WEEK OF FEBRUARY 3

Too Good For Drugs Program
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 the session.

Six Flags' Read to Succeed Deadline
Please remember that Monday, February 3rd is the deadline for the Six Flags' Read to Succeed program if you are participating. Completed reading logs must be turned in to me or the school office by this date in order to earn your ticket!

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. I will send a class list home with students next week.


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 on Friday. *Students may now only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - The Unit 6 Pronouns Test is rescheduled for Tuesday, February 4! Then we will work on a writing piece about something that is scary.
• Reading - Students will continue to practice a variety of reading strategies as we work with historical fiction: author's purpose and viewpoint, fact and opinion, and cause and effect. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be putting the finishing touches on their projects due February 5!
• Science - We will continue to learn about the properties of matter. Students will experiment with mass and volume early next week, and then learn about atoms and molecules.
• Social Studies - In Chapter 7, students will hear how France, Great Britain, and Spain, as well as Native Americans, all struggled for control over North America. The first lesson focuses on New Spain expanding by establishing colonies in Florida and New Mexico.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will use base-10 and shaded models to subtract, and recognize the importance of lining up the decimal points (place values) when subtracting. The Chapter 5 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11!

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 3 - Six Flags' Read to Succeed Program Deadline

Feb. 4 - Early Dismissal (11:00 a.m.)

Feb. 5 - Biography Shape Booklet Project Due!

Feb. 6 - District Spelling Bee Assembly

Feb. 7 - Olympics Spirit Day (Wear Red, White, and Blue)

Feb. 7 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 5)

WEEK OF JANUARY 27

Too Good For Drugs Program
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. The students received a hand-out that should be reviewed with a parent before our next session.

Classroom Spelling Bee Winners
Congratulations to Bianca and Jonathan, the winner and runner-up of our Classroom Spelling Bee! These fine spellers will represent our class in the 5th Grade Spelling Bee on Thursday, 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 on Friday. *Students may now only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We will finish up our work with pronouns. We will learn how to avoid the use of double subjects, and understand how to use we and us with nouns in the subject or predicate. The Unit 6 Pronouns Test is scheduled for Friday, January 31!
• Reading - Students will continue to practice a variety of reading strategies as we work with historical fiction: author's purpose and viewpoint, fact and opinion, and cause and effect. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be finishing their biographies and "Biography Shape Booklet Notes." Tag board is available in the classroom when students are ready to start constructing their shape booklets. The project is due February 5!
• Science - We will begin our physical science unit next week. Chapter 14 will focus on the properties of matter.
• Social Studies - The Chapter 6 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28! Then we will hear about the fight for the continent. France, Great Britain, and Spain, as well as Native Americans, all struggled for control over North America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will review Lessons 4-7 on Monday, and then continue in Chapter 5 by working on subtraction of decimals. We will use base-10 and shaded models to subtract, and recognize the importance of lining up the decimal points (place values) when subtracting. There is no math on Friday due to the 5th grade Paul Revere assembly.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 24 - Check Student Progress on ParentConnect

Jan. 30 - 5th Grade Spelling Bee

Jan. 31 - Favorite College Spirit Day!

Jan. 31 - 5th Grade Paul Revere Assembly

Jan. 31 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 4)

WEEK OF JANUARY 20

Too Good For Drugs Program Begins
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.


Subject Update:

• Spelling - The Lesson 16 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. *Students may now only print 5 words "just in case." Please continue to work on cursive letter formation at home!
• English - We will continue our work with pronouns. First, we will review our work with subject, object, and possessive pronouns; and then learn about contractions formed with pronouns, avoiding the use of double subjects, and using we and us with nouns in the subject.
• Reading - Students will be working with historical fiction. We will be practicing a variety of reading strategies as we work with this genre: point of view, fact and opinion, and cause and effect. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - Students should be finishing their biographies and "Biography Shape Booklet Notes." Tag board is available in the classroom when students are ready to start constructing their shape booklets. The project is due February 5!
• Science - We will review all we have learned about ecosystems and change. The Chapter 6 Test is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22!
• Social Studies - Students will look at some of the clever sayings and advice given by Ben Franklin in his Poor Richard's Almanac. We will also begin reading Lesson 4 about slavery in the colonies.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 5 by working on addition of decimals. We will use models to add, understand the importance of lining up the decimal points (place values) when adding, and use addition properties to solve some problems mentally.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 20 - No School (M. L. King Day)

Jan. 24 - T.G.F.D. (Session 3)

Jan. 24 - Check Student Progress on ParentConnect

WEEK OF JANUARY 13

Welcome Back!
I hope you enjoyed your time with family and friends as much as I did. I am refreshed and ready to start 2014! We started our first days back writing resolutions for the new year. Students now have an assignment to look back at the past year and find something memorable about it. They received a worksheet with instructions - the completed worksheet and picture are due on Tuesday, January 14!

Too Good For Drugs Program Begins
Deputy Seward from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department visited our classroom on Friday for our first session of T.G.F.D. A letter explaining more about the program was sent home with students. Also, students received a family homework assignment which you are encouraged to complete before our next session.


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 have begun our grammar unit on pronouns by distinguishing between subject and object pronouns. Next week, we will focus on how to use I and me correctly, and work with possessive pronouns.
• Reading - Students will be working with historical fiction. We will be practicing a variety of reading strategies as we work with this genre: point of view, fact and opinion, and cause and effect. 2nd Trimester Reading Project - 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 will be learning how people affect ecosystems.
• Social Studies - Students will be creating some of the games colonial children may have played when not in school or doing chores. Students will also try to match up some of the home remedies used during colonial times with common ailments, and look at some of the clever sayings and advice given by Ben Franklin in his Poor Richard's Almanac.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue in Chapter 5 by working more with rounding decimals, learning how to estimate sums and differences, and determining when you need to find an estimate or exact answer. There will be no math on Tuesday (due to MAP testing) or Wednesday (due to early dismissal).

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 14 - Reading MAP Testing for Mrs. Strong's Class

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

Jan. 17 - T.G.F.D. (Session 2)

Jan. 20 - No School (M. L. King Day)