Week of 11/3/14 - 11/7/14

I enjoyed sitting down with you all and discussing your fabulous children.  Conference week is tiring, but always interesting and enlightening.

I want to thank the parents who have organized and will run our Halloween party today.   Thank you, also,  to those who will be bringing in yummy treats like sweets and candy!!!   Happy Halloween everyone!   Can’t believe we had some of the “white stuff” falling!  

My son will be getting married in the Seattle area on November 8; therefore, I'll be out of school on Friday and the following Monday. They grow up so fast!! Sniff.....

Coming up this week:

Spelling:  No spelling due to the shortened week.

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan.  Many students have already finished it and I know many of you at home have read it with your children.  What did you think?   I absolutely love the ending.  

Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  We’ll continue to work with antonyms, homophones, and adjectives as part of our “Daily 5.”   

We’ll take a break from our WOW words; however, our DOL quiz will be on Wednesday!

Social Studies:  We will continue reading about the history of Downers Grove.  

Science:  We’ll continue chapter 9 this week on the water cycle.  There will be  a graded review (open book/notes) on lesson 2 on Wednesday.   Then, on to lesson 2!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Topic 3: Using place value to add and subtract.  We’ll finish up Wednesday and Thursday and have a pre-test on Friday.   The following Monday, November 10, the students will take the Topic 3 test.

Important Dates:

10/31 - Halloween parade & party

11/3 - Day off (for Conferences)

11/4 - Teacher Institute (no school for students)

Have a great  4-day weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 10/27/14 - 10/31/14

As you probably already know, we are celebrating our first marble party today!   The children have cleaned out the marble jar by behaving beautifully and getting compliments from me and other teachers in the building.  Hurray!!!

Our Zoo trip was wonderful! I'm sure your child told you all about it!!

Halloween is Friday already!! There will be a costume parade at 1:15 around the school (weather permitting) and parties will start at 1:30. I hope you can all come and see the parade – just stand out front and you'll see us!! Students should carry in their costumes on Friday. They cannot wear their costumes to school. Remember, we only have a short time to change and we will be changing in the classroom (one class for boys, another for girls). Please make sure their costumes are suitable for this. Trips to the bathroom are not allowed in order to change. No weapons of any kind are allowed.

Enjoy the beautiful Autumn weekend!   

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Halloween words – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. It will be different this week.  You will see the packet that comes home on Monday.  No challenge activities; everyone doing the same homework.

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  We’ll also study antonyms, homophones, and adjectives as part of our “Daily 5.”   

Our English test for chapter 2 (Nouns) will be on Monday, 10/27.  We will then focus on writing our haunted house description.

We will also continue with our WOW words and our DOL.   A short WOW quiz will be on Friday, 10/24.   The DOL quiz will occur on Wednesday, 10/29.  There will be a study guide coming home mid-week for the DOL quiz.   Students should be bringing home their spirals with the WOW words on Thursday.  

Social Studies:  We will continue reading about the history of Downers Grove.  

Science:  We’ll start chapter 9 this week on the water cycle.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Topic 3: Using place value to add and subtract.  This is a long chapter so I’ve been giving lots of short assessments to make sure the children understand each and every lesson.   The test date has not yet been determined, but it will most likely be on 11/10.   

Important Dates:

10/31 - Halloween parade & party

10/27 - Conference week (homeroom students)

11/3 - Day off (for Conferences)

11/4 - Teacher Institute (no school for students)

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 10/20/14 - 10/24/14

What a beautiful Fall day we are having today!   I’ve seen the weather forecast for Tuesday and it looks like it will be cool but clear for our Brookfield Zoo field trip.  Please make sure your child is dressed accordingly and wearing comfy shoes.  Also, he/she will need that fully disposable lunch.

Please choose a conference time for the week of 10/27.   I sent a link and many of you have already signed up, so thank you!    I will re-send it today to those who haven’t had a chance to sign up yet.

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Lesson 9 – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day.  Please make sure your child uses notebook paper for all written homework.  We have a lot here at school; students are welcome to take some home whenever they need it!

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  We will also be reading the short story Night of the Pufflings.  This also ties in with our theme of “Standing Up for What you Believe In.”

