April 26, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will be reading The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola. It is about a boy named Tommy who loves to draw pictures. When he is old enough for art classes at school, Tommy is disappointed to learn that he can only have one piece of paper, and only use eight crayons. 

Comprehension Strategies:  Author's Viewpoint
Vocabulary Words: chalk, copy, crayons, powders, practice, smock, copper, violet, turquoise, monitor, ruin
High Frequency Words:  woman, gold, fair
Grammar Skills:  Irregular Verbs
Phonics:  Vowel Pairs oo, ew, ue, ou

Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your child and remind them to log their minutes. April reading logs are due Wednesday, May 1st.

Math  We began our next chapter. We are comparing and ordering greater numbers using >, <, =, and place value. Next week we will use a table to solve problems. We will have a chapter test Wednesday or Thursday. Check your child's planner for the exact date. 

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Science  Next week we will begin a unit on nutrition. Students will learn the basics of good nutrition and the importance of physical activity. 

Important Dates & Announcement

Thank you to Jake, Sydney, Kaiden and Natasa for the book gift certificates! I had fun picking out books for our class!

*Don't forget to pack a sack lunch on Wednesday!
Our field trip to the Du Page Children's Museum is Wednesday. We will be leaving at 9 am and returning between 12:30 and 1 pm. When we return, the lunch room will be closed. We will be eating lunch in our classroom.

Mon-Thurs, Apr 29-May 2 - Maps Testing  Wed, May 1 - Field Trip to the Du Page Children's Museum-Pack a sack lunch!
Wed, May 1 - April Reading Logs due
Fri, May 17 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, May 27 - No School -  Memorial Day

Wed, Jun 5 - Last Day of School

April 19, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will read and compare two selections. The first selection, A Curve in the River, is realistic fiction.  We will see what happens when Julian tries to send a message in a bottle. The second selection, Slippery Siblings, in nonfiction. We will find out how a brother and sister win a gold metal. 

Comprehension Strategies:  Generalizing; Making Judgments;  Compare/Contrast; Following Directions; Sequence of Events; Monitor/Clarify
Vocabulary Words: advice, curve, instructions, message, travel, bobsled, catchers, course, run, straightaways  
Grammar Skills:  Verbs that tell about now; Past tense verbs
Phonics:  -er endings in Two Syllable Words; -le; -y at the end of longer words; Prefix un; Base Words and -ed, -ing Endings

Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes. 

Math  Next week we will continue the chapter Hundreds. We will solve problems by using the strategy making a model. We will review and have a chapter test on Tuesday. In our next chapter we will be comparing and ordering greater numbers.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Science  Next week we will be learning about the people of the rain forest. We will also talk about the products of the rain forest. 

Important Dates & Announcement

*Our spring open house at Ide will be Thursday, April 25th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Everyone is invited. Come see what we have been working on in our classroom. 

*The PTO is looking for a chairperson for the end of the year picnic. Please think about volunteering. 

Thurs, Apr 25 - Ide Open House & PTO Book Fair 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Fri, Apr 26 - Rainy Reading Day - Wear your rain boots to school
Wed, May 1 - Field Trip to the Du Page Children's Museum
Fri, May 17 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, May 27 - No School -  Memorial Day

April 12, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will be reading a realistic story about a girl who is afraid of thunderstorms. When her grandmother decides to make a cake, they must go outside to get the ingredients. By the time the storm finally arrives, the girl realized she is braver than she thought.

Comprehension Strategies:  Sequence of Events; Monitor/Clarify
Vocabulary Words:  bolt, horizon, lightning, rumbled, thunder, weather, clap, cooed, stammered, lightning, samovar
High Frequency Words:  air, child, heavy, hour
Grammar Skills:  The verbs is/are, was/were
Phonics:  -ed, -ing Endings; Silent Consonants, gh, k(n), b


Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes. 

Math  Next week we will begin place value with hundreds. Students will show 100 with ones, tens, and hundreds, use models to identify the number of hundreds, tens and ones of 3-digit numbers, identify the value of each digit in a 3-digit number, and read and write 3 digit numbers in different ways. 

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Science  Next week we will continue learning about the rain forest. Our caterpillars arrived this week and we began learning about the life cycle of the butterfly too. We are recording the growth of our caterpillars in our journals. 

 *Animal Poster - due Wed, April 17th

Important Dates & Announcement

*Our spring open house at Ide will be Thursday, April 25th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Everyone is invited. Come see what we have been working on in our classroom. 

*Please don't forget to send in your child's permission slip and money for our field trip to the Du Page Children's Museum. Thank you to all that have!

Fri, Apr 12 - No School - P/T Conferences
Tues, Apr 16 - Mismatch Day - Where your favorite mismatch clothes 
Wed, Apr 17 - Staley the Bear Assembly
Thurs, Apr 18 - Field trip permission slip and money due
Thurs, Apr 25 - Ide Open House 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Fri, Apr 26 - Rainy Reading Day - Wear your rain boots to school
Wed, May 1 - Field Trip to the Du Page Children's Museum
Fri, May 17 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, May 27 - No School -  Memorial Day

April 5, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will have a writing workshop. We will be discussing expository writing. Students will be writing about the animal they researched that lives in the rain forest. 

