will do a "close read" of a passage from the novel Touching Spirit Bear. Students should prepare for a vocabulary quiz over the words selected from this text on Thursday, December 18!

Science - We are learning the importance of predator-prey relationships. We will read the story Wolf Island to better understand how a change in the number of predators affects the number of prey (and other organisms) in an ecosystem. 

Social Studies - Products and signs must be at school Tuesday for our Trade Fair. They will receive a "reflections" sheet to complete after our fair. We will continue to learn about colonial life as we compare/contrast life in the cities, colonial towns, and Southern plantations.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students are learning about multiplication and division expressions. This is preparing us for Unit 4 on expressions and equations using all of the operations.  

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 16 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Dec. 17 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 2)

Dec. 17 - 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

Dec. 19 - 5th Grade P.R.I.D.E Assembly

Dec. 19 - PV Trip to the Tivoli

Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 - WINTER BREAK!

WEEK OF DECEMBER 8

Too Good For Drugs
On December 10, our class will begin the fifth grade "Too Good For Drugs" program. Deputy Seward from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department will be coming to our classroom on Wednesdays to discuss various topics of drug prevention. A letter explaining more about the program will be sent home after our first session.

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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. *Starting next week, students may only print 10 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - The students will identify nouns in sentences, distinguish between common and proper nouns, and apply spelling rules to help them form plural nouns. 
• Reading - The students have completed their Sitting Bull projects. We will continue with our theme of challenges as we read an excerpt from the book, Touching Spirit Bear. We will begin with some "word work" to help us with unfamiliar words in the text. We hope to do an initial read through part of the text by the end of the week.

Science - We will learn about three types of symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Students will play a match-up game later in the week to practice identifying these special ways plants and/or animals interact within an ecosystem.

Social Studies - Hopefully, the students have shared with you about our upcoming Trade Fair. Their idea "contracts" are due on Tuesday, December 9. Once ideas have been approved, students can begin production for the fair scheduled for Tuesday, December 16. The students will create a sign for their products in class, and they will receive a "reflections" sheet to complete after the Trade Fair.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students will have a very short Unit 3 Homework Review #3 on Tuesday covering interpreting remainders and finding unit prices. Then we will review all the concepts from Unit 3 to prepare for a test on Thursday, December 11!  

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 10 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 1)

Dec. 16 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Dec. 17 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 2)

Dec. 17 - 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

Dec. 19 - PV Trip to the Tivoli

Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 - WINTER BREAK!

WEEK OF DECEMBER 1

2nd Trimester Tidbits
Students are now responsible for checking themselves out at the end of the school day. Students will remain independent as long as there are no issues with late homework. If a trend of late homework begins for a student, he/she will be put on a teacher check-out system.
5th Grade 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

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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 Friday. *Students may only print 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - The students will learn that a noun can name a person, place, thing, or idea. We will practice identifying nouns in sentences. 
• Reading - The students will finish their research on Sitting Bull, and incorporate it into an interactive poster using a website called Glogster.

Science - The students did an amazing job sharing their owl presentations with third graders. We will now begin Chapter 6 about ecosystems and change. Students will understand how populations interact, and describe plant and animal adaptations.

Social Studies - The students will learn about life in the English colonies in Chapter 6. The first lesson will help students understand how people worked and traded.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will estimate quotients and review all we have learned about division with decimals. There is a Unit 3 Homework Review #2 planned for Wednesday. Then we will finish the unit with some problem solving involving interpreting remainders and finding unit prices.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 2 - First Trimester Grade Reports Available Via ParentConnect

Dec. 10 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 1)

Week of November 24

Happy Thanksgiving!
It is during this time of year that we reflect upon the many things we are thankful for in our lives. I am grateful for the support of my family at home, as well as my families at school. I am so fortunate to have such supportive parents - thank you for all you do for your children! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - No lesson due to the short week!
• English - We will do some writing and proofreading to apply our capitalization and punctuation skills from Unit 5. 
• Reading - The students will continue their research on Sitting Bull. They will incorporate their research into an interactive poster using a website called Glogster.

Science - Students will share their slide presentations on owls with the third graders on Tuesday afternoon. This is an opportunity for students to practice their speaking skills: appropriate volume and rate, voice inflection, and eye contact.

Social Studies - We will play a review game on Monday to help students prepare for the Chapter 5 Test scheduled for Tuesday, November 25! There is a lot of information in this chapter, as it encompasses 4 lessons. The notes taken in their Social Studies spiral for this chapter should guide their studying!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students are currently working with division of decimals. So far, they have only been given problems that will work out with no remainders, even if they have to "annex a zero" to find the quotient. On Monday, we will take a look at division of decimals when things don't work out so nicely! I also plan to show a really cool repeating decimal problem that a student found and shared with me. Thanks, Aidan!

