December 1-5

Odds and Ends

*Conferences: This week will be a time to meet with your child's language arts teacher. Please be on time for your conference...they are scheduled every 15 minutes and time is precious. Thank you!

*Service Project: We are still collecting for our service projects. We will be collecting gifts until Wed. 12/10. So far we have collected gloves and a winter hat. Thank you!

*Scholastic Book Order: Books just in time for the holidays! The book order is due online or at school on Friday, December 5th.

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Thurs. 12/4: Spelling: List 12 Test

Reading: Grandma's Record Vocab and Comprehension Test

*Fri. 12/5: No School

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

Mrs. Olsen's Language Arts Class

*Reading: We will continue the self questioning strategy as we explore author's purpose and read the story Grandma's Records. This book talks about old records and dancing. If you know anyone who professionally dances and would like to show our class some steps, please email me. Thanks!

*English: We will continue nouns (singular and plural possessive nouns). The test on Nouns (unit 2) is tentatively scheduled for Mon. 12/8.

*Spelling: We will be on List 12 this week. Due to the shortened week, there will not be a pretest. The final test will be on Thurs. 12/4. The packet will be due on Thurs. as well.

Mrs. Olsen's Science and Social Studies Class:

*Science: We are working on scientific inquiry and the scientific method. We will do another bubble experiment in class.

*Social Studies: We will continue to read Ch 3 and talk about immigration and culture.

Mrs. Olsen's Math Class:

*We are working with money in math class. We will begin counting back change next week. This is a tricky concept and it is very helpful if your child practices this as much as possible at home. Have them "pretend" to buy things they see in the ads with $5 or $10 and count back the change they should receive. There are also a lot of games online to practice this skill.

Thank you for checking my blog this week. I hope your break was as fun, relaxing, and delicious as mine was! See you in December!

Mrs. Olsen

Scholastic Book Orders

Hello!

Just wanted to let parents know that I have updated the scholastic book orders online. Paper order forms will be sent home with your child tomorrow. I will be taking orders until December 5th. Hopefully the books will make it in time before we break for the holidays. If you would like the books to be kept at school and picked up by you rather than sent home with your child, please email me or send a note and I will keep them hidden in my classroom until you can pick them up. If you want to safely and securely order online, go to www.scholasticbooks.com and use this information to log on:

Class User Name: OlsenBooks

Password: Books

Thank you!

Mrs. Olsen

November 24-28

Odds and End

*Character Counts Gives Back! The Prairiview staff and students have a yearly tradition of giving back to the community at this time of year when we have so much to be thankful for. A note was sent home this week about our service project (on pink paper) As a class, we have "adopted" a family who has a child with cancer. Due to financial struggles and spending the holidays at the hospital, we are going to help to make their holidays special. Here are the ages of our family:

9 year old boy (cancer patient)

11 year old girl

7 year old boy

7 month old boy

Mom

Dad

Please send any new, wrapped items (labeled with a sticky note with the name or age of person the gift is for and what it is). We will then collect the items in the classroom and it will be delivered to the family before the holidays. I will keep items we receive posted so we can see what family member needs what and to avoid doubles.

Also, we are sponsoring a local service called Family Services. This is a safe haven for families of domestic violence. Please send in any new coats, hats, mittens, or toys UNWRAPPED to school. We will then deliver them to the center where the items will be used in the Holiday Shoppe where parents can shop, free of charge, to help make their children's holidays bright.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness with these special projects!

*Operation Crayon: An email notice was sent out and a note was sent home with your child today explaining that Operation Crayon has been cancelled due to the fact that we have 2 other service projects to focus on this month. Thank you for your understanding!

*Don't forget...Yearbook orders are due Monday, December 1st! Get them now before its too late!

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Mon. 11/24: Scholastic Book Orders Due: order online or send in book order

*Wed. 11/26-11/28: Happy Turkey Day! No school! Enjoy the holidays with friends and family!

