WEEK OF JANUARY 4

Too Good For Drugs
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. Students received a homework assignment that should be completed with their families.

Bowling Fun
The students enjoyed their trip to the bowling alley,... check out the pictures at the end of the page!

December PRIDE! Awards

We had two PRIDE! winners again this month. Congratulations to Anna for earning the Empathy award. Also, congratulations to Joey P. for earning the award for Specials Standout. Both students serve as great models for others to follow!



Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students should continue to practice presenting their "Challenges" Glogs. We will begin presenting them on Tuesday, January 5! We will also introduce our next theme Nature's Fury, and begin working with List #6 word parts.
• Science - Students will learn more about predator-prey relationships. We will read a short story, Wolf Island, which shows how a decrease in the wolf population affects the populations of its prey and other organisms on the island.
• Social Studies - We will learn about the rest of the 13 original English colonies. Students will identify which colonies are part of the Southern, Middle, and New England regions, as well as identify the resources used by the people of each region. The Chapter 5 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - The Topic 3 Test is planned for Tuesday, January 5th, with Monday being math station work to review and prepare for it. Then we will begin Topic 4 about two-variable relationships.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 - WINTER BREAK

Jan. 4 - Classes Resume

WEEK OF DECEMBER 14

Too Good For Drugs
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 from session 2.


Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from other students in order to make final revisions to their Glogs and be ready to present them to the class. We will also continue our work word with List #5, and take an assessment over those word parts on Thursday, December 17.
• Science - Students have taken a close look at various animals to identify some of their structural and behavioral adaptations. Next, we will learn about symbiosis, or a special relationship that some animals have with other animals in order to get what they need to survive. There are three kinds of symbiosis: commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.
• Social Studies - We will read about the Puritans and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Students will compare and contrast the way Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - A Topic 3, L. 5-7 Homework Review is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16. Since we only have Math scheduled three days next week, we will not be prepared to take the Topic 3 Test until after Winter Break. I have planned the test for Tuesday, January 5th, with Monday being math station work to review and prepare for it.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 15 - Cadet Band and Choir Concert (10:00 a.m.)

Dec. 15 - Holiday Colors Spirit Day and Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

Dec. 16 - 5th Grade Bowling (p.m.)

Dec. 17 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 3)

Dec. 18 - PV Goes to the Movies

Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 - WINTER BREAK

WEEK OF DECEMBER 7

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 firm handshake in recognition of a job well done! Mr. Blocker was very appreciative of our classroom gift to him. Thank you to all of the families who contributed!

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 letter about the program, and a family homework assignment about setting a family goal which you are encouraged to complete before our next session.

November PRIDE! Awards
We had two PRIDE! winners this month. Congratulations to Ken for earning the Improvement award. Also, congratulations to Bridget for earning the award for Specials Standout. Both students serve as great models for others to follow!






Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students are now using their completed research to create a Glog, or interactive poster, about their person and some of the challenges they have faced. Ask your student to show you how Glogster works, and perhaps the beginning stages of their Glog. Next week, we will continue to work on our Glogs, begin working with a new set of word parts (List #5), and take a close look at some interesting topics in Time For Kids magazine. 
• Science - Students really impressed the 3rd graders with their owl presentations! Now that we understand such concepts as habitat, population, predator-prey relationships, and adaptations as they relate to owls, we will begin Chapter 6. Lesson 1 explains how organisms compete and survive in an ecosystem.
• Social Studies - We will read about other English colonies in North America established by settlers in search of religious freedom. It will tell the story of the Pilgrims, Plymouth Colony, and the first Thanksgiving; as well as the story of the Puritans and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - A Topic 3, L. 1-4 Homework Review is scheduled for Monday. Students will need to show work to demonstrate their understanding of keeping an equation "balanced" when isolating the variable. Then we will continue in Topic 3, moving from equations to inequalities.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 9 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 2)

Dec. 15 - Cadet Band and Choir Concert (10:00 a.m.)

Dec. 15 - Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

Dec. 16 - 5th Grade Bowling

Dec. 17 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 3)

Dec. 18 - PV Goes to the Movies

Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 - WINTER BREAK

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30

2nd Trimester Tidbits
Students will now be 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

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 Tuesday afternoon when students will receive a certificate of participation in the program. We will also present Mr. Blocker with a token of our appreciation.