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 21 - End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 25 - Robert Crown Field Trip

Nov. 26 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17

Author Amy Logan Visit to Prairieview
On Friday morning, author Amy Logan visited each grade level to present her book, A Girl with a Cape, and the message that each of us has the power to be a super hero. I took some time after the presentation to discuss some ways I have seen my own children be super heroes, and I encouraged them to find ways to show kindness and release the super hero inside each of them. Thanks to our P.T.O., every student received a special PV "cape" to remind them of the amazing power they have to make a difference in this world.

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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 may only print 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - We will do some classroom activities to review the capitalization and punctuation rules for writing direct quotations. There will be a quick quiz on quotations on Wednesday, November 19. Then we will begin reviewing for the Unit 5: Capitalization and Punctuation test scheduled for Friday, November 21!
• Reading - The students will research Sitting Bull. They will incorporate their research into an interactive poster using a website called Glogster.

Science - Students are working collaboratively with a classmate to create a slide presentation about an owl native to Illinois. Students helped create the grader for this project, and they have a copy of this to guide their work.

Social Studies - Students will read about the 13 English colonies and how they were established. We will also work to understand how the geography of the land made the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies different from each other. Looking ahead, the Chapter 5 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Now that we have a firm grasp of division of whole numbers, we will move into division of decimals. Students will identify patterns when dividing decimals by powers of 10, estimate decimal quotients, and divide decimals by whole numbers and decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 21 - End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 25 - Robert Crown Field Trip (permission slips coming soon)

Nov. 26 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10

Junior Achievement
During our final session of Junior Achievement, Mr. Blocker had the students do an activity to understand global connections in businesses. Students also received a certificate of participation and CD of games and activities related to the concepts learned during Junior Achievement. Mr. Blocker was very appreciative of our classroom gift to him. Thank you to all of the families who contributed!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - The Lesson 11 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 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - We will use quotation marks to record the words spoken in various Garfield comic strips. Students will practice writing direct quotations when the speaker comes at the beginning, at the end, and in the middle of the sentence. Students will also be challenged to use more sophisticated words instead of "said" in their sentences. It is much more interesting to use words like whispered, questioned, or mumbled.
• Reading - The students will begin their research on Sitting Bull. They will incorporate their research into an interactive poster using a website called Glogster.

Science - Did your student tell you about our virtual and hands-on work with owl pellets? It was a chance for us to work like scientists to discover the kind of prey an owl might hunt. Next, we will do a little research on owls of Illinois to learn about their habitats, diet, and adaptations.

Social Studies - Students will practice their note-taking skills by making a Lucidchart Diagram about the Pilgrims. Then we will compare and contrast the Pilgrims to the Puritans.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue to learn different ways to divide whole numbers. There will be a homework review of division patterns, estimation, and division methods towards the end of the week.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 11 - Picture Retakes and Yearbook Photos

Nov. 14 - Author Amy Logan Visits Prairieview!

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3

Fall Conferences
I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with you about your child's progress in 5th grade so far. Please remember as we continue the school year together that you may contact me at any time with questions or concerns, or even successes to celebrate!

Junior Achievement
During our 4th session of Junior Achievement, Mr. Blocker discussed STEM, job skills, resume writing, and interviewing. We look forward to his final visit on Wednesday afternoon when students will receive a certificate of participation in the program. We will also present Mr. Blocker with a token of our appreciation.
*If you would still like to contribute to the classroom gift, please send in $1 on Wednesday!

Halloween Party Thanks
Thank you to the parents who helped make our Halloween Party so fun! Mrs. Rossi, Mrs. Brandt, and Mrs. Infusino organized some great games and activities. Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. O'Leary provided drinks and tasty treats. Thank you also to Mrs. Kerrigan for coordinating these efforts. The students had a "spooktacular" time!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - There will be no spelling lesson due to the short week.
• English - We will review the uses of commas and interjections on Wednesday so that students are ready for a quick quiz on Thursday. Then we will read a short story to help us understand how to use quotation marks to "capture" a person's exact words.
• Reading - The students will finish a writing assignment about "A Boy Called Slow." Then students will begin an extended research project about Sitting Bull. They will incorporate their research into an interactive poster using a website called Glogster.

Science - Next week will be a HOOT as we preview some of the concepts from Chapter 6. We will take a close look at the barn owl in order to understand habitat, predator-prey relationships, and adaptations.

Social Studies - Students will read how English settlers established colonies in New England in search of religious freedom. It's appropriate as we head into November that we hear about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will move into division of whole numbers and decimals in Unit 3. We will begin by estimating quotients and trying various methods for dividing whole numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 3 - No School

Nov. 4 - No School (Teacher Institute)

Nov. 5 - Junior Achievement (Final Session)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 27

Fall Conferences
I look forward to meeting with parents during Fall Conferences this upcoming school week. Please contact me if you need a reminder about your date and time.

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 Wednesday, 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 before Friday!

Halloween Costume Parade and Party Reminders
Students need to bring their costumes to school on Friday. Please understand that costumes might need to be simplified for school purposes since students have a short amount of time to get ready for the parade. 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.

