The Week of December 17th, 2012

Dear Parents,

Some reminders for this week:

Tuesday 12/18 -   8:05 am in Prairieview gym - Choir and 5th grade band concert....
                             Parents/guests are welcome to attend!

Wednesday 12/19 -
5th grade Bowling Field Trip to Brunswick Lanes
Students need to know their shoe size.
Money for snacks is allowed and a special is being offered: 
(2 slices of cheese pizza with a 16oz. = $3.23)
STUDENTS NEED TO BRING THEIR LUNCH....ordering lunch from our lunch program will not be  available.

Friday 12/21 - Our last day of school before our winter break!  We are going to the Tivoli to see Polar Express!

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE UP TO IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 13 and word of the week

SCOOPer Reading: The due date for books read and activities completed is January 11th.

READING:  We are continuing to do various activities with main idea and supporting details.

The students were given a challenge on an activity sheet "Elimination" which they had to find which word did not belong or have an association with the other words.  This process involves evaluating each word and finding a catagory that all the words but one fit into.  The students have had to dig into "resources" to analyze some of these words!!

ENGLISH:  We have finished Unit 6 Pronouns and will be reviewing the material on Monday.

Unit 6 Pronoun Test = Wednesday.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  We are not beginning Chapter 7 until after break!

SCIENCE:  We will be finishing Chapter 14 Lesson 1 as we review what they already know about the three states of matter and build on that knowledge!

MATH:  Homework sheet  = Monday!

Graphing of ordered pairs which includes some holiday fun activities with this skill!



The Week of December 10th, 2012

Dear Parents,

MONDAY - Winter Concert - 5th Grade Cadet Band & PV Choir - 7:00 p.m. - LV
I look forward to being in the audience!

TUESDAY - Dist 66 PTO - Barnes & Noble Bookfair - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m
I look forward to seeing you there! I will be at the "Welcome Station" from 5:15- 5:45with Mrs. Warkentien. Then, I will be doing some shopping!!

We have both Junior Achievement and our first Too Good For Drugs session this week (postponed from last week).

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LEARNING THIS WEEK:

SPELLING:  Lesson 13 and word of the week

ENGLISH:  Unit 6 Pronouns  The students need to know the proper usage of a subject and object pronoun.

We will be concentrating on using I and ME correctly!!!

SCOOPer Reading - January 11th is the 2nd quarter due date.

READING:  Main Ideas and Details....The students did a fabulous job creating an outline with a nonfiction piece of literature.  We will be using a variety of materials this week to reinforce this skill.  We will even be playing a game that requires critical thinking in this area!

SOCIAL STUDIES:  We will be using this time to work on commercials for our culminating Junior Achievement activity.....commercials!!

SCIENCE:  Matter and Energy

MATH:  Wednesday = Homework sheet

              Thursday = Chapter 24 Test on Area and Volume *students may use notes with formulas and

                                 calculators!



The Week of December 3, 2012

Dear Parents,

This week the fifth grade "Too Good For Drugs" program will begin. Deputy Seward from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department will be coming to our class on Thursdays to discuss various topics of drug prevention. A letter explaining more about the program will be sent home after our first session.

 

Movie Night Permission slips are due Wednesday.

 

Bowling Permission slips are due Friday.

 

If you are able to donate to our holiday collection for Famous Fido, an animal rescue group that saves lives of animals in euthanasia shelters, we are taking collections until winter break.  I personally volunteer and foster for this organization!! Your help is greatly appreciated!!!  If you have any questions about item(s) feel free to email me!

 

We are taking a field trip to the MUSEUM of SCIENCE and INDUSTRY on Friday, January 18th.  A permission slip is being sent home Monday. 

Please send the permission slip with the money for the cost of the field trip not the money for lunch.

 

THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASSROOM:

 

SPELLING:  Lesson 12 and word of the week

 

ENGLISH:  Unit 2 Noun Test = Wednesday

 

SCOOPer Reading = 2nd Quarter goals are due January 11th!

 

READING:  We are analyzing fact and opinion statements while reading about Amelia Earhart.  The students are learning to read critically with this activity! 