Too Good For Drugs
On December 2nd, 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 weekly to discuss topics such as values, good and bad influences, good decision-making, and drug prevention. A letter explaining more about the program will be sent home after our first session.

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We have begun our culminating project for our theme, "Challenges." This project is a Glog, or interactive poster, about a well-known person who has faced challenges in his/her life. Each student has already chosen a person, so the next step will be research. Students will be learning all they can about their person to discover some of the challenges they faced, how they managed those challenges, and how people were affected by them. We will also continue our work with word parts, and finish an acrostic writing activity.
• Science - Students will practice their owl presentations to be ready to share them with 3rd grade classes on Thursday afternoon.
• Social Studies - We will begin the next lesson which tells how the search for the Northwest Passage led to the founding of French and Dutch colonies in North America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue Topic 3 about equations and inequalities. Students will learn how to keep an equation "balanced" while using inverse operations to isolate the variable.

Mark Your Calendar:

Dec. 1 - Junior Achievement (Session 5)

Dec. 2 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 1)

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16

Technology Talk with Mr. Hummel
Mr. Hummel, Director of Technology for the district, met with our 5th graders to clarify the use of district issued Chromebooks. Here is a recap of his talk to help you monitor these expectations at home:
*Students should not download any extensions to Chromebooks.

*At home and at school, students should only use Chromebooks for school-related activities.

*School-appropriate backgrounds, themes, or wallpaper may be downloaded.

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 Tuesday, November 17th.
*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 Thanksgiving Break!

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will finish up our work with chapter 6 of Touching Spirit Bear. Students have been doing a wonderful job identifying the challenges of the main character and the way in which he responds to those challenges. There is a quiz over titles, conjunctions, interjections, and prepositions scheduled for Tuesday, November 17th. There will not be a new list of word parts introduced this week, but rather we will take some time to review and extend our work with all of the word parts learned so far.
• Science - Students will continue their collaborative research projects on their chosen owls. We learned and are applying the "PARA" strategy to paraphrase the information found, and we are making sure we cite all sources where information is taken.
• Social Studies - We will continue to learn about Jamestown, England's first successful colony in North America. Ask your child about some of the people who contributed to the success of this colony.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - There is a homework review (open note) over Topic 2, L. 4-7 on Monday, November 16th. On Tuesday, students will have several choices of activities to prepare for the Topic 2 Test scheduled on Wednesday, November 18th. Then we will begin Topic 3 which makes the transition from expressions to equations and inequalities.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 17 - Junior Achievement (Session 3)

Nov. 20 - End of 1st Trimester

Nov. 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9

Junior Achievement
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.

October PRIDE! Awards
Congratulations to Nina for earning the award for Respect in the month of October! Nina has shown respect to her classmates, teachers, and school. I look forward to next month when I can acknowledge another one of our students. Keep up that Panther PRIDE! 



Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will continue our work with chapter 6 of the book, Touching Spirit Bear. We will also have a quiz over the vocabulary from this story on Friday. We will begin working with List #5 word parts, continue working on our "challenge" narrative, and learn about prepositions.
• Science - Students will be selecting an owl native to Illinois to research. They will work collaboratively in partners to create a slide presentation.
• Social Studies - Ask your child to tell you about the lost colony of Roanoke. Which theory did he/she think explained the disappearance of this settlement? We will continue to learn about England's attempts to establish a colony in North America, and how they were successful at Jamestown.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - As we continue Topic 2, students will apply the Distributive Property to create equivalent expressions, use prime factorization to identify the LCM of numbers, and problem solve with the help of the various properties learned so far. Looking ahead, I anticipate a homework review over Topic 2, L. 4-7 either Friday or the following Monday, with a Topic 2 Test scheduled soon after.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 9 - No School  (Teacher Institute)

Nov. 10 - Junior Achievement (Session 3)

Nov. 13 - Bingo Night (Mrs. Strong will be there!)

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2

Parent/Teacher Conferences
This is a reminder that Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled this upcoming week. I look forward to meeting with each of you and having a conversation centered around your child.

Junior Achievement Has Begun
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 Tuesday, November 3rd!