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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 Friday. *Students may only print 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - We will practice other ways to use commas and understand how to add interjections at the beginning of our sentences. A quick quiz on the different uses of commas and interjections is planned for Thursday.
• Reading - The students will answer text dependent questions to demonstrate their understanding of "A Boy Called Slow." Students will also relate this story back to our theme and essential questions focused on challenges.

Science - Students will work at various activity centers on Monday to review the concepts from Lesson 2 before completing an open note/book assignment on Tuesday. Then students will prepare for the Chapter 5 Test scheduled for Thursday, October 30. Since this is the first test for Science, students will receive a "How to Study" sheet worth 1 free point if completed and signed by a parent by the test day!

Social Studies - We will take a virtual "Journey to Jamestown" to see if we can can build a successful colony. Then we will learn how other European countries established colonies after searching for a Northwest Passage.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students will review exponents and learn about scientific notation. A Homework Review is scheduled for Wednesday over multiplication of decimals (using models and standard method), exponents, and scientific notation. Then we will prepare for the Unit 2 Test scheduled for Friday, October 31.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 27 - Oct. 30 - Fall Conferences

Oct. 29 - Junior Achievement (Session #4)

Oct. 31 - Halloween Costume Parade and Parties

Nov. 3 - No School

Nov. 4 - No School (Teacher Institute)

Nov. 5 - Junior Achievement (Final Session)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 20

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 Wednesday when Mr. Blocker will share about production.

Fall Conferences
Thank you to the homeroom parents who have already signed up for conferences. If you have not scheduled a conference yet, you will receive a reminder email from me with the link to Sign Up Genius. Please remember that each family should sign up for one slot.

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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. *Starting the week of October 20th, students will only be able to print 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - We will continue our unit on capitalization and punctuation. Students will learn how to write titles correctly. A quick quiz over correcting sentences, proper nouns and adjectives, abbreviations, and titles is scheduled for Wednesday. Then we will explore the many uses of commas.
• Reading - The students will continue to work with the story, A Boy Called Slow. As we read this text again, students will identify character traits of Slow at various stages of his life, and cite evidence from the text as proof of each trait. Students will also develop their own Native American names in the tradition of the Lakota Sioux. "A Boy Called Slow Vocabulary Quiz" is scheduled for Tuesday!

Science - Ask your child how we connected various food chains to form a classroom food web. Next week, we will discover how only 10% of energy is passed from one organism to the next one in a food chain using a pyramid-shaped model.

Social Studies - The students will learn about the Battle of the Spanish Armada. Then we will read about Jamestown, the first successful English colony in North America. Why was Jamestown successful whereas Roanoke Island was a failed attempt to establish a colony? We will compare/contrast these colonies to answer this question.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - There is a homework review scheduled for Monday over multiplication patterns, estimation, and various methods of multiplying whole numbers. Then we will multiply decimals, work more with exponents, and express really large numbers in scientific notation.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 22 - Junior Achievement (Session #3)

Oct. 23 - Bus Driver Appreciation

Oct. 27 - 31 - Fall Conference Week

WEEK OF OCTOBER 13

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 Wednesday, October 15th!

Fall Conferences
Homeroom parents 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:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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. *Starting the week of October 20th, students will only be able to print 15 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work. Keep practicing correct letter formation at home!
• English - We will finish the final copies of our subject/predicate poems next week. We will also begin a unit on capitalization and punctuation.
• Reading - The students are reading, A Boy Called Slow. We will be identifying the challenges faced by a young Native American as he becomes an adult member of his tribe. We will also do some "word work" with selected vocabulary from the story.

Science - We will learn how energy is passed through an ecosystem, from a producer to one or more consumers. Students will also distinguish between different types of consumers.

Social Studies - Now that we understand how the Spanish began establishing colonies in the New World, we will read how the English, French, and Dutch struggled to found colonies in North America in Chapter 5.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Unit 2 exploring various methods of multiplication. We will also look at multiplication of decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 10 - 1st Trimester Midterm

Oct. 13 - No School (Columbus Day)

Oct. 15 - Junior Achievement (Session #2)

Oct. 16 - Fall Book Fair and Taffy Apple Sale

WEEK OF OCTOBER 6

Busy Week Ahead...
Please notice that we have a lot going on this week. I encourage students to create a study plan and review a little each night. I have built in some review games and activities during the school day to help students prepare, too.

Catching Compliments - We've Earned a Reward!
Students have caught enough compliments for a reward. The majority of students voted for lunch in the classroom with popsicles provided by Mrs. Strong for dessert. We can look forward to this special event on Tuesday, October 7th!

Junior Achievement Program
Our class will be starting Junior Achievement on Wednesday, October 8. 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:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - The Lesson 7 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 review all about sentences with a game on Monday. The Unit 1 "The Sentence" Test is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7! The rest of the week will be spent creating subject/predicate poems for a class book.
• Reading - The students are discussing the challenges faced by Jackie Robinson. A vocabulary quiz over our "Jackie Robinson words" is planned for Wednesday, October 8! This will be a fill-in-the blank format; students will need to determine the correct word for a blank based on its meaning and the context of the sentence.  

