Week of 3/1- 3/5

Odds and Ends:

*ISAT Testing: ISAT testing begins for the state of Illinois next week. We will be taking one test a day beginning Tues. 3/1 through Wed. 3/10. We will test each morning. Please begin your child's day with a healthy breakfast and send a healthy snack and drink to school each day. If you would like to donate any healthy snacks and drinks for the whole class during the next 2 weeks, we would greatly appreciate it!! Ideas: goldfish crackers, apple or orange slices, bottles of water, pretzels, crackers, etc. Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*Mon. 3/1: No School: Casmir Pulaski Day

*Tues. 3/2: ISAT Reading Test I

*Wed. 3/3: ISAT Math Test I

*Thurs 3/4: ISAT Reading Test II

*Fri. 3/5: ISAT Math Test II

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We will be working on ISAT testing during reading this week. We will also work on fluency as we practice readers' theatre.

*English: We will continue to work on expository writing this week. The students are working on their own to write papers with and without the graphic organizer.

They are doing an outstanding job! Way to go!!!

*Spelling: We will not do spelling this week due to testing. Enjoy the week off!

*Science: We will continue to work on Ch. 11: States of Matter.

*Social Studies: We will continue to study Ancient Egypt this week.

We will focus on mummies and pyramids. What fun!

*Math: We will work on problem solving strategies this week.

We will also begin division-starting with the 2's.

A schedule similar to multiplication will be sent home as we begin our division timed tests. Thanks for your hard work studying at home!

Thanks for reading my blog and keeping updated on the happenings in our classroom!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Olsen

Week of 2/22 - 2/26

Odds and Ends:

*Scholastic Books: February book orders are due Fri. 2/26. Please order online to help our classroom earn free books! Thank you!

*ISAT Testing: ISAT tests are just around the corner. We will begin testing on Tues. 3/2 through Wed. 3/10. We will take one test a day. Please complete the yellow ISAT test packet by Fri. 2/26. Thank you!

*Spring Photos: Thursday, February 25, 2010 is Spring Picture Day - Look before you buy. Send no money now - see your portraits first. Your finished portrait package will be sent home for your review. Simply return any un-used portrait sheets with your payment. All students will be photographed. Please notify your student's teacher if you do not want an individual portrait taken of your child. Additional Flyer will be sent home with your child on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Please check their backpacks.

*Cool Website: Check out this great website: http://www.freerice.com/index.php. Here you can play games (choose different subjects along the top options). For every correct answer, the website donates 10 grains of rice to help the hungry. The more you play, the more you can donate! I will link this website to my blog at the bottom for easy access! Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*Wed. 2/24: Math: Ch. 15 Review

*Thurs. 2/25: Spring Photos

* Fri. 2/26: Spelling: Prefix/Suffix Graded Review

Math: Ch 16/22 Review

*Mon. 3/1: No School: Casmir Pulaski Day

*Tues. 3/2-Wed. 3/10: ISAT Tests

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We will continue to review good test taking strategies as well as review all of the reading strategies. Please remind your students to prove or check their answers. This means going back into the story and finding the correct answer. This can be done for most questions and helps to get correct answers! Thank you! Students will continue to practice reading and responding to questions.

*English: We will continue to work on expository writing. The students will work on a prompt with a partner and by themselves.

*Spelling: We will take a break from the spelling program this week and focus on prefix/suffix. We will send home a packet that we will work from in class, have homework in, and will serve as the study guide for Fri. 2/26 test.

*Science: We will begin ch. 11: States of Matter. Solid, Liquid, and Gases...oh my!

*Social Studies: The students will continue to explore Ancient Egypt. This week we will focus on pyramids, one of the wonders of the world!