Monday 12/1: Welcome back to school =)

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

Mrs. Olsen's Language Arts Class:

*Conferences: Thank you all for replying back about conferences. I look forward to meeting with you the week of Dec. 1st.

*Reading: We will continue to work on self questioning and The Keeping Quilt. If you know anyone who quilts or quilt yourself and would like to share your knowledge and talent with the class, please let me know. We would love to have you in our classroom Monday or Tuesday.

*English: We will work on point of view writing as we write our silly turkey stories. These will be fun to share with family at Thanksgiving!

*Spelling: There will be no spelling next week.

Mrs. Olsen's Science and Social Studies:

*Science: We will continue scientific inquiry. Remember, you can log on at home to view our science textbook. What a great way to review!

*Social Studies: We will continue to work on Ch 3 as we discuss immigration and culture.

Mrs. Olsen's Math:

*Math: We will be working on money problems and addition and subtraction problem solving. Please continue to practice subtraction facts. I will send home some practice sheets for your child. I would like them to all pass the subtraction fast fact before we our Thanksgiving break!

Thank you for reading my blog this week. I wish you and your family a wonderful, relaxing, and safe holiday break. I am so thankful for such wonderful students and great families this year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble =) Mrs. Olsen

November 17-21

*Odds and Ends*

*Thank you to the following students ( and families!) for bringing in healthy treats for our Health Fest: Angela V., Jake B., Molly M., Kayal S., Grace S., and Alex P. ! The kids enjoyed them very much and found some new snack options for home!

*Thank you for bringing in your gently used books for our Book Worm Angels. The drive ended today and the school collected a huge pile of books that will find new homes in many schools and homes of children. Thank you!

*Announcing Prairieview 2008-2009 Yearbook. Order your yearbook today!!! The cost of the yearbook is $10.00 and make payments to Lifetouch. Order deadline date is December 1, 2008. No orders will be accepted after that date. Parents just a reminder-- Prairieview yearbooks are not paid for at registration. Please place your order now. Yearbook order forms went home with your child on November 13th and there a few extra envelopes available; please try not to lose them. If your child loses it, you can send an envelope with the following information on it: student’s name, teacher’s name and grade level along with a check made payable to Lifetouch for $10.00. It is very important that you put the information on the envelope; Lifetouch does not know who your child’s teacher is. There will be a limited supply in June. Order Today!!!

*UPCOMING EVENTS*

*Tues. 11/18: Social Studies: Downers Grove and Chapter 12 Test

*Wed. 11/19: Math: Chapter 4 Test

*Thurs. 11/20: Math: Subtraction Fast Facts count for grade

Math: Coins brought to class for Ch 5 unit

*Fri. 11/21: Reading: The Keeping Quilt Vocab and Comprehension Review

Spelling: Thanksgiving Words Test and "Give me 20" Due

*A LOOK AHEAD AT NEXT WEEK*

Mrs.Olsen's Language Arts Block

*Reading: We began a new strategy of self-questioning as we read. Good readers ask themselves questions before, during, and after they read to better understand and connect with the text. We will first focus on author's view point as we read the story The Keeping Quilt. If you are or know a quilter who would like to come to our classroom and show us the steps of quilting and some of the quilts they made, please email me. We would love a visitor to help make our story come alive!

*English: We are working on nouns. We will continue to work on this as well as descriptive/point of view writing next week. We will be writing a Thanksgiving story from the turkey's point of view.

*Spelling: We will be working with thanksgiving spelling words next week. There will not be a pretest and the final test will be on Friday. This week's spelling packet is a "Give Me 20" sheet. The students choose a variety of activities from the worksheet that each have a different point value. They need to complete 20 points worth of work and it will be due Friday. Thank you and have fun!

*Conferences: I sent home conference confirmation sheets and have heard back from most of you. If you have a conflict, please email me, otherwise I look forward to seeing you the week of December 1st-3rd to discuss your child's progress. Please write down any questions or concerns you have so we can be sure to cover them during our 15 minute conference. Thank you!