Science - We are learning how different plant structures (parts) allow green plants to make food through the process of photosynthesis. Ask your child to explain this process to you.

Social Studies - Students will finish up Lesson 3 about life in New Spain. Then we will spend several days reviewing for our Chapter 4 Test scheduled for Friday, October 10! The students will be completing one part of a "How to Study" sheet in class on Tuesday. If students finish this sheet with how they studied at home and get a parent signature, it can be turned in the day of the test for 1 free point!!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have reviewed the concepts from Unit 1 to begin preparing for the test on Monday, October 6! Students received a "study tips" sheet to serve as a guide. Then we will move into Chapter 2 about multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 8 - Fall Pictures (8:30 - 8:45 a.m.)

Oct. 8 - Junior Achievement (Session 1)

Oct. 9 - Blackhawks Spirit Day!

Oct. 10 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Oct. 10 - 1st Trimester Midterm

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29

End-of-Day Student Check Out
I wanted to let parents know that at the end of the day, I check out each student to make sure all assignments are written legibly in the Assignment Book and all materials needed are on the desk ready to go home. As we move forward, I will start checking less thoroughly and less often to gradually release the responsibility to the students.


Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - The Lesson 6 pretest will be given on Monday. (We are skipping Review Lesson 5.) 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 use the conjunctions and, or, and but correctly, and utilize two different strategies for correcting run-on sentences. A quiz over subjects in imperatives, conjunctions, and run-on sentences is planned for Thursday, October 2.
• Reading - We will review some of the important points from our close reading of an article about Jackie Robinson. Then we will read the book Teammates to learn more about Jackie Robinson and the challenges he faced when breaking the color barrier in baseball. We plan to do some "word work" with unfamiliar words in this text as well. 

Science - How do plants produce food? This is the focus of Chapter 5, Lesson 1, as we begin our first life science unit "Energy and Ecosystems."

Social Studies - As the conquistadors took over land in the New World, many Spanish colonies were established. Lesson 3 discusses life in New Spain.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will work with addition and subtraction expressions (numerical and algebraic). We will learn how to write expressions using correct math vocabulary, and understand how to evaluate these expressions. A Homework Review is tentatively planned for Thursday.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 8 - Fall Pictures

Oct. 10 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 22

Science E-Text
Our science textbook is now available online. This is a great resource for students as it has several neat features. A link to the "Think Central" website and directions for accessing the text can be found on the Prairieview School website. Please check it out when you get a chance! 

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• 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 - Students will review subjects and predicates early in the week. Then we will learn about subjects in imperative sentences and the use of conjunctions.
• Reading - We will continue to build on our theme of "Challenges." Students will respond to last week's poem by writing about advice they have received to help them overcome a personal challenge. We will also use a variety of media to learn about Jackie Robinson and the challenges he faced.

Science - What is the scientific method? Students will apply this 5-step process to conduct an investigation: Ziploc Bag vs. Pencil. A quiz about the scientific method is planned for Thursday.

Social Studies - Lesson 2 discusses how Spanish conquistadors established new colonies in North and South America.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will estimate and find sums of whole numbers and decimals. We will also work with addition and subtraction expressions (numerical and algebraic).

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 25 - Comfy Pants Spirit Day

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

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15

Team 66 Community Event
Do you like to run or walk? Do you like high-excitement performances? Do you want to learn to dance? Well, the Team 66 Community Event has an amazing line-up activities of all this and more. There will be face-painting, inflatables, a photo booth, and a dunk tank! I hope to see you there for this fun-filled event!


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 - Students will identify the two parts of a sentence: subject and predicate. We will first determine where the complete subject and predicate are in a sentence, then find the simple subject and predicate in each part.
• Reading - We will learn about metaphors, a form of figurative language often found in the texts we read. Then we will launch our first reading unit on "Challenges." We will do a close reading of Langston Hughes's poem, "Mother to Son," and discuss the different challenges the speaker faced and the advice she is trying to pass on to her son.
• Science - The students will learn about the inquiry skills scientists use and the scientific method.
• Social Studies - We are reading about the Columbian Exchange. Students will be thinking about the impact of this exchange of goods, people, and ideas.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The students will compare and order decimals, and round whole numbers and decimals. A "Homework Review" over place value, ways to express numbers, comparing and ordering decimals, and rounding is planned for Wednesday. We will finish the week estimating and finding sums of whole numbers and decimals. 

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 13 - Team 66 Community Event

Sept. 16 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off

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

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8

Curriculum Night Follow-Up
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our 5th Grade Curriculum Night. If you were unable to make it, there was a packet of information sent home with your child on Friday.
*All parents need to complete and return 2 items: the Information Sheet and the bottom section of the 5th Grade Policies cover sheet.

MAP Testing
Our class will be taking the MAP tests on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Please encourage your child to do his/her best!