Halloween Party... Thank You Parent Volunteers
Thank you to Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Portell, Mrs. Youngfelt, Mrs. Singh, and Mrs. Mastny for organizing some great games and activities. Also, thank you to Mrs. Portell and Mrs. Orzechowska for providing drinks and tasty treats. The students had a "spooktacular" time!



Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will be reading an excerpt from the book, Touching Spirit Bear to hear about the challenges of the main character, Cole Matthews. We will also work with vocabulary from this story, and relate Cole's challenges back to the lyrics of "The Climb" from last week. We will continue working with List #4 word parts, continue working on our "challenge" narrative, and learn about interjections. There will be a quiz over List #4 word parts on Thursday!
• Science - Did your student tell you about our owl pellet investigation on Friday? Each student recorded his/her findings about the number and types of prey identified in his/her pellet. Next week, we will compile our data as a whole class in order to draw some conclusions about owls and their eating habits.
• Social Studies - We will begin Chapter 5: The Struggle to Found Colonies. The first lesson tells about England's attempts to establish a colony in North America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - As we continue Topic 2, students are learning how to find the GCF of numbers using prime factorization. We will also explore the Distributive Property.

Mark Your Calendar:

Nov. 3 - Junior Achievement (Session #2)

Nov. 2-5 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

Nov. 5 - 5th Grade PRIDE! Awards

Nov. 6 - No School (End of Conference Week)

Nov. 9 - No School  (Teacher Institute)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 26

Parent/Teacher Conferences
You should have received an email from me regarding Parent/Teacher Conferences. Although this provides an opportunity to discuss the progress of your child, please remember that you may contact me at any time with questions, concerns, or celebrations about your child.

Junior Achievement Program to Begin Soon
Our class will be starting Junior Achievement on Tuesday, October 27. Our Junior Achievement volunteer, Mr. Blocker, will be visiting our classroom for five 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.

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. Refer to the party and parade times in the Mark Your Calendar section below - this is a change to last year!

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will read the lyrics to "The Climb," to understand the metaphor it suggests about life. We will also begin working with List #4 word parts. Students will continue to incorporate simple, compound, and complex sentences in their narratives as they work through the writing process, and they will learn more about the conjunctions used in compound and complex sentences.
• Science - Whooooo has heard about the barn owl? We have, and we've learned about some interesting behaviors and structures of this bird of prey that help it survive. We will continue to look at this nocturnal creature in the week ahead.
• Social Studies - We will review Chapter 4 to prepare for the test scheduled for Wednesday, October 28. Students have started a "How to Study" sheet which can be completed and signed by a parent for 1 free point on the test!
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - Topic 2 has begun with a look at several math properties. We are working to understand how the application of these properties might allow us to compute more efficiently. There will be an open-note homework review on Tuesday to review the properties discussed in Lessons 1-3. 

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 27 - Junior Achievement (Session 1)

Oct. 30 - Halloween Party (1:10 - 2:10 p.m.) and Parade (2:10 p.m.)

Nov. 2-5 - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

Nov. 6 - No School

WEEK OF OCTOBER 19

Reminder... Mid-Trimester Check-In
This is just a reminder that Friday, October 9th marked the mid-point of our first trimester of school. If you haven't already done so, please check in with your child about his/her progress. You might review grades via PowerSchool together, ask how your child feels about his/her progress in each subject, and discuss strategies for improvement. We will be doing some goal-setting in school as well.

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students will finish their work with "A Boy Called Slow." Then we will read an excerpt from the book Touching Spirit Bear. We will continue our word work with List #3, with a quiz over those word parts scheduled for Friday, October 23rd! Students will also do some writing to incorporate simple, compound, and complex sentences in their work.
• Science - We will be previewing some of the concepts from Chapter 6 by taking a close look at the barn owl. We will look at the habitat, predator-prey relationships, and physical and behavioral adaptations of this animal.
• Social Studies - We will continue to learn how Spain gained great wealth from settlements and growth in New Spain.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will bring Topic 1 to a close with the Topic 1 Test scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th. Then we will begin our next Digits topic about equivalent expressions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 30 - Halloween Party (1:10 - 2:10 p.m.) and Parade (2:10 p.m.)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 12

Mid-Trimester Check-In
Friday, October 9th marked the mid-point of our first trimester of school. If you haven't already done so, please check in with your child about his/her progress. Grades are a good indication of your child's current performance in the different subject areas, but also ask your child about his comfort level in the classroom, friendships formed, and how he/she feels about school in general. The Home/School Journal can also be a place to check in with your child! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns as we move forward together. 