Reading Logs  On Tuesday we celebrated 20 days of reading during the month of March with a movie and lunch in the classroom. Way to go readers! Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes. 

*Since we only meet 3 days next week, we will not have a spelling test.
Math  We will continue our chapter on fractions. Students will identify fractions that describe a whole and are equal to 1. We will have a chapter test Thursday next week.  

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Science  We began a unit on the Rain Forest. The students played a game which introduced them to words that will be used in our discussions of the rain forest. We also identified and labeled the different parts of a map and where most of the rain forests are located. Next week we discuss what a rain forest is and identify the different layers.

 *Animal Poster - due Wed, April 17th

Important Dates & Announcement


Tues, Apr 9 - No School - Teacher Institute
Fri, Apr 12 - No School - P/T Conferences
Tues, Apr 16 - Mismatch Day - Where your favorite mismatch clothes 
Wed, Apr 17 - Staley the Bear Assembly
Thurs, Apr 25 - Ide Open House
Fri, Apr 26 - Rainy Reading Day - Wear your rain boots to school
Fri, May 17 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, May 27 - No School -  Memorial Day

March 22, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   After break we will be reading Carousel. It is a realistic story about a girl named Alex whose father doesn't get home in time for her birthday. This makes Alex angry, but after a night filled with strange dreams, she awakens to find her father has returned.


Comprehension Strategies:  Predict/Infer; Making Judgements
Vocabulary Words:  groaned, promised, imagined, angry, gumbled, grumpily, fussed
High Frequency Words:  aunt, million, pair
Grammar Skills:  Verbs that tell about the past
Phonics:  Sound of -y at the end of longer words; Prefix -ur; -le in 2 syllable words

Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes. March reading logs are due April 2nd.

Math  We completed the unit on Weight, Mass, Capacity and Temperature with a test today. When we return, We will begin Chapter 19 which focuses on fractions. 

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Science  When we return from break, we will begin a unit on the Rain Forest. 

Please check your child's green folder for 2 important letters about 2 projects:
       1. Animal Project - due Wed, April 3
       2. Animal Poster - due Wed, April 17th
   

Important Dates & Announcement

Mon, Mar 25 - Mon, Apr 1 - SPRING BREAK
Tues, Apr 2 - March Reading Logs Due
Tues, Apr 9 - No School - Teacher Institute
Fri, Apr 12 - No School - P/T Conferences
Fri, May 17 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, May 27 - No School -  Memorial Day

March 15, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will be reading a story called Jalapeno Bagels. It is about a boy named Pablo who spends an early morning at his parents' bakery. When Pablo decides which bread he will bring for International Day, he chooses one that shows his Mexican-Jewish-American Heritage. 

Comprehension Strategies: Following Directions
Vocabulary Words: Origami, bakery, culture, crane, cradle, mobile, customer, dough, ingredients, recipe
High Frequency Words: early, hair, instead
Grammar Skills:  Verbs that tell about now
Phonics:  Contractions; -le Ending in Two Syllable Words

Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes.

Math  This week we finished measurement and had a chapter test. Next week we will begin Chapter 18 which focuses on weight, mass, capacity, and temperature. 

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Social Studies We completed  the unit People and Places in History. Students were given a chapter test on Wednesday. 

Science  Our Earth is our next unit in science. We will use a magnify glass to observe changes in rocks. Students will identify causes and effects of changes to Earth's surface. 

Important Dates & Announcement

Spring Conferences - If I feel a conference is necessary, you will receive an email invitation from me on Tuesday, March 19. If you do not get an email but still would like to meet with me, please email me to schedule a conference.

Tues, Mar 19 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, Mar 25 - Mon, Apr 1 - SPRING BREAK
Tues, Apr 2 - March Reading Logs Due
Tues, Apr 9 - No School - Teacher Institute
Fri, Apr 12 - No School - P/T Conferences

March 8, 2013

Reading and Language Arts   Next week we will be discussing personal narrative writing. I will share with them books that illustrate what goes into a really good story. The students will pick a topic and write about a personal experience. We will focus on writing an introduction, beginning, middle, end, and a conclusion. Students will work on adding details and choosing words that show how they feel. We will edit our narratives and write a final copy.

Reading Logs  Please continue to read with your children and remind them to log their minutes. 

Math  We will continue with Chapter 17, Length, Perimeter, and Area. Students will be measuring lengths of objects using centimeters and meters. They will also be measuring the perimeter of plane figures and measuring area in square units. Point out objects around your house and ask them what unit should be used to measure the objects.

Flash Cards  Students should be working hard to memorize their addition and subtraction facts. KEEP PRACTICING MATH FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

Social Studies We will continue with our unit People and Places in History. Next week we will learn about different devices that people use to communicate with one another. In addition, children will explore how people travel over great distances.

Important Dates & Announcement

Fri, Mar 15 - Movie Night at Prarieview, 6:30
Tues, Mar 19 - Early Dismissal - 12pm - School Improvement Day
Mon, Mar 25 - Mon, Apr 1 - SPRING BREAK
Tues, Apr 9 - No School - Teacher Institute
Fri, Apr 12 - No School - P/T Conferences