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 - Students will learn how to determine if a group of words is a sentence or fragment, and identify the 4 types of sentences.
• Reading - We will review "close reading" and practice summarizing, or finding the "gist," of a text. We will also learn about metaphors, a form of figurative language often found in the texts we read.
• Science - The students will be exploring some of the tools used in scientific inquiry.
• Social Studies - Chapter 4 begins with Columbus's exploration and discovery of the "New World."
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We are starting our year looking at place value and different ways to express numbers. I told the students that our number system is "Base 10." What does that mean? We will explore the answer to that question and more this week.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 9 - MAP Testing (Math)

Sept. 10 - MAP Testing (Reading)

Sept. 13 - Team 66 Community Event and District Dash

Sept. 16 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off

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

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1

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 some 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 Thursday, September 4th 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 "close reading." Close reading involves students reading (and rereading) texts in order to develop a deeper understanding of it. One part of this will be "reading with a pencil," or marking the text where there are unfamiliar words, important details, something confusing, etc.
• 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 and different ways to express numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 1 - No School (Labor Day)

Sept. 4 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night (6:30 p.m.)

WEEK OF JUNE 9

Bowling and Outdoor Games Suggestions
On our bowling day, June 10, students are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Many students "fill up" on snacks at the bowling alley, so we want them to be able to bring home any foods they are not able to eat from lunch. On June 11, students should wear gym shoes to participate in the outdoor games. Students may wear other footwear to school, but for safety reasons, they are encouraged to change into gym shoes for the games.

Memory Books
Students are working on Memory Books of 5th Grade. I am providing construction paper, page-starters, photos from the school year, and "fancy-edged" scissors, but students may want to bring in their own stickers, scrapbook paper, etc. to make their book unique.



Subject Update:

• English - Students will write a friendly letter to next year's 5th graders, highlighting some activities they enjoyed during their 5th grade experience and giving advice for getting along with Mrs. Strong.
• Reading - We finished reading Jacob's Rescue, and students did a great job discussing some of the important events in the story. This book was based on a true story, and I encourage you to talk with your child about the Holocaust and what they learned. We also finished presenting the Photo Story projects. If your child would like to keep or share his/her completed project with you, they will need to save it on a flashdrive next week.
• Science - We will watch a movie, Night of the Twisters, as a final look at weather and the importance of predicting weather conditions.
• Social Studies - We will review the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and discuss how the U.S. Constitution gave more power to the national government.

Mark Your Calendar:

June 10 - 5th Grade Bowling (a.m.)

June 11 - Outdoor Games/Picnic/Special Assembly

June 12 - Last Day of School - Dismissal 11:00 a.m.

WEEK OF JUNE 2

Special Activities Planned in 5th Grade
Weatherman Phil Schwartz will be visiting the 5th graders on Tuesday to talk about his job as meteorologist for Channel 7 News and teach about various weather conditions. On Wednesday, we will celebrate our 5th graders moving on to middle school with a special grade level recess and a few other surprises. Later that day, our classroom will visit the Lakeview library. Mrs. Hagensee will present her summer reading program and give 5th graders the opportunity to check out paperback books for the summer.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - No lesson - we will work on some creative writing and "word work" instead.
• English - Students will learn the many irregular forms of past tense verbs.
• Reading - We will continue reading Jacob's Rescue.  3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students will be presenting their finished projects next week!
• Science - Students will learn how weather conditions are measured and how these measurements can be used to predict weather.
• Social Studies - Now that the colonies are free and independent from Britain, we will read about the beginnings of the United States and how they developed a government of their own.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 10. We will learn how to divide fractions, with and without the use of models.

Mark Your Calendar:

June 3 - 5th Grade Program: Weatherman Phil Schwartz

June 4 - 5th Grade Celebration

June 4 - Mrs. Strong's Class Visits LV Library

June 5 - PV Talent Show

June 6 - Favorite Vacation Destination Spirit Day!

June 10 - 5th Grade Bowling

WEEK OF MAY 26

Enjoy Your Memorial Day Weekend!
I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weather they are forecasting for the weekend! I am sure there will be many activities filling our days, but let's also remember why we have the extra day off from school - to honor those men and women of the armed forces who died while serving our country.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 31 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 on Friday.
• English - We will continue our unit on verbs. Students will learn about subject-verb agreement, contractions with not, and irregular forms of past tense verbs.
• Reading - We will continue reading Jacob's Rescue. There will be a Ch. 1-8 Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday, May 29th! 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students have selected background music for the project, and will record their scripts next week!
• Science - Students are learning about the water cycle and factors that affect it. Ask your child to describe the water cycle using the words: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
• Social Studies - Students will review Lesson 3 and compare/contrast the uniforms of soldiers worn during the Revolutionary War. The Chapter 9 Test is scheduled for Friday, May 30!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 10. We will be learning how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers, with and without the use of models.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 26 - No School (Memorial Day)

May 30 - Spirit Day - Boys (wear blue) vs. Girls (wear green)