Mrs. Olsen's Science and Social Studies Class:

*Science: We began a new unit with our new textbook. This book is available to use online and a password and username should have been emailed to you a few weeks ago. We will begin with a unit on science inquiry.

*Social Studies: We are finished with our Downers Grove and Local Government unit (ch 12). We will review on Monday and the final test will be on Tuesday 11/18. A study guide was sent home last week and the students should spend time this weekend preparing. Use any review sheets, packets, or workbook pages in their Social Studies folder to help review. Our next unit will be Ch 3 on immigration and culture.

Mrs. Olsen's Math Class

*Math: We are finishing ch 4 on subtraction. We will review on Monday and there will be a test covering this chapter on Wed. 11/19. I sent home a study guide today for your child to use to help prepare. We will also continue subtraction fast facts next week, with the tests "counting" as a grade starting on Thursday 11/20. Please continue to practice these facts nightly with flashcards, computer games, or practice tests. I hope to have all of the students pass subtraction fast facts the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.

Our next unit begins with money. By next Thursday, please send your child to school with the following coins to use in class (We will not be spending this money and it will be returned when the chapter is done): 5 nickels, 5 dimes, 5 pennies, and 5 quarters. You can send the coins in a baggie, film container, or plastic container marked with your child's first and last name. Thank you!

Thank you for reading my blog this week. Have a super weekend!

Mrs. Olsen

November 10-14

Odds and Ends

*Book Worm Angels: Thank you to Nicole and Angela for bringing in gently used books for our school wide book drive. Please look through your book shelves and donate any gently used children's books that will be donated to schools and children in need. The final day to donate is Friday, 11/14.

*Health Fest: We will be celebrating healthy habits on Monday 11/10 in honor of finishing our health unit in Science. To help us celebrate, please send in a healthy snack to share with the rest of the class...cheese cubes, crackers, fruit, veggies, 100% juice boxes. No nuts please! Thank you! Also, your child can bring in a toothbrush and toothpaste (in a baggie with their name clearly marked) and a stuffed animal.

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Mon 11/10: Science: Health Fest

*Tues 11/11: Veteran's Day: No School

*Wed 11/12: Science: Health Test

Reading: Cliffhanger Vocab Test

*Fri 11/14: Book Drive Ends

Spelling: Test List 11

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

Mrs. Olsen's Language Arts Block:

*Reading: We will continue to focus on the strategy cause and effect. Don't forget to study the Cliffhanger vocab words for Wed 11/12 quiz.

New monthly book projects were sent home. The new focus is non-fiction books and the students will be making new book covers for the books. The projects are due Wed, December 17th.

Parent/Teacher conferences for December are being held with the Language Arts teacher this year. Most of you signed up for a conference at Curriculum Night. Next week, I will be sending home a confirmation sheet. Please look over the date and time and confirm your conference with me by filling out the bottom portion and returning it with your child as soon as possible.

*English: We are working on nouns as well as descriptive writing.

*Spelling: We will be on list 11 this week. There will be a pretest on Monday and the final test will be on Friday. The assignment packet will be due on Friday.

Mrs. Olsen's Science and Social Studies Class:

*Science: We are finishing up our health unit. We will celebrate with our Health Fest on Monday 11/10 and play a review game for the test on Wed. 11/12. Please review your study guide, reread the lessons in your textbook, and be sure to know how to make pictograph for the test! Next unit: science inquiry tools.

*Social Studies: We will continue to learn about present day Downers Grove and the local government. The test is tentatively scheduled for Tues. 11/18. More info coming soon.

Mrs.Olsen's Math Class:

*Math: We are busy learning about subtraction. We have been practicing our fast facts with a 3 minute mad minute each day. Please study over these 30 problem sheets and we will continue to practice them in class. I will let you know when they count for a grade. We will work with subtracting across zeros next week.

Thank you for checking in this week. Hope you have a great weekend!

Mrs. Olsen