An independent activity will be given to assess  this skill at the end of the week.

We be reading a nonfiction article about Bessie Coleman and creating an outline using the reading comprehension skill of main idea and supporting details.

 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Ch 6 L4 "Slavery in the Colonies" This is the last lesson in the chapter.

Chapter 6 Test = Friday

 

SCIENCE:  Our next unit is "Matter and Energy"

 

MATH:  Chapter 23 Perimeter quiz = Monday

              Homework sheet = Tuesday

              Chapter 23 Test = Wednesday

              Chapter 24 Area

 

 

The Week of November 19 & November 26

Dear Parents,

   I am thankful for having the opportunity to work with your children every day. The learning process is a rewarding experience as we walk down the path together! 

  Tuesday, November 20th = Field Trip to Robert Crown
                                             Students need to bring their lunch since we may arrive after lunch has started.
                                             Milk will be availble to be purchased.

Wednesday, November 21st begins THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  No Spelling next week!  The week of November 26th = Lesson 11 and word of the week

ENGLISH:  Nouns! We will be doing enrichment activities as we continue this unit.

SCOOPer READING:  Every student should have at least one book read and activity completed after the Thanksgiving Break!

READING:  The class will have another opportunity to visit Lakeview's library to check out books on Monday.  The next comprehension skill we are going to work on is fact and opinion.   We will be reading applying this skill to nonfiction text.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  The students will be taking their Chapter 6 Lesson 3 notes and using a computer program "INSPIRATION" to tra

 

The Week of November 12, 2012

Dear Parents,

NO SCHOOL MONDAY - In honor of Veteran's Day!

Wednesday night is the informational parent night for parents regarding the 5th grade field trip to the Robert Crown Center.  The meeting is at Prairieview at 6;30.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 10 and "H" word of the week

ENGLISH:  Unit 2 Nouns - This week we are writing a Thanksgiving theme short story which we will turn into a "Mad Lib".  The students will  apply their knowledge of identifying a noun in a sentence and choose original nouns when given a noun "catagory" to complete another student's Mad Lib!!!

SCOOPer READING:  I am expecting that each student will have read a book and completed a book activity before the Thanksgiving break.  
   

READING:  We will be focusing on skill work this week by using a variety of materials.

The skills we are working on:  Setting a Purpose for Reading & Author's Purpose (inform, persuade, entertain)  

SOCIAL STUDIES:  TRADE FAIR = WEDNESDAY!!!!!

We will also be learning about everyday life in the English Colonies.

SCIENCE:  Chapter 12 Lesson 2 "What Forces Shape Shorelines"

MATH: 

Tuesday = Chapter 6 Quest

Wednesdy = Mean

Thursday = Mean and Median

Friday = Mean, Median, Mode and Range

             



The Week of November 5th, 2012

Dear Parents,

No School - Monday, November 5th
No School - Monday, November 6th

THIS WEEK IN MISS TREFONAS'S 5th GRADE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  None this week!

SCOOPer Reading:  We have set our second quarter goals!  Your child has a four day weekend and hopefully get some quality reading time..... I am expecting to see some book activities completed soon! 

READING: 

 We will be sharing our completed Bio-Poems.  We will be concluding our historical fiction unit doing a couple additional activities  related to the Holocaust and WWII.

ENGLISH:  A poetry activity "Turkey Triplets"

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Trade Fair - Wednesday, November 14th!!  Your child will be given explicit directions this Wednesday with a sheet that needs a parent signature.

Lesson 2 We will be learning about colonial cities, towns, and farms.

SCIENCE:  Ocean Floor Project due Wednesday.  The students were given the rubric to self check their diagram prior to it being turned in for a grade. 

Chapter 12 Lesson 2 - "How Does Ocean Water Move" We will be reading about waves and currents.

MATH:

Chapter 6 Lesson 3 Estimate Sums - Wednesday

ISAT Practice with Decimals - Thursday

Chapter 6 review - Friday

Chapter 6 Quest - Tuesday, November 13th



The Week of October 29th, 2012

Dear Parents,

   You can access your child's first quarter report card grades and comments on line.  We will discuss your childs grades, MAPs test scores, and ISAT scores (taken in spring of 4th grade), as well as their work and study habits.  I look forward to meeting with you.