WEEK OF MAY 19

Upcoming Dates for 5th Graders
Our 5th graders will be visiting Lakeview on Monday, May 19. 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 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 on Friday.
• English - We will continue our unit on verbs. Students will learn how to use and spell the present and past tense forms of verbs correctly, and how to form the future tense using the helping verb will.
• Reading - We have started the historical fiction novel Jacob's Rescue. The students had great discussions based on an introductory activity this week, and have begun reading. Students will be working with vocabulary, answering comprehension questions, and holding small group discussions as we read the book. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students have gathered images to use in their Photo Story projects, and will be recording their scripts next week!
• Science - Students will learn more about the layers of our atmosphere, then learn about the water cycle and factors that affect it.
• Social Studies - Students will be writing letters, imagining they are soldiers under Washington's command during the Revolutionary War. They will incorporate information from the first lessons of Chapter 9. Then we will read about other nations such as France helping the Americans fight.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have started Chapter 10 about multiplying and dividing fractions. We have started with multiplication using bar diagrams. Next week we will estimate products, use fraction models to show multiplication as repeated addition, and learn other strategies for multiplying a whole number by a fraction.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 19 - 5th Graders Visit to Lakeview

May 19 - Lakeview Meeting for 5th Grade Parents (6:30 p.m.)

May 20 - PV Cadet Band and Choir Concert

May 23 - Red, White, and Blue Spirit Day!

May 23 - Wheel of Wisdom Assembly

May 26 - No School (Memorial Day)

WEEK OF MAY 12

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!

Upcoming Dates for 5th Graders
5th graders will get a sneak peak at the Lakeview musical! We will enjoy a dress rehearsal of State Fair the afternoon of May 15. Our 5th graders will also be visiting Lakeview the afternoon of Monday, May 19. 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 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 on Friday.
• English - We will continue our unit on verbs. Students will learn about linking verbs, and how to use and spell the present and past tense forms of verbs correctly.
• Reading - Students will begin a novel study next week. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - The scripts are in, and students have made revisions based on peer feedback. The next steps of the project will be completed at school in the computer lab.
• Science - We will begin our final unit on weather. Students will learn about the layers of Earth's atmosphere and the uneven heating of the Earth.
• Social Studies - Students will continue to learn about key people and events in the Revolutionary War.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will finish the chapter next week. Students will review estimating, adding, and subtracting of mixed numbers. Then we will prepare for the Chapter 9 test scheduled for Thursday, May 15!

Mark Your Calendar:

May 15 - 5th Grade Preview of "State Fair" at Lakeview

May 16 - Spirit Day - Wear Your Favorite T-shirt!

May 16 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

May 19 - 5th Graders Visit to Lakeview

May 19 - Lakeview Meeting for 5th Grade Parents (6:30 p.m.)

WEEK OF MAY 5

Spring Open House and Book Fair
I enjoyed seeing so many of you Thursday 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 MAP tests on Tuesday and 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 his/her 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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case."
• English - We will begin our next grammar unit on verbs. Students will learn how to identify action verbs, direct objects, and helping verbs in sentences.
• Reading - Students will finish their study of China next week. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Photo Story script is due Wednesday, May 7!
• Science - We will review the ways in which heat can be transferred, and learn how people use energy resources. The Chapter 15 Test is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday!
• Social Studies - How could signing the Declaration of Independence be a dangerous act? We will discuss this along with some of the contributions made by a variety of people to win key battles during the war.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 9. Students will estimate and find the actual sums and differences of mixed numbers. No math is scheduled Tuesday-Thursday due to MAP testing.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 6 - MAP Testing (Reading)

May 8 - MAP Testing (Math)

May 9 - Spirit Day - Pajama Pants!

WEEK OF APRIL 28

Student Progress
Please take the time to review your child's progress via ParentConnect. It also would be a good time to discuss/review homework habits, the use of the Assignment Book, and preparation for tests/quizzes. I think some students have a touch of "Spring Fever" and may need some encouragement to keep focused on school. I want all of my students to be proud of their achievements in 5th grade. If they stay focused, they will have much to celebrate!


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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The students will finish up their Me Front Page newspapers. Come check these out when you visit during the Spring Open House! Then we will begin our next grammar unit on verbs.
• Reading - We will finish typing up our China research and assemble our brochures. We look forward to you viewing them during Spring Open House! 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be finishing their fantasy books in order to complete a Photo Story script by Wednesday, May 7! Please continue to check in with your child to monitor reading progress and completion of the script.
• Science - Students will learn more about how heat can be transferred.
• Social Studies - In Chapter 9, we will learn about the events leading to the Americans winning the Revolutionary War. The first lesson discusses how the decision was made to formally declare independence from Britain
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Monday. Then we will begin Chapter 9 which continues our work with fractions. Students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 25 - Check Student Progress via ParentConnect

May 1 - Spring Open House and Book Fair (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

May 2 - Crosstown Classic Spirit Day - Cubs or Sox

WEEK OF APRIL 21

Too Good for Drugs Graduation Notes
Thank you to all of the parents who attended our T.G.F.D. Graduation. Also, congratulations again to Tommy 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 gift certificates.


