Sulima's Scoop - Week of April 6th

I hope you all have a relaxing spring break...you deserve it!

Weekly Reminders:

*Return to school on Monday, April 6.

*No school on Tuesday, April 7 due to Teachers' Institute.

*Short Jr. Achievement session on Wednesday.

*Lesson 26 review spelling test on Thursday.

*No School on Friday.

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Plan Ahead:

*Inventions due on Tuesday, April 14. We will write the description in class.

*Spring Open House on Thursday, April 16. I hope everyone can attend.

*Movie Night on Friday, April 17.

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Family Book Club Night:

Are you looking for a good book to read? Is your child looking for a way to stay busy over Spring Break? Join us for Family Book Club Night on Wednesday, April 29th @ 6:30 p.m. Simply go to the Center Cass 66 District website, click on "Prairieview", and read more about this great school event! You can then print a registration form and send it in. Please note that registration has been extended.

If you have any questions, contact Lynda Slinger at lslinger@ccsd66.org or myself at jcerney@ccsd66.org. Hope to see you there!

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Classroom Happenings:

Science: We will begin our new unit on physical science.

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Social Studies: We will begin our study of the southeast region. The children will take a test on the northeast, southeast, midwest, and southwest regions on Monday, April 20. This is a total of 39 states.

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Accelerated Math: We will continue our study of fractions. The children will work on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators. This should be a review from last year.

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Spelling: We have reached another review unit. There will not be a pretest this week. Please remember that on review weeks the children should focus on the rules covered in each lesson, not only the words on the practice sheet. We will take the test where the children need to find which word is misspelled.

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English: The children will be finishing their Flat Stories and Just Look books this week. We will also begin a persuasive essay. Our class will be having a candy bar election at the spring open house. You will be able to read our persuasive essays to help you make an informed vote.

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Reading: We will continue reading Harriet the Spy.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of March 23

Weekly Reminders:
*Lesson 25 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Invention Contracts/Diagrams due on Monday.
*Project Challenge after school on Tuesday.
*Chapter 3 science test on Wednesday.
*Lesson 25 spelling test on Thursday.
*Chapter 9 Math test on Thursday.
*All-school field trip to Tivoli on Friday.

Spring picture packets went home on Friday. Picture packets and/or money are due back by Thursday. Please return them as soon as possible. Thanks!

Plan Ahead:
*Spring Break week of March 30-April 3.
*Return to school on Monday, April 6.
*Teacher Institute (no school) on Tuesday, April 7.
*No school on Friday, April 10.

Classroom Happenings:
Science - We will review for the chapter 3 test on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the children will take the chapter 3 test. This is not an open book/notes test.
Review the following concepts:
-adaptations (look over all the different types)
-hibernation
-basic needs
-learned behavior
-natural selection
-fossil
-instinct
-migration
-extinction
-What happens when an ecosystem changes?
-How do adult animals care for their young?
-Review pg. 136 on growth and decaying.
-Animals and plants then and now.

Social Studies - We will finish our study of the midwest this week. When we return from spring break, we will begin our study of the Southwest region. There are only 4 states in the Southwest. Our map test for this region will be on the 35 states we have already been tested on plus the 4 southwest states making a total of 39 states.

Accelerated Math - This week we will work on making equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, and comparing and ordering fractions by finding the least common denominator. The children seem to have a good understanding of these concepts already, so we will just do a quick review. We will review in class on Wednesday. Our chapter 9 test will be on Thursday. We will begin chapter 10 when we return from spring break. This chapter will cover adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.

Spelling - We will be working on lesson 25 this week. Due to the all-school field trip on Friday, we will take our spelling test on Thursday.

English - We will be working on our expository writing this week. The children have all brought in a picture of a person, place, animal, or other item that they will be researching this week. We will be using these facts to make a "Just Look" book. These wonderful books will be displayed during the spring open house.

Reading - We will continue reading Harriet the Spy. The children will read chapter 6 on Monday. They will also receive a take-home quiz on Monday. This quiz will review chapters 4-6 and will be due on Wednesday.