We will finish unit 2 in English on Nouns.  Our test for this chapter will be on Monday, 10/27.  

We will also continue with our WOW words and our daily DOL.   Short quizzes will occur in both on Friday, 10/24.   There will be a study guide coming home early in the week for the DOL quiz. Students should be bringing home their spirals with the WOW words on Thursday.  

Social Studies:  We will continue reading about the history of Downers Grove.   Ask your child who founded Downers Grove!!   

Science:  We need a break!!   Let’s take one. Chapter 9 is coming up!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Topic 3: Using place value to add and subtract.  There will be a short quiz on Thursday and no Math on Tuesday or Friday due to Zoo field trips.   

Important Dates:

10/21 - Brookfield Zoo field trip

10/31 - Halloween parade & party

10/27 - Conference week (homeroom students)

11/3 - Day off

11/4 - Teacher Institute (no school for students)

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 10/13/14 - 10/17/14

We are mid-way through the first trimester and the year is already feeling as if it’s flying by!   Halloween party preparations are under way and we’re also planning our first field trip to Brookfield Zoo.  Conferences will be held the week of 10/27.   Please watch for an email from me with a link to sign up (homeroom students only!)

Enjoy your long weekend and Happy Columbus Day!

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Lesson 8 – Pretest Tuesday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Friday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day (this week it will be due on Wednesday.)

Please make sure your child uses notebook paper for all written homework.  We have a lot here at school; students are welcome to take some home whenever they need it!

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  

We will continue unit 2 in English on Nouns. This week we’ll focus on possessive nouns (for example, the coat belonging to Mrs. Klacza = Mrs. Klacza’s coat.)

Since it is a short week, we will hold off on the WOW words until the week of 10/20.

Social Studies:   I am planning to start our next social studies unit this week, which will be on the history Downers Grove.  

Science:  We need a break!!   Let’s take one.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll begin Topic 2: Using place value to add and subtract.  This is a very long chapter, so I will create some intermittent quizzes for the students so they are not totally bombarded at the end of the topic.   

Important Dates:

10/10 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

10/21 - Brookfield Zoo field trip

10/31 - Halloween parade & party

10/27 - Conference week (homeroom students)

11/3 - Day off

11/4 - Teacher Institute (no school for students)

Have a great  3-day weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 10/6/14 - 10/10/14

Thank you to all those families who bought and sold magazines during our annual magazine drive. This is a great fundraiser which truly helps our school!!

What a different weather forecast we are seeing for this weekend!   The cold weather is starting…   Perhaps I’ll stay indoors!!   Have a great weekend everyone!  

Our fall book fair is coming up! If you are willing and able to volunteer, I've attached the link for Sign up Genius: ​
To sign up, go to:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F044AA9A622A13-prairieview1/12780975

​Thanks!​

.............................................. 

Coming up this week:

 Spelling: Lesson 7 – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day (Tuesday.)

Please make sure your child uses notebook paper for all written homework.  We have a lot here at school; students are welcome to take some home whenever they need it!

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  

We will continue unit 2 in English on Nouns.  There will be a short, lessons 1-5 quiz on Tuesday.  

We are continuing “Word of the Day” this week.  I will introduce the students to a different word each day, Monday through Thursday.  They will write down the word and definition in their spirals.  On Friday, there will be a short quiz on the four words.

We have also begun daily D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language.)   Students will copy a sentence each day in their spirals and “fix” them using their editing marks.  After each lesson, which runs about a week and a half, there will be a quiz.  Our first quiz will occur on Thursday.  A study guide will come home on Monday.

Social Studies:   We are taking a social studies break this week.

Science: We'll finish our first unit on ecosystems (Chapter 4.)   Our lesson 4, open book/notes, graded review will be on Wednesday.   Our final test will be on Friday.  That study guide will come home on Tuesday.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Topic 2, Addition Meaning and Properties.  The students will be ready to take the test on Wednesday.   I am sending home a study guide today.  

Important Dates:

10/8 - Picture Day

10/10 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

10/21 - Brookfield Zoo field trip

10/31 - Halloween parade & party

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza