Sulima's Scoop - Week of June 2

WEEKLY REMINDERS:
*Bowling on Tuesday afternoon.
*Picnic on Wednesday.
*Report Cards on Thursday. Dismissal at 9:30.

A BIG THANK YOU!!!
We would like to thank Mrs. Arlt, Mrs. Ferreri, Mrs. Fortin, Mrs.Koutny, Mrs. Mommsen, Mrs. Pinto, & Mrs. Spear for joining us on our trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. We all had a great time gathering evidence in the crime lab.

A PEEK AT OUR LAST WEEK:
"Movie Theater Monday"- Grab some popcorn...For part of the afternoon, our classroom will become a movie theater as we sit back and enjoy a film. We will also study Alaska and the Iditarod in the morning. Bring a baby picture on Monday in an envelope for a "Guess Who" activity. The photos will be returned.

Websites on the Iditarod-
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/Iditarod/
http://www.iditarod.com/

"Ten Pin Tuesday" - The fourth grade will go bowling in the afternoon. They may bring in money for snacks. We will be finishing our forensic science unit in the morning. Our study of the west will also come to an end.

"Wacky Wednesday" - Children may bring in a board game to play with their classmates. Lunch and picnic activities will be provided by the P.T.O. Each child will receive a hot dog, chips, water, and an ice cream treat. If your child does not want a hot dog or needs more than one hot dog, please have them bring a sandwich or alternate lunch. They can still have the chips, water, and ice cream treat even if they choose not to have the hot dog. We will also see the "flying dogs" in the afternoon.

"That's All Folks Thursday" - Bring in your favorite pen and memory book for a fourth grade autograph session. Yearbooks will be passed out on this day. Report cards will also be passed out.

YEARBOOKS: will be handed out to students on June 5^th. Any students who did not purchase a yearbook may do so on a first-come-first-serve basis on June 5^th; they will go on sale after morning announcements. The cost will be $10.00 and children wishing to purchase should have exact amount. Checks can be made out to Prairieview. There is a limited supply. Prairieview yearbook orders were not paid for at registration. A flyer was sent out in November and orders were due by Monday, December 3, 2007.

HELP!!!
A few students brought cameras home earlier this school year to be developed, and they have not been returned. If these pictures are not returned some students will not have pictures to help them remember our fantastic year in fourth grade. Thank you for your help in searching for these cameras or developed pictures!

Great Expectations

It's time to say good-bye
Our year has come to an end.
I've made more cherished memories
and many more new friends.

I've watched your child learn and grow
and change from day to day.
I hope that all the things we've done
Have helped in some small way.

So it's with happy memories
I send them out the door,
With great hope and expectations
for what next year holds in store.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of May 26

HELP!!!
A few students brought cameras home earlier this school year to be developed, and they have not been returned. If these pictures are not returned some students will not have pictures to help them remember our fantastic trip to the Arboretum or our festive Halloween party. Thank you for your help in searching for these cameras or developed pictures!

Weekly Reminders:
-No school on Monday due to Memorial Day.
-Second Book Club (rest of book) will be on Tuesday.
-50 state test on Tuesday. Two points per state...100 point test. The children can also earn up to 5 bonus points (every 10 correct capitals = 1 bonus point).
-All library books due no later than Tuesday, May 27!
-Book Club packets due on Wednesday.
-Museum Field Trip on Thursday.

Looking Ahead:
-"Movie Theater Monday" on Monday, June 2.
-"Ten Pin Tuesday" *Bowling on Tuesday, June 3 (12:00-2:00).
-"Wacky Wednesday" *Bring a board game to school.
-School picnic on Wednesday, June 4.
-"That's All Folks" Friday, June 5th *Bring a pen for our fourth grade autograph session. Dismissal is at 9:30.








RtI News:

Center Cass School District #66 is in the process of implementing an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) mandate, Response to Intervention (RTI). RTI is an array of procedures that can be used to determine if and how students respond to specific changes in instruction. RTI provides an improved process and structure for school teams in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational interventions.