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students will continue working with the selection called "A Boy Called Slow." They will identify different elements of the story, such as characters, setting, conflict, and theme. They will take a quiz over the vocabulary from this story on Wednesday, October 14th! Students will be introduced to list #3 of word parts, and learn about simple, compound, and complex sentences.
• Science - We will review about food chains, food webs, and the energy pyramid. The students will take an open book/note Ch. 5, L. 2 Quick Study on Wednesday, October 14th. We will then prepare for the Chapter 5 Test planned for Friday, October 16th! Students will have an opportunity to earn a free point towards their first Science test by completing a "How to Study" sheet and getting it signed by a parent.
• Social Studies - We will finish up our discussion of the Spanish conquests, and learn how Spain gained great wealth from settlements and growth in New Spain.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue our first Digits topic about variables and expressions. Students will learn how to use a bar diagram to model a word problem as an aid to developing an algebraic expression for it. There is an open-note homework review over Lessons 4-6 scheduled for Friday, October 16th!

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 12 - No School (Columbus Day)

Oct. 15 - Fall Open House, Book Fair, and Taffy Apple Sale (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

WEEK OF OCTOBER 5

5th Grade PRIDE! Awards
We held our first PRIDE! Awards ceremony for 5th grade on Friday. Congratulations to Bridget for earning the Positive Attitude award for the month of September! Her enthusiasm and encouraging nature towards others really shines in our classroom.

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students will read a selection called "A Boy Called Slow." They will work with vocabulary from this story, use the parts of the story to help them summarize it, and cite evidence from the text to support their thinking about the story. They will take a commas quiz on Wednesday, October 7 which will cover commas to set apart items in a series, introductory words, direct address, and tag questions. Students will continue to work with list #2 of word parts. The quiz over these word parts is scheduled for Thursday, October 8.
• Science - We will learn how food chains can be interconnected as food webs. We will connect the food chains created by groups of students last week into our own classroom food web.
• Social Studies - Much of the Aztec culture was lost after the Spanish conquered the Aztec people. Students are creating Aztec masks in honor of this lost Empire. Next, we will read about Pizarro conquering the Incan Empire in South America as the Spanish continue their quest for gold and other riches.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue our first Digits topic about variable and expressions. A homework review over Topic 1, Lessons 1-3 is planned for Tuesday, October 6. Students should review order of operations, numerical and algebraic expressions. translating between words and math, and representing word problem with algebraic expressions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 6 - Fall Picture Day

Oct. 9 - Early Dismissal (11;35 a.m.)

Oct. 12 - No School (Columbus Day)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28

Reminder: Online Science Text
I have set up the online version of our Science text for students to use at home or school. Students may continue to use their actual textbook, but the online version is now available for those students who would like to access it. The link and directions for logging in are available on the Prairieview website. Please click the following links and check it out.
Login page:  https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do
Directions for logging in: http://www.ccsd66.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/prairieview/Think_Central_ScienceText_Instructions.pdf


Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - Students will identify point of view, think about how a character's perspective affects a story, summarize texts, and use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words. Students will also work with a new list of word parts and develop a "bold beginning" or "hook" for their best life event story.
• Science - We will read about different kinds of consumers, and learn how energy passes from one organism to the next through food chains.
• Social Studies - We will read about the Spanish conquests in North and South America. We will identify the advantages of Cortes and the conquistadors against the mighty Aztec Empire.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have launched into our first Digits unit about expressions and equations. Topic 1 (similar to a chapter) will help us understand variables and expressions. Students will be working with numerical and algebraic expressions. translating between words and math, and representing word problem with algebraic expressions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Oct. 1 - Kate Klise Author Visit (6:30 - 7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 6 - Fall Picture Day!

Oct. 9 - Early Dismissal (11;35 a.m.)