*Math: In math, students will work on ch. 15 (symmetry, congruent and similar shapes. They will also work on ch. 16: 3D figures and ch. 22: area, volume, and perimeter. These chapters are short, so we will cover a lot of information in a short period of time. There will be a short graded review on ch. 15 on Wed. and a graded review on ch. 16 and 22 on Fri. We will take a break from multiplication for the week. We will begin division facts soon- TBA!

Thank you for checking out my blog. Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Olsen

Week of 2/15-2/19

Odds and Ends:

*Scholastic Book Order: A February book order was sent home this week. You can order online to help our classroom earn free books! The order is due Fri. 1/26.

*Party Helpers: Thank you to all of the parents who helped to make our Valentine's Party "love"ly! We had a great time!

*Volunteers: Thank you to the following volunteers who spend time in our class each week during centers: Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Meyers, Mrs. Stock, Mrs. Tshulos, and Mrs. Crandell. If anyone is interested in helping, please email me!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*Mon. 2/15: No School: President's Day

*Wed. 2/17: Assembly: New Kid on the Block

*Thurs. 2/18: Math: Ch. 14 Test

*Fri. 2/19: Spelling: List 22 Test

Math: Mixed Multiplication Timed Test

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We will spend time this week reviewing several strategies. We will work on our extended responses.

*English: We will continue working on expository writing. The students will write a paper with a partner.

*Spelling: We will work on list 22 this week, words ending in y. There will be a test on Fri. 2/19.

*Science: We will take a short break from science. Next unit: Matter

*Social Studies: The students are busy learning about Ancient Egypt. So far we learned about the importance of the Nile River. Next week we will focus on the afterlife and pyramids.

*Math: We will continue to study geometry in Ch. 14. There will be a test covering ch. 14 on Thurs. 2/18. We will begin ch 15 next: more geometry: plane figures and 3D figures. We will continue to practice mixed multiplication each day this week. The tests will begin to count for a grade on Fri. 2/19 (worth 10 points).

Thank you for checking out this week's blog. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!~Mrs.Olsen

Week of 2/8-2/12

Odds and Ends:

* Valentine's Day Party: We will have our classroom Valentine's Day Party on Friday, 2/12 from 1:30-2:20. If your child would like to hand out valentines for each student in the class, he/she may bring them on Friday. A class list was sent home this week. There are 22 students in the class. Parent helpers: we are only allowing water to be served as the drink this party. Thank you for your cooperation!

* Change for Haiti: We will continue to collect money for Haiti until Monday. Thank you for your generosity!

*Check out this website for a fun writing contest your child can participate in: http://www.emeraldcitytheatre.com/3pigscontest.pdf What fun!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*Mon. 2/8: Reading: Ramona vocab test.

*Tues. 2/9: Science: Ch 9 Water Cycle and Weather Test

*Fri: 2/12: Spelling: List 21 Test

Reading: Ramona comprehension quiz

Valentine's Day Party

*Mon. 2/15: No School: President's Day

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We will focus on making inferences as we read an excerpt from Ramona Quimby Age 8 by Beverly Cleary. We will also work on other reading strategies as we read and discuss this story. The vocabulary quiz will be on Monday and the comprehension test will be on Friday.

*English: We will work on expository writing.

* Spelling: The students are on list 21. This week's words focus on nouns formed with the suffix er- meaning one who. We will have a test on Friday. Please have your child practice writing the words in cursive, since our weekly tests are done in cursive now. Thanks!

*Science: We will have our end of the unit test on Tuesday, 2/9. The test will cover chapter 9: water cycle. A study guide was sent home last week. Your child can access the textbook online by going to www.thinkcentral.com. The user name is your child's 7 digit ID number. The password is ccsd66.

*Social Studies: We will begin our study of ancient Egypt.

*Math: We will work on chapter 14: types of lines, plane figures, circles, etc. We will also work on mixed multiplication. We will take several practice tests, so be on the look out for samples of the test coming home! We will practice for 2 weeks. The tests will begin "counting" as a grade on Fri. 2/19.

Thanks for checking out my blog! Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Olsen