Week of 3/2/09-3/6/09

Thank goodness February is over! It's a short month; why does it feel so long? Spring is on the horizon... After our Pulaski Day holiday, we will begin our ISAT testing on Tuesday. Please make sure your child gets the sleep he or she needs to be alert and ready to go! Also, I will be providing some healthy snacks, but please provide a healthy breakfast each morning. It's very important that the children are well-rested and not hungry during testing week. If anyone wants to send in pre-packaged, healthy snacks, please do so!! We will all appreciate it.

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:

Spelling: No spelling lesson due to ISAT's.

Reading: Our Voices of the Revolution unit is complete. We had some fun tying in social studies with reading.

Language Arts: After much practice with extended responses and expositories, I feel the students are ready for the writing portion of the ISAT's.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:

Chapter 18: We will not start a lesson this week due to ISAT testing.

Mrs. Klacza's Homeroom:

Social Studies: This week we will begin Lesson 3 of Chapter 9 titled “The World Turned Upside Down.” We will take notes on the lesson with circle books. The students have made these in the past and they will be graded! I am tentatively planning the test for 3/10.

Science: Our plan this week includes a visit to the “white board” in the IMC for some virtual owl pellet dissection. We will then return to the classroom and actually do it!

Important Notes:

3/2 Pulaski Day – day off
Week of 3/3-3/6 ISAT testing
Week of 3/9 – Conferences
3/12 – Early dismissal (11:00)
3/13 – Conferences/Day off
3/25 Geospace for Klacza

Have a great weekend! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 2/23/09 - 2/27/09

I have now heard from all my homeroom and math students about whether or not a conference is needed. Please look out for a confirmation notice which will need to be ok'd, signed, and sent back ASAP. Of course, I have not sent anything home with those students who do not require a conference. Thank you!

If anyone would like to send in individually wrapped, healthy snacks for ISAT testing week, I would really appreciate it. I have already purchased some items I found on sale (nutri-grain bars and fruit snacks) but could always use more. This particularly pertains to my reading and math classes since those are the students that will be taking their tests with me :)

Please read the important message below from the office:
Thursday, February 26, 2009, is Spring Picture Day - All students will be photographed. Please notify your student's teacher if you do not want an individual portrait taken of your child. Look Before You Buy: Send no money now - View your portraits before you buy. Your finished portrait package will be sent home for review. Simply return any un-used portrait sheets with your payment.

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:

Spelling: Lesson 22: prefix com- words. Test on Friday.

Reading: This week we will wrap up our “Voices of the Revolution" unit in our reading text. We will read and discuss Katie's Trunk, a story from the perspective of a Loyalist family. Connections will be made: what Katie would put in her trunk back in the 1700's and what we would put into our trunks in this era.

Language Arts: The students will continue to practice writing extended responses for ISAT tests, which will occur the week of 3/2. We will also practice ISAT textual reading and answer questions regarding those pieces.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:

Chapter 18: The Chapter 18 test on Geometry will take place on Wednesday. We will review on Tuesday. ISAT practice will follow!

Mrs. Klacza's Homeroom:

Social Studies: This week we will begin Lesson 2 of Chapter 9 titled “Patriots at War.” Students will be writing letters this week as though they were General Washington. They will be using their very own quill pens!

Science: My favorite part of the 5th grade science curriculum is about to start – owl pellets!! This week we will learn about them; the following week we take them apart and find out what's inside...

Important Notes:
3/2 Pulaski Day – day off
Week of 3/3-3/6 ISAT testing
Week of 3/9 – Conferences
3/25 Geospace for Klacza

Have a great weekend! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 2/16/09 - 2/20/09

I'd like to thank the parents that put together and ran the fabulous Valentine's Day party we had. Thank you to those who brought in the snacks and drinks, also. A great time was had by all!! Don't forget Presidents' Day is Monday; it's a day off, so celebrate!

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:

Spelling: Lesson 21: -ei words. Test on Friday.

Reading: This week we will continue our “Voices of the Revolution" unit in our reading text. After finishing up And then What Happened, Paul Revere? the students will complete a worksheet and write an extended response. We will also continue getting ready for ISAT exams.

Language Arts: The students will peer edit and conference with me to perfect their expository essays.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:

Chapter 18: Geometry and Algebra has begun. The students should plan on having an open book/open note quiz on Tuesday. The quiz will cover Lessons 1 through 3. We have also been preparing for ISAT exams.

Mrs. Klacza's Homeroom:

Social Studies: I gave the students an extension on the Patriot/Loyalist books. They are now due on Tuesday. We will begin Chapter 9, Lesson 1: "Declaring Independence". Let the fireworks begin!

Science: The students will take a Lesson 3 open book quiz on Tuesday. After reviewing on Wednesday and Thursday, the Chapter 6 test will be on Friday. Also, I'd like to remind the students and parents that the TGFD homework is part of the science grade. Please make sure your child takes it seriously. Everything we learn from Deputy K is very important. Today we learned about the dangers of smoking and how it negatively affects our health. Thank you for realizing the importance of this program.

Important Notes:
2/16 Presidents' Day – day off
2/20 Last day to hand in Great America reading incentive sheet
3/2 Pulaski Day – day off

Have a great weekend! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 2/9/09 - 2/13/09

I see the snow melting outside my window on this warm Friday and I am happy. The children were finally able to go outside for recess. Hooray!
Wednesday we went to Naper Settlement for our field trip, “Tools for Schools.” It was cold but a lot of fun and very educational. Ask your child about the schoolhouse!! What a different time that was... Thank you to the wonderful moms who came along to chaperone. Also, Friday, 2/13, we will celebrate Valentine's Day with a party in our homeroom. Please remember to send enough valentines for all the students in the class (23.) Class lists went home today. Our party will begin at about 1:20.

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:

Spelling: Lesson 20: -ary words. Test on Friday.

Reading: We are now finished reading Toliver's Secret and will end the unit with a story map that the students will complete. We will begin our next reading skill, connecting, and read the story And then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz. I love the way our textbook stories are “connecting” with our social studies unit.

Language Arts: This week we will focus on expository writing. My sister is the manager of Citizen's Bank in Darien and they are having an essay contest so... I am not only going to take a grade on their final products, but also submit them to the contest! We will see how we do. Look for the letters regarding this contest next week.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:

We have finished Chapter 12 and will begin Chapter 18: Geometry and Algebra. A geometry book will be created to help with the terminology. We will also be intermittently preparing for ISAT's.

Mrs. Klacza's Homeroom:

Social Studies: Our Patriot/Loyalist books are now due on Friday, February 13. If they are done ahead of time, they may be handed in. Our Chapter 8 test is Tuesday.

Science: We will finish Lesson 2 on succession and have an open book quiz on Thursday.

Important Notes:
2/13 Valentine's Day parties
2/16 Presidents' Day – day off
3/2 Pulaski Day – day off

Have a great weekend! Mrs. Klacza