Behind the Scenes - Week of April 2

Weekly Spotlight:
*No school on Monday.
*No spelling lesson this week.
*High Touch, High Tech Edison's Workshop on Tuesday.
*The Indian in the Cupboard, chapter 7 & 8 review on Thursday.
*TFK quiz on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*Jump for Heart Assembly on Friday, April 5.
*OLSAT testing on Thursday, April 11, at 10:00.
*Teacher Institute on Tuesday, April 9.
*Inventions due to school on Tuesday, April 16.
*39 State Test on Tuesday, April 16.
*Spring Open House on Thursday, April 18, from 6:30-8:00.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will begin our Electricity unit this week.  On Tuesday, we will kick off the unit with our in-school presentation from High Touch, High Tech called Edison's Workshop.  Our focus for the week will be on simple circuits - how to light a bulb with a battery, wire, and light bulb.

Social Studies - Our study of the Southwest will continue by exploring the climate of the region.  We will learn about the desert habitat that can be found in the Southwest.  The children should review their vocabulary each evening.

English - We are going to take a break from our English book to focus on expository writing.  The children will be writing a Hero Expository.  They will need to choose someone in their life that they consider a hero.

Spelling - We will take the week off from spelling.  Enjoy!!

Reading - The children will finish their research on their American Hero.  Then they will begin their brochures.  Some children have already started their brochures.  I am hoping we will have these completed to display during Spring Open house.  Also, the children will continue to read The Indian in the Cupboard.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - No school.
Tuesday - Estimating Sums and Differences of Mixed Numbers.  HW:  WB pg. 60 & Chapter 4 & 5 Test on Thursday.
Wednesday - Review all chapter 4 & 5 concepts.  HW:  Chapter 4 & 5 Test tomorrow.
Thursday - Chapter 4 & 5 Test.  Pretest on next chapter.  HW:  None.
Friday - Begin next chapter.  HW:  TBD.

Behind the Scenes - Week of March 18

Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Roller Skating Party on Monday, 3:45-6:30.
*Early dismissal on Tuesday, 11:00.
*Simple Machines Science test on Thursday.
*Invention Convention Contract due on Thursday.
*Catapult due on Thursday.
*English Test - Adjectives - on Friday.
*Spelling test on Friday.
*Last day on 3rd quarter on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*Return from Spring Break on Tuesday, April 2.
*Edison's Workshop on Tuesday, April 2.
*Jump for Heart Assembly on Friday, April 5.
OLSAT testing on Thursday, April 11, at 10:00.
*Teacher Institute on Tuesday, April 9.
*Inventions due to school on Tuesday, April 16.
*Spring Open House on Thursday, April 18, from 6:30-8:00.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - The children will present their simple machine slide shows to the class on Monday.  Also, we will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Monday for our chapter 17 test on Thursday.
To prepare for the science test:
*Define work, simple machine, lever, and fulcrum
*How does a lever change the way work is done?
*Know the 3 classes of levers and examples of each.
*Define pulley and Wheel-and-axle
*How does a pulley change the way work is done?
*How does a wheel-and-axle change the way work is done?
*Define inclined plane, screw, and wedge
*How does an inclined plane change the way work in done?
*How does a screw change the way work is done?
*How does a wedge change the way work is done?

In addition to finishing Chapter 17 in the text, we will begin working on our “Invention Convention” project. The students will be asked to identify a problem in their lives and come up with an invention that helps solve this problem. Think simply. This does not have to be a complex invention. An informational letter, project timeline/calendar, rubric, and contract will be handed out in science class on Monday, March 18^th. All students will be expected to complete this assignment. The contract, or plan, for the invention is due in class on Thursday, March 21^nd. I will then meet with each student to make sure they are on the right track. Once I confirm they are on the right track, students are free to begin constructing their invention. Inventions aren't due until after spring break, but the construction of the invention will need to be done at home.

Social Studies - We will begin our study of the Southwest this week.  The children will explore the Grand Canyon.  Also, we will discuss our next mapping test which will be on Tuesday, April 16.  This test will cover the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest.  This is the 39 state test.  Children will need to correctly locate and identify all 39 states.  Spelling will count.  If they would like to earn bonus points, each capital city will be worth 1/10 a point.  The children will not have to identify any bodies of water on this test. Start studying now!  I will send home a practice sheet on Tuesday.

English - We will finish our lessons this week by learning about using a, an, and the; making comparisons with -er and -est; making comparisons with more and most; and finally comparing with good and bad.  The children will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Wednesday.  Our test will be on Friday.  All enrichment projects will be due Friday. 

Spelling - Our pretest will be on Monday and our test will be on Friday.  Tests will need to be done in cursive.

Reading - The children will continue our "American Heroes" research project.  They are using their research to create a brochure about their famous American hero.  Also, the children will continue reading The Indian in the Cupboard.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Adding Mixed Numbers.  HW:  WB 53 due Wednesday.
Tuesday - No math due to early dismissal day.
Wednesday - Renaming Mixed Number Sums.  HW:  WB 54.
Thursday - Subtracting Mixed Numbers.  HW:  WB 57.
Friday - Math Celebration for 100's chart square.  HW:  Enjoy Spring Break!!!