Please look for the additional information on RTI, which will be included with your child’s end of the year Report Card.

Classroom Happenings:
Monday - No school.

Tuesday - "Tropical Tuesday" The children may wear Hawaiian apparel. We will be learning a bit about this island state. We are following a Monday schedule on Tuesday, therefore the children will have music.

Wednesday - "Yellowstone Wildlife Wednesday" The children may wear an animal shirt or camping clothes. We will explore Yellowstone and other natural areas in the Western region. We will have art today - it may possibly be our last art class.

Thursday - "Mystery at the Museum Thursday" We will visit the "crime lab" at the Museum of Science and Industry. Mrs. Koutny, Mrs. Pinto, Mrs. Arlt, Mrs. Spear, Mrs. Fortin, Mrs. Ferreri, and Mrs. Mommsen have volunteered to join us on this exciting trip. They need to arrive at 8:55. Students and parent volunteers need to bring a sack lunch/drink OR $8-$10 to purchase lunch at the museum.

Friday - "Fun in the Sun Friday" The children may dress like a Californian. Beach wear includes: t-shirts, shorts, sunglasses, and sandals. Don't forget to bring gym shoes for P.E. class.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of May 19

Weekly Reminders:
*Lesson 34 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Book Club Meeting on Monday.
*Robert Crown Field Trip on Monday. Students need to bring a sack lunch and drink.
*Last Day of Math on Friday.
*On Friday wear red, white, and blue.
*Lesson 34 spelling test on Friday. (LAST SPELLING TEST!)
*Cadet Band & Choir Concert on Friday around 1:15.

A Look Ahead:
*No school on Monday, May 26 - Memorial Day.
*50 State test on Tuesday, May 27.
*Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip on Thursday, May 29. Students can bring a sack lunch or money to buy lunch at the museum.
*On Friday, May 30 wear your favorite (appropriate) t-shirt.

Classroom Happenings:

GRADES: Please note...I will be taking grades through Thursday, May 29.

English - We took our last English test last week. During English, we will be working on our Fourth Grade Memory Books.

Reading - We will finish our mystery unit. The children have done a wonderful job working as detectives to solve mysteries. This week each student will solve one mystery independently for a grade. We will also find out which detective agency earned the most "Sherlocks" throughout this unit.

Science - Our Earth Science unit has come to an end. This week we will begin our final science unit - Mystery at the Museum. This is a forensic science unit. Part of this unit includes our field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry where we will visit the "Crime Lab." This is a great unit that should keep the children focused for the remainder of the school year.

Social Studies - We will finish our study of the Southwest this week. Mrs. Vaisnoras, a former fourth grade teacher, will be visiting our class on Tuesday afternoon to share her Grand Canyon hike. The children should continue studying for the 50 state test. They will need to know the location and spelling of all 50 states. They will be given a word bank of capitals. For every 10 capitals correct, they can earn one bonus point.

Math - We will use our last three days to review many concepts that we covered this school year. Friday will be our last day of math. Over the summer, please have your child continue to memorize their multiplication facts. They will be expected to know them by memory!

Website of the Week:
FBI Kids - http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm
DNA Fingerprinting - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.html

Sulima's Scoop - Week of May 12

Thank You!!!

I would like to thank the PTO and many parent volunteers that helped make teacher appreciation week a huge success. The lunches, breakfasts, snacks and gifts made me feel very special - although I feel special everyday to work in Center Cass School District.  The parents and students in this district make each day a pleasure.  THANK YOU!!! 

Weekly Reminders:

*Lesson 33 spelling pretest on Monday.

*Chapter 10 Social Studies open book/notes quiz on Monday.

*Robert Crown Parent Meeting on Monday.

*Project Challenge on Tuesday.

*Unit 7 English test on Wednesday.  Enrichment projects will be due the day of the test.

