Week of 4/4/11 - 4/8/11

We had a wonderful time at Naper Settlement. I'd like to thank Sophia's mom, Matthew's mom, and Julianna's aunt for chaperoning in the cold! Did you ask your child about it? Geospace will be our next field trip, here at school.

Have a terrific spring break. Let's hope the weather cooperates!

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:
This week we will start the novel Toliver's Secret and use some important reading skills as we read, particularly drawing conclusions, inferring, identifying author's viewpoint, and cause and effect. Toliver's Secret is a terrific, action-packed, historical fiction novel set during the Revolutionary War.

Spelling: We will not have a spelling lesson this week due to Geospace. We've had to shift our schedules around a bit to accommodate all of our classes.

English: We will be returning to our textbooks this week as we start the pronoun chapter, unit 6.

Social Studies: We continue chapter 10 by creating an “Important Book” on lesson 3 (“Ratifying the Constitution.”) We will do quite a bit of reviewing before our test on Friday.

Science: We will start the study of weather (chapter 11) later this week.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:
This week we will continue fractions, chapter 12. Mixed numbers will be explored a little more thoroughly before our quiz on lessons 1-4, tentatively set for Wednesday. The quiz will cover equivalent fractions, simplest form, mixed numbers, and improper fractions.

Important Dates:
March 25 – Spring break begins at the end of the day
April 4 – Back to school
April 5 – Teachers' Institute (no school)
April 7 – Geospace from 12:00-2:00 (Klacza's class)

Have a wonderful week! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 3/21/11 - 3/25/11

It was great seeing some of you at the MAPs meeting on Tuesday. We will be doing some “goal setting” this week in reading and math for the spring tests. Also, Wednesday is our annual field trip to Naper Settlement. Please remember to send your child with a sack lunch that includes a drink. Make sure your child dresses for the weather because much of the trip is outside.
Happy Spring!!

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class: This week we continue our study of China. The students are using the facts they researched about China to create a travel brochure. This will reinforce the use of main idea and supporting details. The travel brochure will be due at the end of the week. We are mostly working on it during class.

Spelling: Lesson 24; pretest on Monday/homework due Thursday/Test on Friday.

English: We will be continuing our “Me Front Page” project this week. Many of the students are finished, others are still typing, but I expect them to all be finished by Friday. They look terrific and you will enjoy them at Open House in April!

Social Studies: This week we will start lesson 3 in our books, “Ratifying the Constitution.” I will not be testing on chapter 10 until after spring break.

Science: Lesson 4 on the use of energy resources is next! The quick study on lesson 4 will be on Wednesday, after the field trip. The test on Chapter 15 will be on Thursday.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:
This week we will begin fractions, chapter 12. We will specifically study equivalent fractions, putting fractions in simplest form, and mixed numbers.

Important Dates:
March 19 – District 66 fundraiser @ Cabana Charlies
March 25 – Spring break begins at the end of the day

April 4 - Back to school!

April 5 - Teachers' Institute - no school

Have a wonderful weekend! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 3/14/11 - 3/18/11

We had a great week; I especially enjoyed the Hawaiian dancers at our PBIS assembly on Thursday. What a nice treat, and the children were treated with a dancing demonstration by their teacher!! Please remember to attend the March 15th Parent Connect meeting to learn more about how to interpret your child's MAPS scores. It will start at 6:30 here in the PV gym.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead by an hour before you go to bed on Saturday!

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:
This week we continue our study of China. We are focusing on identifying main idea and supporting details using research materials. The students will be using non-fiction China books and the internet to complete an outline which will eventually lead to the creation of a travel brochure. The students are using clarifing and monitoring skills as they dig into the information!

Spelling: Lesson 23; pretest on Monday/homework due Thursday/Test on Friday.

English: We will be continuing our “Me Front Page” project this week. Students will be tracing and coloring their pictures using an overhead projector. They will also continue typing up their stories.

Social Studies: We will be designing sections of the Preamble in groups this week after our read-aloud book, We the Kids.

Science: Lesson 3 on how heat is transferred begins this week. The quick study will be on Friday. I am looking at Thursday, 3/24 as a test date for chapter 15.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:
We will continue chapter 11 on least common multiples (LCM,) divisibility rules, and greatest common factors (GCF.) Please remind your child to practice those multiplication facts. We found a great race car/multiplication game today (thank you Lauren A.) on-line. Just google multiplication and race cars and you'll see Grand Prix math. A quiz on Lessons 1-4 will take place on Thursday.

Important Dates:
March 15 – Parent Connect

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day - wear your green!!
March 19 – District 66 fundraiser at Cabana Charlie's (I just bought my

ticket!)

March 23 - Field trip to Naper Settlement - bring sack lunches!
March 25 – Spring break begins at the end of the day

Have a wonderful weekend! Mrs. Klacza

Week of 3/7/11 - 3/11/11

ISAT tests are now behind us. The students did a great job; they took their time and worked carefully. Thank you to the parents I conferenced with; it's always great to sit down and chat about our favorite subjects – our children! Please remember to mark your calendars for March 15th for the Parent Connect meeting to learn more about how to interpret your child's MAPS scores. Lastly, we have now begun the 3rd trimester of our reading program. Please encourage your child to read! Tuesday is our reading celebration for trimester 2. Enjoy the 4-day weekend!

Coming up this week:

Mrs. Klacza's Reading Class:
This week we begin the study of the fascinating country of China. We will focus on identifying main idea and supporting details using research materials. As we read our non-fiction China materials, we will be using our clarification and monitoring skills.

Spelling: Lesson 22; pretest on Tuesday/homework due Thursday/Test on Friday.

English: The expository writing piece on the importance of saving money is due on Tuesday. We will be continuing our “Me Front Page” project this week. Students should bring in an 8 x 10 picture of themselves. A school picture works nicely. If you don't have one that large, I can try to enlarge a smaller picture. We will be visiting the computer lab to type them up soon!

Social Studies: We will begin Chapter 10 this week, entitled “Forming a New Government.” Be prepared to learn the Preamble to the Constitution along with your child. It's a very catchy Schoolhouse Rock song; in fact, many of you may remember it from your youth!!

Science: A “quick study” quiz (open note/open book) on lesson 2 (forms of energy) will take place on Tuesday. We will take a bit of a break and start lesson 3 the week of 3/14.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:
After our target review and target test on chapter 4 Tuesday, we will start chapter 11 on least common multiples (LCM.) This would be a good time for the students to practice their math multiplication facts at home. There are wonderful computer programs to help them. They will struggle with this chapter if they don't know their facts very well!

Important Dates:
March 4 – Day off (conferences)
March 7 – Day off (Pulaski Day)
March 15 – Parent Connect
March 19 – District 66 fundraiser @ Cabana Charlies

Have a wonderful weekend! Mrs. Klacza