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21

Online Science Text
I have set up the online version of our Science text for students to use at home or school. Students may continue to use their actual textbook, but the online version is now available for those students who would like to access it. The link and directions for logging in are available on the Prairieview website. Please click the following links and check it out.
Login page:  https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do
Directions for logging in: http://www.ccsd66.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/prairieview/Think_Central_ScienceText_Instructions.pdf

District Dash & TEAM66 Community Day
I hope you have marked your calendar for the upcoming events on Saturday, September 26. There are so many wonderful activities planned, and I know that I don't want to miss out. If you attend, you could even purchase raffle tickets for a chance at throwing a pie in Mrs. Strong's face! Although it's not something I would typically enjoy, it's all in the name of fun and fundraising.

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - As we continue our unit, Challenges, we will finish our close reading of Langston Hughes's poem, Mother to Son. Then we will use a variety of resources about Jackie Robinson to look at the challenges he faced when breaking the color barrier in baseball. Students will also build vocabulary, work with word parts, work on writing, and continue learning about the uses of commas.
• Science - We will begin our life science unit: Interactions Among Living Things. Chapter 5 is about energy and ecosystems. We will learn how plants produce food in the first lesson.
• Social Studies - Students are pretending to be Christopher Columbus, writing letters of request to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain for a second voyage to the New World. They are incorporating specific details learned from a variety of sources. Then we will read about Spanish conquests in North and South America.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will begin our first unit in the Digits program about expressions and equations. Students will learn how to read, write, and evaluate numerical and algebraic expressions this week. Since this is the first time students are using an online program, we will spend some time in class getting familiar with the different features of it.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 24 - Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

Sept. 26 - District Dash & TEAM66 Community Day

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14

Chromebook Reminders
Please remember that Chromebooks will come home every day to be charged for the next day. Students will be issued earbuds this week to use when needed. Our students are doing a wonderful job being responsible and respectful with their devices - let's keep up this great work!

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will launch our first reading unit theme - Challenges. Our essential questions: How are challenges conquered in literature and informational text? How do characters, real and fictional, respond to challenges (both positively and negatively)? How do challenges affect you and those around you? Students will also continue building stamina for Read to Self, and write about one of their Best Life Events. In addition, students will do some Word Work with prefixes and roots, and practice using commas in a series. 
• Science - Students should have a good understand of the Scientific Method after conducting our Pencil vs. Ziploc Bag experiment. We also did some activities in class to identify the inquiry skills used in each step of the process. There is a Scientific Method Quiz planned for Tuesday, September 15th!
• Social Studies - We will continue to learn about Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Exchange. We will compare and contrast Columbus to another famous explorer, and discuss the impact of the Columbian Exchange on both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue our work with perimeter, area, and volume of rectangular figures using whole number, fraction, and decimal measurements; and working to understand the difference between linear, square, and cubic units. An open-note Homework Review is planned for later in the week. Ask your child to explain the difference between perimeter, area, and volume, as well as the units used to measure each.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 14 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off

Sept. 24 - Early Dismissal

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7

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, information was sent home with your child on Thursday.
*All parents need to complete and return 2 items: the Information Sheet and the bottom section of the 5th Grade Policies cover sheet. Please return these items as soon as possible.

M.A.P. Testing
Our class will be taking the M.A.P. tests for Math and Reading on Wednesday and Thursday. Please encourage your child to do his/her best!

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will continue to build our reading stamina, as well as review some key reading strategies. We will work together to find the "gist", summarize, and annotate a text. Students will also plant more "seeds" for writing by generating a list.
• Science - EEEWWWW! That was the sound students made when we worked as scientists to make observations of sewer maggots. Ask your child to tell you all about them. Next week, we will identify the steps of the scientific method and use those steps to conduct a hands-on experiment.
• Social Studies - The students should know the distance between Spain and the Bahamas by Tuesday. This will help us understand the long journey made by many early explorers to the New World. We will also work to understand the Columbian Exchange and how that led to European settlements.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue our work with perimeter, area, and volume of rectangular figures using whole number, fraction, and decimal measurements; and working to understand the difference between linear, square, and cubic units.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 7 - No School (Labor Day)

Sept. 8 - Chromebook Distribution

Sept. 9-10 - M.A.P. Testing

WEEK OF AUGUST 31

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!

