5/6/24 - 5/10/24

 

Reading:  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will revolve around texts and videos about people settling in the West, and our essential question will be "What character traits were needed in people who settled the West?"

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 4 gives us practice using multiplication to solve division problems.  Our Unit 4 test will come at the end of Module 4.

Science:  Our next science unit is called Watery Planet and our first main lesson will be on mixtures and solutions.  Our guiding question is "How much salt is in the ocean?"

Social Studies:  Chapter 6 will help us dig more deeply into life in the English colonies.

4/29/24 - 5/3/24

 

MAP Testing:  Our last round of MAP testing is approaching.  Our math MAP test will be on Tuesday, April 30th.  Our ELA MAP test will be on Thursday, May 2nd.  Please help make sure learners are getting a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast before these testing days.

Reading:  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will revolve around texts and videos about people settling in the West, and our essential question will be "What character traits were needed in people who settled the West?"

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 3 gives up practice with the algorithm method for multiplication.

Science:  Our next science unit is called Watery Planet and our first main lesson will be on mixtures and solutions.  Our guiding question is "How much salt is in the ocean?"

Social Studies:  Chapter 6 will help us dig more deeply into life in the English colonies.

4/22/24 - 4/26/24

 

Reading:  We will finish up Module 3 and begin Module 4 "The Wild West."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will revolve around texts and videos about people settling in the West, and our essential question will be "What character traits were needed in people who settled the West?"

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 3 gives up practice with the algorithm method for multiplication.

Science:  We will continue to spend all of our ss/science time in social studies.

Social Studies:  We will spend our time putting the finishing touches on our group colony slideshows, as well as doing some additional preparation for Spring Open House.  

4/15/24 - 4/19/24

 

Reading:  We will continue with Module 3 "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and response writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons as well.   

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 2 will dig a little deeper into the multiplication and division strategies we learned about in Module 1.  Module 3 starts to get into the algorithm method for multiplication...finally! 

Science:  We will continue to spend all of our ss/science time in social studies.

Social Studies:  Students are continuing to work collaboratively in groups to take what they have learned in class about the English colonies in the new world and develop their own colony.  Information and rubrics about this project can be found in Google Classroom.  

4/8/24 - 4/12/24

 

Reading:  Our Illinois state tests in ELA will eat up some of our reading this week, but when we have time, we will continue with Module 3 "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and response writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  Additionally, we will wrap up work on a narrative writing unit.  This unit will focus on the essential elements of a fiction story as well as the steps in the writing process.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons as well.   

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 1 will be all about multiplication and division strategies.  Please remember the 5th grade homework policy states that during the 3rd Trimester, graded homework assignments that are one day late will automatically be reduced by 25% in the grade book and more than one day late will be reduced by 50%.  This mirrors the policy that will be used when the students get to Lakeview.

Science:  We will continue to double up on social studies lessons.

Social Studies:  Students are continuing to work collaboratively in groups to take what they have learned in class about the English colonies in the new world and develop their own colony.  Information on this project can be found in Google Classroom.  

4/1/24 - 4/5/24

 

Field Trip:  Thank you to all the parents who offered to volunteer for the Naper Settlement field trip.  I wish I could bring you all!  If you didn't hear from me, your name was not randomly selected.  Sorry.

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and response writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  Additionally, we will wrap up work on a narrative writing unit.  This unit will focus on the essential elements of a fiction story as well as the steps in the writing process.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons as well.   

Math: Unit 4 is entitled Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals, and Module 1 will be all about multiplication and division strategies.  Please remember the 5th grade homework policy states that during the 3rd Trimester, graded homework assignments that are one day late will automatically be reduced by 25% in the grade book and more than one day late will be reduced by 50%.  This mirrors the policy that will be used when the students get to Lakeview.

Science:  We will spend our science time catching up on some of our social studies lessons, but when we get there our next science unit is called Watery Planet.

Social Studies:  Students will work collaboratively in groups to take what they have learned in class about the English colonies in the new world and develop their own colony.  Information on this project can be found in Google Classroom.  

3/18/24 - 3/22/24

 

Permission slips will go out on Monday for our upcoming field trip to Naper Settlement.  I am looking for a few parent volunteers to help supervise students on this trip on Monday, April 22nd.  You'll have to be here at Prairieview around 9am, you'll ride the bus with us, and we'll be back around 2pm.  If you are interested, please email me by 8am on 3/21.  If I have more interest than slots available, I will randomly draw names out of a hat.  You will be notified on March 21st if you have been selected. 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and response writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  Additionally, we will begin to work on a narrative writing unit.  This unit will focus on the essential elements of a fiction story as well as the steps in the writing process.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons as well.   

Math: We are pretty much done learning new material for Unit 3.  We'll need a couple of review days, and then we will have our Unit 3 test.  Remember, the pretest mirrors the final unit test, so studying the pretest is the best way for students to prepare.  

Science:  We will spend our science time catching up on some of our social studies lessons, but when we get there our next science unit is called Watery Planet.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 4 will help us dig a little deeper into the 13 English colonies.  We will be using class time to develop concept maps to visually represent our understanding of each of the big topics covered in Lesson 4.