The Late Policy for 2nd Quarter
 1 day late - minus 15 %

 More than 1 day late until unit test is taken - minus 25%

 After unit test is taken - a zero in the grade book

HALLOWEEN:
Students may bring their costume to school on Wednesday. The costume might need to be simplified for school purposes since students need to be able to change in a short amount of time. Changing will take place in the classrooms. The fifth grade will have designated classrooms for girls to change in and for boys. Washrooms will not be available for costume changing. No weapons, even fake, are allowed at school.

THANK YOU TO ALL PARENTS WHO ARE HELPING WITH OUR CLASSROOM HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES!!!

Here is What We are Learning This Week:

SPELLING:  Lesson 9 and word of the week

SCOOPer READING:  The students will be setting new goals and receiving new activity sheets for the second quarter.

SCOOPer READING Party:  THURSDAY!!!

A slip with all the information will be sent home.  Some students volunteered to bring in treats.  If there is any problem sending in the item, feel free to substitute something else.

Thanks!!

READING:  We are finishing JACOB's RESCUE.  The childeren will be completing a Bio-poem based on a specific character in the book for a culminating activity/assessment.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 6 "Life in English Colonies"  Lesson 1 Working and Trading in the Colonies

ELECTIONS:  The students have parent participation activities to complete at home this week based on different political issues and looking at the viewpoints of each candidate. 

SCIENCE:  Chapter 12 Lesson 1 "What are Oceans Like"  The students will be creating a diagram of the ocean floor.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT:  Session 2 !!

MATH:
 Monday: Chapter 5 Decimal review
Tuesday: Chapter 5 Decimal QUEST (quiz/test)
Wednesday: Halloween math activities
Thursday: Chapter 6 Lesson 1 Rounding Decimals
Friday:  Chapter 6 Lesson 2 Addition and Subtraction of Decimals



Week of October 22, 2012

Dear Parents:

The first quarter ends Friday, October 26th. 
Parent/teacher conferences are the week of October 29, 2012.
I look forward to meeting with you and discussing your child's first quarter grades, work habits, and other information. 

THANK YOU for the many Book Fair Gift Certificates.  I will have the books ready for our classroom library on Monday!!

HERE'S WHAT IS HAPPPENING THIS WEEK:

SPELLING:  Lesson 8

READING:  Jacob's Rescue -  Vocab quizzing over each childs 12 self selected words will begin Monday. 

SCOOPer Reading:  Friday (October 19th) was the due date for 1st quarter book goals.  Most of the class reached their goal!  We will be celebrating this accomplishment the week of October 29th.  The children will receive their new goal sheet and activity packets the week of October 29th.  This gives them a week or so to just read without having to do any activity for their book!!

ELECTIONS:  The students have been learning about living in a Democracy and the right to vote.  We had an involved discussion about the Electoral College.  We will continue to discuss the Electoral College, as well as, look at the Democrat and Republican candidates and their views on the major election issues.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT: We had our first session this Friday!

Jr. Achievement is a not-for-profit organization financed by businesses. The purpose of Jr. Achievement is to educate and inspire students to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives. Our volunteers, Ms. and Mr. Paleka, will be visiting our classroom once a week for the next 6 weeks. Both are successful in the business world and bring their expertise to the classroom. Mr. Paleka works for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Ms. Paleka works for Harley Davidson financial services. They have been Junior Achievement volunteers in my classroom for 12 years! I'm sure your student will be sharing some of their experiences with this program during the next few weeks!

SOCIAL STUDIES:  We have finished Chapter 5.  We will be filling out our "How to Study Sheet" on Monday.  Don't forget this sheet if filled out, signed by a parent, and returned on the test date is worth 2 bonus points.  We will have a classroom review on Tuesday.  The Chapter 5 Test will be taken on Wednesday.

SCIENCE: We will continue to share weather mimeo presentations.

THINK ENERGY!!  Our classroom will be participating in this program brought to our classroom by Nicor gas and ComEd.  The children will be learning about energy efficiency and it is intended to motivate students to THINK!, TALK!, and TAKE ACTION! about energy.  This is free of charge.
**Each household will receive a TAKE ACTION kit which will give each family some innovative and new technologies to make a difference now!!!

MATH:
Chapter 3 Test on division is scheduled for Tuesday.
Next, Chapter 5 - Decimals



The Week of October 15th, 2012

Dear Parents,

     The BOOK FAIR is this week!!! There will be great books to purchase and delicious TAFFY APPLES!!!  I hope to see you Thursday night!! The doors open at 6:30 and it goes until 8:00!  I plan on bringing my nieces and nephews that the class heres me talk about!!  The triplets are in 6th grade and AJ is 2 1/2! 

HERE's WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 7 & word of the week

SCOOPer READING:  DUE FRIDAY!!! **The students have been reminded that I will only allow one book activity to be turned in at a time. 

READING:  Jacob's Rescue continued.....

ENGLISH: We are taking a break to fit in some extra social studies material to learn about the ELECTION process and the candidates and the issues they are debating.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  The next colonists we will be learning about are the Puritans.

The last lesson in the chapter will cover the 13 colonies!

A test will be given the week of October 22nd!

SCIENCE:  The students are almost finshed creating an interactive MIMEO on weather.  This has been an exciting learning experience!

MATH:  QUIZ Monday which will cover Chapter 3 Lessons 1 - 5.

Next, we will be dividing by 2 digit divisors.

The Chapter 3 Test will be the week of October 22nd.

The Week of October 8, 2012

Dear Parents,

     HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND!!

Movie Night is Friday, October 12th.  If your child is attending, slips need to be turned in by Wednesday, October 10th.

***The fifth grade teachers would like help in organizing their classroom libraries in a different way. We would like to label each book with its lexile score so that students can make better choices for independent reading. Selecting books at appropriate lexile levels will help students increase fluency and comprehension while reading books that are of high-interest to them. Please contact me if you are interested.***

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 6 and word of the week.

ENGLISH:  Unit 5 Capitalization and Punctuation - We have one lesson left on using titles correctly.  TEST - Thursday!

SCOOPer Reading - Due date is Friday, October 19th.

READING.....

COURAGE - Our next selection is Jacob's Rescue.

A synopsis:  Once Jacob Gutgeld lived with his family in a beautiful house in Warsaw, Poland. He went to school and played hide-and-seek in the woods with his friends. But everything changed the day the Nazi soldiers invaded in 1939. Suddenly it wasn't safe to be Jewish anymore.

We will be doing vocabulary cards with self selected words.  The students will be doing activities based around the three levels of questioning:  right there, think and search, and on your own.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 5 Lesson 2 "New European Colonies" and Lesson 3 "The First Colonies".  We will be comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between the different colonies.

SCIENCE:  Weather.... The students will be applying the knowledge they have learned to create a MIMEO presentation!!!

MATH:  Tuesday = Quiz Lessons 1-3.  We will then continue with long division and have problems that have a zero in the quotient.  The students will also be looking at patterns in division that will sharpen their mental math skills.
We are taking MULTIPLICATION MAD MINUTE QUIZZES!!!  Your child will be given a page of 30 mixed multiplication facts to pass in 1 minute.  Once they have passed three of the 30 mixed MAD MINUTES....they can try to pass 40 problems in one minute!

The Week of October 1, 2012

Dear Parents,

A Scholastic Book order will be sent home on Monday.  This is an excellent opportunity to order a great selection of books at a reasonable price.  It is optional to order.  I pass out these order forms monthly.
The TAB order is a Jr. High level order form.  There are some selections that deal with more sensitive or young adult issues. Please review your child's selections!
A check to SCHOLASTIC or exact money is accepted in an envelope with the order forms.
When ordering from Scholastic, they give teachers bonus points to purchase books and other learning materials for the classroom.....So, thank you in advance!

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LEARNING:

SPELLING:  Lesson 5 and an opportunity to earn a bonus point with the word of the week!

ENGLISH:  Comma Project - due Monday!  We will be learning the correct usage of quotation marks, abbreviations, and titles.  We will finish Unit 5 this week.  The test will be on Tuesday, October 9th.

**CARTOON in color needed for Wednesday.

SCOOPer Reading:  First quarter book goal is due Friday, October 19th!

READING:  We will be doing some higher level thinking skills as we solve analogies.  The students will be given analogies that use synonyms, antonyms, whole to part, part to whole.  The relationship between the first set of words need to be determined to solve the analogy. Furthermore, there are some challenging words used on this sheet which will reinforce the use of dictionaries to learn and understand new words.

COURAGE - Our next selection is Jacob's Rescue.

A synopsis:  Once Jacob Gutgeld lived with his family in a beautiful house in Warsaw, Poland. He went to school and played hide-and-seek in the woods with his friends. But everything changed the day the Nazi soldiers invaded in 1939. Suddenly it wasn't safe to be Jewish anymore.

We will be doing vocabulary cards with self selected words.  The students will be doing activities based around the three levels of questioning:  right there, think and search, and on your own.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Jamestown Colony!  Your child should be able to tell you the similarities and differences between  the colonies of Roanoke and Jamestown.

We will also learn about other European colonies.

SCIENCE:  Weather :  Air masses and fronts and weather patterns and climates.

We will be finishing the chapter this week.  The students will NOT be given a test as an assessment of their learning.  Instead, they will be given directions about a WEATHER PROJECT. 

MATH:  MULTIPLICATION TIMED TESTS for facts 0's - 12's end this Friday.

Please continue to practice, practice, practice multiplication facts at home.

Chapter 3 Division - The steps for long division are a lot easier if multiplication facts are memorized!

Friday = Homework Sheet

The Week of September 24, 2012

Dear Parents,

    Some reminders for this week:

School Picture Envelopes:    Went home with your students today.  Please check their backpacks for them.  To pay by credit card, visit mylifetouch.com.  Follow online instructions.   Write online payment code on order form.  Bring completed order form to Picture Day - Thursday, September 27, 2012.  If paying by check, please make checks payable to Lifetouch. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Magazine Turn-In

Thursday, September 27, 2012
Picture Day
Last Magazine Turn-In

Cozzi Corner Dist 66 - Fundraiser

Friday, September 28, 2012
Early Dismissal - 11:00 a.m.

Cozzi Corner Dist 66 - Fundraiser

   

HERE'S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 4 and "word of the week"

READING:  We have been doing some different activities with homonyms and homophones.

COURAGE - This week we will look at a non-fiction news article and the students will focus on facts and opinions rather than plot and character.  We will also be reading a non-fiction and fiction selection about a diplomat who was faced with  deciding between saving lives and obeying government orders.

The students will use facts from the selections and their own values and experiences to reach a judgement.

SCOOPer Reading:  The students have been given several reminders that Friday, October 19th is the due date to reach their reading goal.  Only one book activity can be turned in at a time.

ENGLISH:  Unit 5 Capitalization and Punctuation - This week we will be concentrating on the many different uses of the comma.  We will be doing an enrichment activity that requries creative thinking with comma usage.  We will also review interjections and do an enrichment activity using !!!!!

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 5 Lesson 1 - England's first colony at Roanoke.  What happened??? Lesson 2 - The students will learn about the Battle of the Spanish Armada.

SCIENCE:  Chapter 11 Lesson 2 - Clouds and Precipitation and Factors that Affect the Weather Cycle, as well as, learning about different weather tools.

MATH:  Multiplication Timed Tests!!! Many students have passed!! Keep practicing so your child not only has them memorized but knows them quickly and accurately!

Chapter 2 Test and Homework sheet = Thursday

 

The Week of September 17, 2012

Dear Parents,

    This week Mrs. Zaboth, our multi-needs teacher, will be doing a presentation to our 5th grade students.  This informative talk helps the children better understand the students in her classroom who have various disabilities.  In 5th grade, the students have an opportunity to be Peer Buddies with these students.  This is voluntary and the students participate in this activity during recess and silent reading time.  Most students find this very rewarding and enjoy being able to interact with these students.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 3  work due Thursday and final test on Friday.  The students were not introduced to "Word of the Week" last week, however, they will be this week.  The word of the week and definition are worth 1 bonus point on the final test.