PBIS Kick-Off
Ask your child about the entertaining videos created by last year's Ambassador Club to teach us the hallway and bathroom expectations for our school. Also, ask your child about the important lessons taught by Matt Wilhelm during our bike assembly on Friday. Did they tell you that they volunteered me for one of the stunts? Don't worry,... I survived and was able to finish up the day with them!

5th Grade Curriculum Night

Don't forget that 5th Grade Curriculum Night is Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. The other fifth grade teachers and I look forward to the opportunity to share some important information about the curriculum, 1-to-1 technology, and classroom expectations and routines.


Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will review how to pick an independent reading book and set our expectations for "Read to Self." We will also begin to practice these behaviors while building our reading stamina. Students will organize their writing binders so they have a place for all things writing; launches, drafts, and helpful resources. Students will also create a bio-poem to provide information about themselves as we continue to get to know each other in the classroom.
• Science - The students will be pondering the question, "What is a scientist?" and begin 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 working with perimeter, area, and volume of rectangular figures. We will be using whole number, fraction, and decimal measurements; and working to understand the difference between linear, square, and cubic units.

Mark Your Calendar:

Sept. 2 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night and Chromebook Presentation (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

Sept. 7 - No School (Labor Day)

WEEK OF JUNE 8 - LAST DAYS OF SCHOOL

Reminders:

Field Day - Students must wear gym shoes (no flip-flops or sandals) for the activities planned. Lunch/drink (hot dog or grilled cheese sandwich, chips, water, and sweet treat) will be provided, but your child may bring a sack lunch if preferred.

Mrs. Strong's Classroom Library Books - Please check the bookshelves and under the beds for any books belonging to Mrs. Strong's classroom. Several are still missing, and I want to make sure I have those great reads for future students. Thank you in advance for your help.

Memory Books - Please check out the Memory Book your child created with pictures from throughout our school year together. It will serve as a wonderful reminder of all the fun we had while accomplishing so much.




Final Thoughts...

• Thank you to my students for a terrific year! I hope all of you have a relaxing summer. I encourage you to read some great books, visit some new places, and spend some quality time with friends and family. I welcome news about your summer adventures, so please keep in touch this summer! I am just an email or letter away!


• Thank you to the parents of my students for a terrific year! I appreciated all of the support you gave to your students and me. It helped bring about their many achievements and successes in 5th grade. Best of luck to you and your students as you venture across the parking lot to Lakeview next year!

Mark Your Calendar:

June 8 - Field Day, Picnic, and Talent Show

June 9 - Last Day of School (11:00 a.m. Dismissal)

WEEK OF JUNE 1

Countdown to the End of the School Year

I know the students are excited for the school year to end and summer vacation to begin. I join them in their excitement, but I also feel a bit melancholy. I will truly miss each student and the many gifts they brought to our team.
We will be doing several activities to help us reflect on our 5th grade year, as we also look ahead to our future middle school experience. Thank you, parents, for being such a wonderful support system for your student, as well as me. Let's stay strong and finish the year doing our best!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - No lesson!
• English - Students will work with irregular past tense verbs.
• Reading -We will finish our theme, Hardships in History. Our focus as we wrap up this unit will be our essential questions: How does the time period of the hardship impact future decisions and events? How are hardships in history similar and different?

Science - We will finish the year working to better understand the difference between physical and chemical changes.

Social Studies -  The Chapter 9 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2! Now that the Americans have gained their independence, they must decide how to govern themselves. We will end the year learning about the start of the new nation.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - There will be a Unit 8 Homework Review on Tuesday, June 2! This will cover probability, ratios, proportions, and percents. The students did a wonderful job making connections between fractions and these various concepts.

Mark Your Calendar:

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

June 8 - Field Day, Picnic, and Talent Show

June 9 - Last Day of School (11:00 a.m. Dismissal)

WEEK OF MAY 25

Reminder... Let's Keep Up the Good Work

Just a few weeks left of our school year together. Let's stay strong and continue to our best!

Lakeview Book Check-Out
Each year, students in 5th grade have an opportunity to check out paperback books from the Lakeview library for the summer. Mrs. Hagensee will meet with our class on Wednesday, May 27th to share her guidelines for summer check-out, and hopefully students will leave with a small collection of great summer reads!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - Our final lesson of the school year will be Lesson 35 - the 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. *Students can print 5 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work.
• English - Students will continue working on the different tenses of verbs: present, past, and future.
• Reading -We will continue with our theme, Hardships in History. Students will read various texts to help them answer our essential questions: How does the time period of the hardship impact future decisions and events? How are hardships in history similar and different?