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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The students will continue working on their Me Front Page newspapers. Students will write about future goals and a major achievement.
• Reading - We will continue learning about China. Students will begin to use a variety of resources to research topics independently to complete a research project. Most of this work will be completed in the classroom. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be finishing their fantasy books in order to complete a Photo Story script by Wednesday, May 7! Please continue to check in with your child to monitor reading progress and completion of the script.
• Science - Students will continue to learn about several forms of energy and how energy changes forms. Then we will learn more about how heat can be transferred.
• Social Studies - We will review all of the events leading up to the start of the Revolutionary War. The Chapter 8 Test is scheduled for Thursday, April 24!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Students will review how to compare fractions, and learn how to use models and fraction equivalence to write fractions as decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 22 - Earth Day Spirit (Wear Earth Day shirts, or "earthy" colors)

May 1 - Spring Open House and Book Fair

WEEK OF APRIL 14

Too Good For Drugs Graduation
Please remember that our T.G.F.D. Graduation for 5th graders is Thursday, April 17 from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Prairieview gym. Students should dress appropriately for the occasion; nothing fancy, but perhaps their best jeans and a nice shirt. Congratulations to Tommy who has been selected to read his promise letter during the ceremony. We hope to see you at this special event!


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 25 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 Thursday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The students will be working on another writing piece for their "Me Front Page" newspapers, as well as developing a name for their special edition paper.
• Reading - We will continue learning about China in the weeks ahead as we use trade books, the Internet, and other resources to gather information. Students will also continue to practice paraphrasing the text, or putting the information in their own words. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be reading their fantasy stories in order to complete a Photo Story script by Wednesday, May 7! Please continue to check in with your child to monitor reading progress and encourage him/her to take notes on post-its about the main characters, setting, and plot to help remember key details for the script.
• Science - Students will learn about several forms of energy and changing energy forms in the next lesson. Students will also determine whether each form of energy is kinetic or potential.
• Social Studies - We will read how the American Revolution began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - A progress check over the first four lessons is planned for Monday; then we will continue Chapter 8, learning about Least Common Multiple (LCM), comparing fractions, and writing fractions as decimals.

Mark Your Calendar:

April 17 - T.G.F.D. Graduation (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

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

April 18 - No School

WEEK OF APRIL 7

Enjoy Your Spring Break!
I hope everyone enjoys some rest and relaxation during the week off from school. If the weather cooperates, perhaps we all can head outside for fresh air and sunshine. See you again in April!

Naper Settlement
A special thanks to Mrs. Daly, Mrs. Kenyeri, and Mr. Rabig for joining us on our trip to Naper Settlement. The students enjoyed visiting the one-room school house, print shop, blacksmith, and other places during the experience. Ask your child about "churning" butter, filling their dance card, and printing a souvenir bookmark.


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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The students have been working on an acrostic poem for their Me Front Page newspapers. After break, we will review the use of quotation marks to help us write another article called, "Heard It on the Street." Students need to bring in an 8x10" photo of themselves by April 9 for this special project as well.
• 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. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be reading their fantasy stories in order to complete a Photo Story script by Wednesday, May 7! You may want to help your child create a timeline for completing the reading and script; and encourage him/her to take notes on post-its about the main characters, setting, and plot to help remember key details for the script.
• Science - Students will begin Chapter 15 about energy. In the first lesson, they will learn the difference between the two main forms of energy: potential and kinetic.
• Social Studies - We will continue to read about events in Boston that brought the colonies and Britain closer to war. We will learn more about the Boston Tea Party and what the colonists refer to as the Intolerable Acts.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We are moving ahead into Chapter 8 about fractions and decimals. Students will understand that fractions are a way to express division, determine common factors and the GCF of a set of numbers, identify equivalent fractions and simplest form, and problem solve using factors and multiples.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 29 - April 6 - SPRING BREAK!

April 11 - Spirit Day - Wear Your Favorite Hockey Shirt!

April 17 - T.G.F.D. Graduation (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

WEEK OF MARCH 24

Too Good For Drugs Program
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. Don't forget that students were assigned a "Promise Letter" that needs to be completed by Wednesday, March 26!
Save the date: Too Good For Drugs Graduation will be Thursday, April 17th from 8:30-9:30 a.m.


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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The students will finish their A to Z Adjectives Books. We also hope to start our "Me Front Page" newspapers featuring stories and other articles written about themselves.
• Reading - Students will be working on paraphrasing and summarizing activities. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - Fantasy book choices have been approved for almost every student. The next step is to read and complete a Photo Story script by Wednesday, May 7! You may want to help your child create a timeline for completing the reading and script; and encourage him/her to take notes on post-its about the main characters, setting, and plot while reading to help remember key details to include in the script.
• Science - Students will review for the Chapter 14 Test scheduled for Wednesday, March 26!
• Social Studies - Did your student tell you which role they played (a colonist, a tax collector, a member of Parliament, or the King) in our "Trouble Over Taxes" activity? Now that they understand why many colonists were angry about taxes imposed by the king and Parliament, we will read how events in Boston brought Britain and the colonies closer to war.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The Chapter 6 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25!