3/11/24 - 3/15/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and response writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  Additionally, we will begin to work on a narrative writing unit.  This unit will focus on the essential elements of a fiction story as well as the steps in the writing process.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons as well.   

Math: We will wrap up Unit 3, Module 3 about place value patterns and metric conversions, and use Module 4 to help us work with the area model to show division.  I'm not sure if we can fit in the Unit 3 test before spring break, but it will be close!

Science:  We will spend our science time catching up on some of our social studies lessons, but when we get there our next science unit is called Watery Planet.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch, and Lesson 3 will give us more detail on those first colonies in North America.  In the next few weeks, we will begin to use concept mapping to visually represent our understanding of these social studies topics.

3/4/24 - 3/8/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  This week, our main story is called Hurricanes:  The Science Behind Killer Storms.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons throughout Module 3.  Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.   

Math: In Unit 3, Module 3 we will learn about place value patterns and metric conversions, and Module 4 will help us use the area model to show division.  The Unit 3 test will be at the end of Module 4

Science:  We will spend our science time catching up on some of our social studies lessons, but when we get there our next science unit is called Watery Planet.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch, and Lesson 3 will give us more detail on those first colonies in North America.

2/26/24 - 3/1/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons throughout Module 3.  Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.  These short Amira reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.    

Math: Unit 3, Module 2 will help us learn to add and subtract decimals, while Module 3 will be about place value patterns and metric conversions.

Science:  We are wrapping up our "Energy Savers" unit.  

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

2/19/24 - 2/23/24

 

Notes:  Valentine's Day, CoGAT testing, Too Good for Drugs, Candor Health presentations, and days off have wreaked havoc on our normal academic schedule both last week and this week.  Here's what we're trying to accomplish this week...

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.  As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons throughout Module 3.  Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.  These short Amira reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.    

Math: Unit 3, Module 2 will help us learn to add and subtract decimals.

Science:  We are working on our "Energy Savers" unit.  There is a small project that will accompany this unit.  Ask your learners which style of energy conservation project they chose to work on. 

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

2/12/24 - 2/16/24

 

Notes:  Our classroom Valentine's Day parties will be on February 14th.  Students do not have to bring in Valentine's Day cards, but if they do, please have them bring one for each of our 20 students.

Our Candor Health presentation will be on February 15th.  There is a permission slip for you to sign.  Please look for more information from Principal Little on what is being discussed and how to talk to your learners about this unique presentation.

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.   As always, I will mix in a few grammar lessons throughout Module 3.  Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.  These short Amira reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.    

Math: Unit 3, Module 2 will help us learn to add and subtract decimals.

Science:  We are working on our short "Energy Savers" unit.  There is a small project that will accompany this unit.  Ask your learners which style of energy conservation project they chose to work on. 

Social Studies:  We finally wrapped up Chapter 5, Lesson 1 with collaborative slideshows and presentations.  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

2/5/24 - 2/9/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.   Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.  These short Amira reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.  

Math: Unit 3, Module 1 is going to help us understand decimal number sense and place value before we get into Module 2 on adding and subtracting decimals.

Science:  Our next science unit is "Energy Savers."  At the end of this unit, every student will go home with their very own energy-saver kit courtesy of ComEd/Nicor Gas.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

1/29/24 - 2/2/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.   Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3.  Lastly, we are spending class time working with our online reading resource, Amira.  These short Amira reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.  

Math: Unit 3 is up next, and it's all about place value and decimals.

Science:  We are working on wrapping up our Chemical Magic unit.  Additionally, Mrs. Sanchez has been working with us on some STEM activities.  Last week, we built gondolas in collaborative groups.  On January 31st, we will take a trip to Elizabeth Ide to work on another STEM activity with the 2nd graders!

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

1/22/24 - 1/26/24

 

Reading:  Module 3 is called "Natural Disasters."  Our vocabulary, reading, and writing will focus on nonfiction texts.   Additionally, we are continuing to work with IXL skills that line up with our work in Module 3, as well as our online reading tutor program called Amira.  These short reading tutoring sessions can always be done at home for additional reading support.  

Math: We've had a lot of math class cancellations recently, but we are inching toward our Unit 2 test.  Keep an eye on your learner's assignment notebook for the exact test date.  Remember, the best way to prepare for the Unit 2 test is to work with the study guide that will be handed out in math class.  

Science:  We are working on wrapping up our Chemical Magic unit.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 1 is called "Hard Times in Virginia."  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.

1/15/24 - 1/19/24

 

Reading:  Some of our ELA time in January will be used for New Year's activities, reviewing goal setting, and revising those goals.  We also have a few middle-of-the-year (MOY) assessments to take care of.  Therefore, we still have a couple more grammar lessons to finish up before we are ready to move into Module 3 "Natural Disasters." 

Math: Module 3 contains more lessons that will help us with common denominators, and as of now it looks like our Unit 2 test will be during the week of January 22nd. 

Science:  We are working on wrapping up our Chemical Magic unit.

Social Studies:  Chapter 5, Lesson 1 is called "Hard Times in Virginia."  Chapter 5, Lesson 2 will help us learn about the new European colonies set up by the French and the Dutch.