*Beginning Band Concert on Thursday, 7:00, at Lakeview.

*Lesson 33 spelling test on Friday.

*Earth Science (Rocks and Minerals) test on Friday.

*Lakeview Character Counts Club will visit on Friday.

A Look Ahead:

*Robert Crown Field Trip on Monday, May 19.  The children will need to bring a sack lunch and drink.  We will arrive back to school after our lunch period.

*No school on Monday, May 26 due to Memorial Day.

*Museum of Science and Industry Field Trip on Thursday, May 29.

*Bowling trip on Tuesday, June 3, from 12:00-2:00.

*Last Day of School on Thursday, June 5.

Classroom Happenings:

English - The children will be taking the Unit 7 (adverbs and preposition) test on Wednesday.  This will be the last English test for the school year.  All English enrichment projects will be due on Wednesday.  For the rest of the school year, we will work on writing during English time.

Reading - We will continue our mystery unit.  The detective agencies have been working hard to solve crimes and earn "Sherlocks."  

The children will be assigned a book club reading book early in the week.  This will be our last book club for the school year.

Science - This week we will cover metamorphic rocks and the rock cycle.  These concepts will complete our Rocks and Minerals unit.  I am hoping to give the Earth Science test on Friday.  Our next unit will be on Forensic Science.

Social Studies - On Monday, the children will take an open book/notes quiz on chapter 10.  We will then continue our study of the southwest by exploring the history and people of this region.

Our 50 state test is quickly approaching.  It will be on Wednesday, May 28.  The children will need to know the location and spelling of all 50 states.  They will be given a word bank of capitals.  For every 10 capitals correct, they will receive a bonus point added on their test.  Children should start studying now, if they haven't already!

Math - We will continue our unit on "long division."  Our focus will be on dividing with 2-digit and 3-digit numbers, estimating quotients, and zeros in the quotient.  We will finish this unit next week.  Our last day of math will be on Friday, May 23.

Website of the Week - 

Review for the adverb/preposition test by visiting these sites...

http://www.ezschool.com/Games/Adverbs.html

http://www.grainvalley.k12.mo.us/gvsd/eagle_resources/adverbs.html

http://www.quia.com/ba/8086.html

http://www.quia.com/rr/83800.html

Sulima's Scoop - Week of May 5

Weekly Reminders:
*Lesson 32 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Lesson 32 spelling test on Friday.

Thank You:
We would like to thank Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Kryk for joining us on our field trip to the Lizzadro Museum.

Summer School: Please visit our district homepage or click on the link below to view the enrichment summer school classes that are being offered this summer. I will be teaching 2 classes this summer - Crafty Computers and Art & Literature. Please read the descripton of these 2 classes plus the other many exciting classes being offered.
http://www.ccsd66.org/PDF/SummerSchool2008.pdf

Classroom Happenings:
English - We will continue our unit on Adverbs and Prepositions. This is a short unit. Our lessons this week will include using good and well, negatives, and prepositional phrases. Our test on Unit 7 will be on Wednesday, May 14.

Reading - Our mystery unit will continue. The children are now in detective agencies. Throughout our unit, we will be reading, listening to, and watching mysteries. As agencies we will fill out detective notes. These notes include setting, mystery (problem), suspects, clues, and solution. Ask your children about the mystery we watch last week. It was a Sherlock Holmes classic.

Science - We will continue our studying of sedimentary rocks by focusing on weathering and erosion. At the end of the week, we will begin exploring metamorphic rocks.

Social Studies - Welcome to the Southwest. This is a small region but an important one. Our trip will begin in the Grand Canyon. We will discover how the Grand Canyon was formed and its importance to the Southwest region.

Math - We have now finished our unit on multiplying by a 2-digit number. This week we will move on to a study of dividing by a 1-digit number.

Website of the Week -
Find out more about the Grand Canyon at...
http://www.nps.gov/grca/