READING:  We are reading fiction and non fiction selections which coincide with the theme: Courage.

The students are responsible for vocabulary cards in which they self select words which are new and/or interesting to them.  Each child will be individually quizzed on their vocabulary words.

We will also be reviewing root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
The students are also identifying different character traits with supporting evidence.

SCOOPer Reading:  Your child has set a goal that is due October 19th.  Only one book activity can be turned in at a time.  I am encouraging each child to have a book read and an activity completed by the end of this week.

ENGLISH:  We are finishing Unit 1.  The Test will be given Thursday.

Next, we will do work from Unit 5 "Capitalization & Punctuation".

SCIENCE:  Weather and the Water Cycle

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 4 Lesson 3 "Life in New Spain" and we are finished with the chapter.

Chapter 4 test = Friday.

Your child will be filling out a "How to Study" sheet on Wednesday.  This sheet is worth 2 bonus points if it is filled out, signed by a parent, and returned on the day of the test!

I encourage on going studying.  Your child has notes and graded work in their binder which they can review!

MATH:  Multiplication! Multiplication! Multiplication x Multiplication!

Your child will have less frustration and more success in math if they have their multiplication facts MEMORIZED!  I can't emphasize this enough!

A letter is being sent home requiring a parent signature explaining the timed tests your child will be taking.

Friday = Chapter 2 Quiz Lessons 1-3 and Homework sheet

The Week of September 10, 2012

Dear Parents,

 Monday, Sept 10  =  Junior Great Books Enrollment Deadline.  Enrollment forms will not be accepted after Monday because we need time to order the books.
Tuesday, Sept 11 =  RED, WHITE, and BLUE SPIRIT DAY in remembrance of  9/11/2001
 Magazine Assembly which kicks off the Magazine Drive fundraiser.

Thursday, Sept 13 = Band Concert with LV band performing for us at 12:30!

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MISS TREFONAS'S CLASS:

SPELLING:  Lesson 2  Any student who receives -0 or -1 on the pretest will be given a challenge list and an alternate spelling assignment to complete with the challenge words. This week the students will be given a "word of the week" bonus.  If they spell the word and give the correct definition on Friday's test a spelling bonus point will be earned!

Assignments are due on Thursday.

Spelling tests are on Friday.

ENGLISH: We are finishing the Unit 1 lessons this week.

We will be doing some enrichment activities based on our knowledge of the 4 different types of sentences and knowing the subject and predicate of a sentence.  We will also learn about proper use of conjunctions and do editing of run on sentences.

The week of September 17th we will take our first English test.

READING:  Your child should be reading a book for SCOOPer Reading!  I am pleased with the students who have completed a book activity already.  They put good effort into the activity and I enjoyed our book talks!  I look forward to more students having a book read and activity completed this coming week.

.....COURAGE is the theme of our reading unit!  We will be working on context clues with learning meanings of vocabulary words in our first selection Hatchet.  The students will be completing vocabulary cards for each new word.  We will also be focusing on character traits.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  We will be doing an enrichment activity based on our knowledge of Christopher Columbus's voyages to America.  

Ch 4 L2 We will learn how the Spanish and the Aztecs worlds collided as Spain continues to conquer new land.  

SCIENCE:  Ask your child about the activity we did where they had to observe candles......

They learned not everything is the way it looks especially when Miss T. eats a candle!!!!

Have them enLIGHTen you with what happened in class!!!

Chapter 11 Weather - Your child has learned about the different layers of the atmosphere.

Next, we learn about "uneven heating" and "local and prevailing winds".

MATH: 

Lessons 1-5 QUIZ on Monday!  Your child has a review sheet due Monday.