Mark Your Calendar:

March 28 - Naper Settlement Field Trip

March 29 - April 6 - SPRING BREAK!

April 17 - T.G.F.D. Graduation (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

WEEK OF MARCH 17

Thank You Chaperones
A special thanks to Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Arlt, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Meyer for joining us on our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. The "Colorful Chemistry" lab fit beautifully with our current study of matter and chemical reactions. The kids were engaged in the hands-on activities, and enjoyed visiting some of the other exhibits.

Too Good For Drugs Program
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. Also, students recently received information about a "Promise Letter" that needs to be completed by Wednesday, March 26!
Save the date: Too Good For Drugs Graduation will be Thursday, April 17th from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

3rd Trimester Notes
As students head into the final trimester of the year, they may want to set some goals based on their 2nd Trimester progress. Also, please make note of the late homework procedure for the 3rd Trimester...
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 - No Spelling lesson next week since we are only in school 3 days!
• English - The students will be creating an A to Z Adjectives Book to enhance our work with adjectives. Students will be encouraged to find a wide variety of adjectives and learn a few new words that can be used as adjectives along the way.
• Reading - Students will continue to work with cause and effect. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - I introduced our "Fantasy Photo Story" project on Tuesday. Students received hand-outs and viewed sample projects. Their fantasy book choice is due on Thursday, March 20!
• Science - Students are now learning about chemical properties and changes.
• Social Studies - We are reading about the colonists protesting taxes put in place by the King and Parliament. "No taxation without representation!" Ask your child what is meant by this protest cry.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will divide decimals by powers of 10 and review Lessons 10-14. The Chapter 6 Test will be scheduled the week of March 24th.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 17 - No School (Conferences)

March 18 - No School (Teacher Institute)

March 21 - Spirit Day - Dress Like Twins

March 21 - Too Good For Drugs (Session #10)

March 28 - Naper Settlement Field Trip

March 29 - April 6 - SPRING BREAK!

WEEK OF MARCH 10

Important Tid Bits
1)  Don't forget either a sack lunch or $10 to purchase a lunch on Friday for our Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip!
2) Save the date: Too Good For Drugs Graduation will be Thursday, April 17th from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
3) We are asking students to bring in a donation of $1-3 toward a gift of appreciation for Deputy Seward.

Too Good For Drugs Program
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.

I.S.A.T. Testing Almost Complete
Students will be taking their final I.S.A.T. test on Monday (unless a student has been absent from school and needs to make up testing). It is important for students to get a good night's sleep, eat a well-balanced breakfast, and attend school on time. Also, students may choose to bring a second snack to enjoy after testing. Please encourage your child to finish up doing his/her best!


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 on Thursday (since Math is scheduled early on Friday and then we leave for our field trip for the remainder of the day). *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The Unit 4 Adjectives Test is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12! Then we will have some fun with a "Hinky Pinky" adjectives activity.
• Reading - Students will finish up their work with historical fiction and cause/effect. 3rd Trimester Reading Project - I will introduce our "Fantasy Photo Story" project on Tuesday. Students will receive hand-outs with expectations of the project, and I will show several examples from former students!
• Science - Students will learn mixtures and solutions next week.
• Social Studies - Chapter 8 will help us understand the many factors that led to the Revolutionary War. In the first lesson, we will read how there was trouble over taxes in the colonies.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue with division of decimals: dividing them by whole numbers, other decimals, and powers of 10.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 10 - I.S.A.T. Testing

March 10-14 - Spring Conference Week

March 13 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 9)

March 13 - End of 2nd Trimester

March 14 - Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip

WEEK OF MARCH 3

Too Good For Drugs Program
We did not have T.G.F.D. this week. Deputy Seward will be back with us on March 7.

I.S.A.T Week
Beginning Tuesday, March 4, students will be taking the I.S.A.T. Reading and Math tests. It is important for students to attend school on time and exercise healthy habits like a well-balanced breakfast and good night's sleep. Also, students may choose to bring a second snack to enjoy after testing. Please encourage your child to do his/her best!


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 on Friday. *Students may only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We will continue our unit on adjectives. We will learn the correct forms of adjectives to use when making comparisons, and learn more about proper adjectives.
• Reading - Students will continue to practice a variety of reading strategies as we work with historical fiction. We will continue to focus on cause and effect. 2nd Trimester reading projects have been graded. The next project will not be announced until the 3rd Trimester begins.
• Science - We are learning about physical characteristics and properties of matter. Students will learn about density, and mixtures and solutions next week.
• Social Studies - The Chapter 7 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will only meet with Math students on Monday due to I.S.A.T. testing next week. We will continue with division of decimals in Chapter 6 the week of March 10.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 28 - No School (Teacher Institute)

March 3-10 - I.S.A.T Testing

March 7 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 8)