Behind the Scenes - Week of March 11

Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Science ISAT Part I on Monday at 10:00.
*Science ISAT Part II on Tuesday at 10:00.
*Chapter 1 & 2 Indian and the Cupboard Review on Friday.
*TFK Quiz on Friday.
*Spelling test on Friday (in cursive).

PBIS Collection:

The Prairieview PBIS team is extending a wonderful opportunity to begin the new year with a community service project.  We will be holding a Food Pantry Drive at school for the West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge from March 11-15.  Boxes will be provided in each classroom to collect the non-perishable food items.  Girl Scout Troop 50251, comprised of third and fourth grade students from Prairieview, has graciously volunteered to pack up and deliver the donated food on March 16th.  Thank you in advance for your generosity of spirit and deed!

Coming Attractions:
*Early Dismissal on Tuesday, March 19
*Launching Day - Catapults due on Thursday, March 21.
*End of third quarter on Friday, March 22.
*Jump for Heart Assembly on Friday, April 5.
*OLSAT testing on Thursday, April 11, at 10:00.
*Teacher Institute on Tuesday, April 9.
*Spring Open House on Thursday, April 18 from 6:30-8:00.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - The children will be practicing their simple machine presentations on Tuesday and presenting on Thursday. On Thursday, the children will also receive the "Marshmallow Mania" catapult project. This will be due on Thursday, March 21 - Launching Day!!

Social Studies - Most children are done with their "Just Look" state research projects. These will be displayed at our spring open house on Thursday, April 18. On Friday, we will continue our trip across the United States by visiting the Southwest Region. A map will be assigned on Friday and due on Tuesday. Next week, we will visit the Grand Canyon. If anyone has visited the Grand Canyon and has pictures, please bring them in during the week of March 18.

English - On Wednesday, we will begin our unit on Adjectives. This is a quick unit of only 6 lessons. Our test on Adjectives will be on Friday, March 22. Many students received a 90% or higher on the pretest. If they did, they have the choice of keeping their pretest score or retaking for a higher score.

Spelling - Our spelling pretest will be on Monday. If your child misses one or none, they will receive a challenge spelling list and activities for the week. Both the regular and challenge tests will be on Friday in cursive.

Reading - Our theme in reading is Heroes! The children will begin an American Hero research project this week. We will be displaying our research in a computer-generated brochure. Also, the children will begin reading another one of my favorite novels - The Indian and the Cupboard. On Wednesday, they will received the novel and an assignment to read chapters 1 & 2 for Friday. On Friday, they will take a comprehension review on chapters 1 & 2. They may look in the novel during the review.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Review prime, composite, prime factorization, equivalent fractions, fraction sense, lowest terms (simplest form) for quiz tomorrow. Begin LCM (least common multiple) and LCD (least common denominator). HW: Review for Chapter 4, lesson 1-4 quiz tomorrow.
Tuesday - Chapter 4, lesson 1-4 quiz and finish LCM and LCD. HW: WB 46.
Wednesday - Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions. HW: WB pg. 47.
Thursday - Comparing and Ordering Fractions using LCD. HW: WB 48 & review for Chapter 4, lesson 5-8 quiz tomorrow.
Friday - Chapter 4, lesson 5-8 quiz and pretest on chapter 5. HW: None.

Behind the Scenes - Week of March 4

Weekly Spotlight:
*No spelling unit this week due to ISAT testing.
*ISAT Reading Part I on Tuesday at 10:00.
*ISAT Math Part I on Tuesday at 12:30.
*ISAT Reading Part II on Wednesday at 10:00.
*ISAT Math Part II on Wednesday at 12:30.
*ISAT Reading Part III on Thursday at 10:00.
*ISAT Math Part III on Thursday at 12:30.
*Make-up ISAT testing on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*ISAT Science Part I on Monday, March 11 at 10:00.
*ISAT Science Part II on Tuesday, March 12 at 10:00.
*Early Dismissal on Tuesday, March 19.
*End of 3rd Quarter on Friday, March 22.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - The students will work together in their Simple Machine groups to prepare for their presentations that will be next week.

Social Studies - We will continue working on our "Just Look" state research books.  The children are doing a wonderful job writing correct paragraphs with a topic sentence and detail sentences.

Spelling - We will take this week off from spelling due to ISAT testing.

English - The children will take their next unit pretest this week.  They will also choose their enrichment options this week.

Reading - We will continue to work on reading information text.  The children will practice envisioning and identify text structure.  Also, we will identify the main idea of sections of text.  We will use most of our reading time this week for ISAT testing.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Review Fourth Grade Math Concepts (Median, Mode, Range, Probability, and measurement)
Tuesday - ISAT Testing in math class.
Wednesday - ISAT Testing in math class.
Thursday - ISAT Testing in math class.
Friday - Fractions (Simplest form, Least Common Multiple, and Least Common Denominator)  HW:  WB pgs. 44 (odds 1-49) & 46 (odds 1-47)