Sulima's Scoop - Week of March 16

Weekly Reminders:

*Mrs. Sulima will be out Monday and Tuesday. Ms. Cronin will be the guest teacher for both days.

*Lesson 24 spelling pretest on Monday.

*Project Challenge after school on Tuesday.

*Invention Convention Introduction on Wednesday.

*Lesson 2 & 3 science quiz is being moved to Friday.

*Lesson 24 spelling test on Friday.

Plan Ahead:

*Invention Contracts Due on Monday.

*Project Challenge on Tuesday, March 24.

Classroom Happenings:

Science - We will be working on lesson 3 this week. The children will take a quiz on lesson 2 and 3 on Friday. The quiz will be open book & notes.

Social Studies - We will head back to the computer lab to continue working on our persuasive travel brochures. I am hoping that the children will be able to finish these this week. We will be displaying these brochures during the spring open house.

Accelerated Math - On Monday, the children will review common factors, greatest common factors, common multiples, and least common multiples. On Tuesday, they will relate decimals to fractions and compare fractions to one and one-half. On Wednesday, we will review improper fractions and mixed numbers. The children will review all these concepts on Thursday and take a checkpoint review on Friday.

Spelling - This week's spelling words are nouns that end in s, x, ch, and sh. To make these nouns plural we add es. Some of the words this week already end in e, so just add s.

English - The students will be starting an expository writing project called "Just Look." They can choose any animal, person, landform, structure, etc. Please help your child find a color picture of their choice. These pictures can be found in magazines, past issues of TFK, the Internet, etc. The picture needs to fill most of a 9" X 12" piece of construction paper. Please have your child bring in their picture by Thursday.

Reading - We will continue reading Harriet the Spy. The children will take a vocabulary/comprehension quiz on Monday. This quiz will cover chapters 1-3 and 2 vocabulary words from each group.

Sulima & Pluta Planner - Week of March 9

Weekly Reminders:
*This is Ms. Pluta's last week with us.
*Third Trimester has begun.
*Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
*Finish ISAT testing on Monday - Science Session II.
*No spelling unit this week.
*Report Cards come home on Tuesday. Please sign and return the envelope.
*Pins for PTO Reservations due on Tuesday. http://www.ccsd66.org/PTO/Pins.pdf
*Early Dismissal on Thursday - 11:00.
*District Eat Out - Buona Benefit Night http://www.ccsd66.org/PTO/MarchFR.pdf
*No school on Friday.
*Pins for PTO on Sunday, March 15.

Plan Ahead:
*Mrs. Sulima will be out on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17. Mrs. Krezel will be here for her.
*Project Challenge on Tuesday, March 17.
*Lakeview Library Visit on Thursday, March 19. Parent Volunteers should arrive around 12:55 and wait for us in the front hallway.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
We would like to thank all the families who brought in snacks and drinks during ISAT week. They were such a nice treat to have after testing.

Classroom Happenings:
Science - The children will work with Mrs. Sulima on lesson 2. This lesson will review how the behaviors of animals help them meet their needs. The children will not have a quiz on this lesson. During the week of March 16, the children will have a quiz covering lessons 2 and 3. This quiz will be open book.

Social Studies - The children will continue to work on their state travel brochures.

Accelerated Math - We will begin chapter 9 which focuses on fractions. The children will review prime numbers, composite numbers, and prime factorization with Mrs. Sulima. Ms. Pluta will be doing a fun activity with the children on Wednesday. We will not have math on Thursday due to the early dismissal.

Spelling - No spelling lesson this week due to early dismissal on Thursday and no school on Friday. Enjoy the week off!

English - The children will type their Flat Stanley stories this week. They should come to school on Monday with their rough draft finished and edited.

Reading - We will begin a wonderful novel called Harriet the Spy. The children will be focusing on many new vocabulary words throughout this novel. They will be having their first vocabulary quiz (section 1 only) on Monday, March 16.