Science - Lesson 3 will help us understand chemical properties and changes. Students will learn some of the signs that help tell if a chemical reaction has taken place, as well as how matter is conserved during a reaction.

Social Studies - We will continue learning about the Americans winning the Revolutionary War. The Chapter 9 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - There will not be a final test over Unit 7. We will move into Unit 8 and apply our work with fractions to probability, ratios, and percents.

Mark Your Calendar:

May 25 - Memorial Day (No School)

May 27 - LV Book Check-Out for Mrs. Strong's Class

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

June 8 - Field Day, Picnic, and Talent Show

June 9 - Last Day of School (11:00 a.m. Dismissal)

WEEK OF MAY 18

Let's Keep Up the Good Work...

As we approach the end of the school year, and as the weather becomes nicer and nicer, students sometimes give less focus and attention to their school work. Please "spot check" assignment books to make sure your child is still using this valuable tool, and perhaps review some of their homework to ensure they are completing it on time to the best of their ability. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - The Lesson 34 pretest will be given on Monday. (We are skipping Lesson 33). The students will be assigned homework during the week to practice their words, and a final test will be given Friday. *Students can print 5 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work.
• English - Students will continue their unit on verbs. They will work with linking verbs before learning how to use the different verb tenses correctly. 
• Reading -We will continue with our theme, Hardships in History. Students will read various texts to help them answer our essential questions: How does the time period of the hardship impact future decisions and events? How are hardships in history similar and different?

Science - In the next lesson, students will learn about different physical characteristics and properties of matter. They will learn that matter changing from one state to another is a physical change because the substance's chemical makeup remains the same.

Social Studies - Ask your student to share some of the ideas they are choosing to include in their soldier letters. Are they pretending to be an officer working closely with George Washington, are they one of the soldiers who helped bring the cannons across the Delaware River, or are they a soldier who was in the front lines when attacking the Hessians by surprise? Once we finish our letters, students will learn how other nations like France helped the Americans win the Revolutionary War.

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue Unit 7 about multiplying and dividing fractions. Students will apply the order of operations, evaluate algebraic expressions, and solve algebraic equations, all involving fractions and mixed numbers. The Unit 7 Homework Review #2 is planned for Friday, May 22!

Mark Your Calendar:

May 20 - 5th Graders Visit to Lakeview

May 20 - 5th Grade Parent Night at Lakeview (6:30 p.m.)

May 25 - Memorial Day (No School)

WEEK OF MAY 11

April PRIDE! Winner

Congratulations to James for earning the award for Determination in April! We are so proud of you!

PARCC Testing Complete!
PARCC testing is over, and I thank the students for working hard and doing their best.

Teacher Appreciation Week - Thanks!
Thanks to all of you who contributed to the events of Teacher Appreciation Week. You made the week truly amazing!

Subject Update:

ELA (English/Language Arts)

• Spelling - The Lesson 32 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 will only be able to print 5 words "just in case" their cursive still needs work.
• English - Students will continue their unit on verbs. They will identify action verbs, direct objects, and helping verbs.
• Reading -We will continue with our theme, Hardships in History. Students will read various texts to help them answer our essential questions: How does the time period of the hardship impact future decisions and events? How are hardships in history similar and different?

Science - Ask your student who got SYMBO. This was a game similar to BINGO to help us better understand the periodic table of elements. Next week, we will focus on the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Social Studies - Students will work in stations to review the key concepts from Lesson 2. Then they will pretend to be a soldier under George Washington's command and compose a letter home to family. This is a great way for students to mix their knowledge with some creativity!

Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will continue Unit 7 about multiplying and dividing fractions. An open-note homework review "quiz" is planned for Thursday, May 14!

Mark Your Calendar:

May 14 - 5th Grade "Sneak Peak" of the LV Musical

May 15 - Spirit Day - Favorite Vacation Destination

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

May 20 - 5th Graders Visit to Lakeview

May 20 - 5th Grade Parent Night at Lakeview (6:30 p.m.)

May 25 - Memorial Day (No School)