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