Homework sheet on Tuesday which will have problems from workbook pages 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4

Chapter 1 test = Thursday

The Week of September 3rd, 2012

Dear Parents,

MAPS testing this week! Please make sure your child is well rested and has eaten a healthy breakfast.
Our class will test at 8:05 both days.
TUESDAY = Math
FRIDAY = Reading

A HUGE  THANK YOU t o our PTO and parent volunteers for the wonderful luncheon and desserts that were provided to the teachers last week.

Monday, September 3, 2012
No School/Labor Day

Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Fourth and Fifth Grade Curriculum Night
I highly recommend attending this informational evening about the 5th grade curriculum!
You will visit your child's math class and homeroom.

THIS WEEK IN MISS TREFONAS's CLASS:

SPELLING: LESSON 1 - The entire class will be on the regular list this week.  We will begin having an alternate "challenge" list next week.
Spelling assignment - due Thursday
Spelling test - Friday

READING:  COURAGE....We will be reading different selections that fit this theme!  Our skill work will begin with character traits with supporting evidence.

ENGLISH: We have completed autobiographical poems that are displayed in the classroom that you can see at Curriculum Night. We also completed a descriptive writing activity about a summer memory that will be made into a classroom book.
This week we will begin Unit 1. 
 Your child should be able to identify the 4 types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory. We will also be reviewing the subject/predicate of a sentence and identifying the simple subject and simple predicate or verb.


SCIENCE: We will be sharing your child's interpretation of a scientist. 
The students will be learning about the important skill of OBSERVATION using a variety of candles.
I hope they share what they learn with this activity!!!
We will begin our first unit, Chapter 11 Weather.

SOCIAL STUDIES: In social studies we are beginning chapter 4 "Spain Builds an Empire." The students will learn how Columbus's voyages led to a European settlement of the Americas and an exchange of people , animals, goods, and ways of life between East and West.

MATH: We will be Comparing and Ordering Numbers and Rounding Whole Numbers.
A QUIZ will be given the week of Sept. 10th which will cover both of these concepts and place value which we already covered.

The Week of May 29, 2012

Dear Parents,
     This is the last blog for this year!  Can you believe this year is coming to an end?

     IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
     Monday = No school!!
     Tuesday = Miss Trefonas's class visits Lakeview's IMC to check out books for summer reading.
     Wednesday = LAST DAY OF MATH
     Wednesday = Prairieview's TALENT SHOW @ 1:15 Parents and guests are invited!!!       
     Thursday = 10:00 5th grade Celebration
     Friday = 5th grade bowling at Brunswick Zone

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE UP TO IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  We are DONE!!!

ENGLISH:  Unit 7:  Lesson 2 Comparing with Adverbs & Lesson 3 Distingusihing between an adjective or adverb

READING:

Anne of Green Gables..... We will be watching the movie and responding in a journal after each episode. We will be using several of our reading strategies in our journal activities. Anne of Green Gables is based on the best-selling novel and is a fictional portrayal of an orphan who is adopted by an elderly brother and sister to help with the farm work. They are expecting to adopt a boy, but Anne arrives instead. This is a humorous and endearing tale of the many experiences of an adolescent.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Chapter 11 Open Note Test = Wednesday.  I have encouraged the students to read organize their notes and to read over their notes and the textbook.

SCIENCE:  Chapter 6 Test = Wednesday.  The students received a study sheet.  This sheet is worth 2 bonus points if completed with a parent signature and turned in.  It also has all the pertinent information that will be on the test!

MATH:  Winners of the Metric Olympics will be announced Tuesday!!!
Tuesday = Last day of Math!

The Week of May 21, 2012

Dear Parents,
    This week we have many special events taking place!
    Monday - The public libraries will be presenting their summer reading programs to students.
    Tuesday - 5th grade orientation and tour of Lakeview!
    Wednesday - PBIS Bowling Assembly here at Prairieview
    Thursday - SCOOPer Reading Celebration

HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE ARE UP TO IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Words of the Week for letters R - Z!  ABC book due Thursday.  Test on Friday!

LANGUAGE ARTS:  Persuasive writing "Should Students Have a Longer School Day"

READING:  Various reading activities!!!

SOCIAL STUDIES:  We will be finishing Chapter 11 this week.  We will be learning about the expedition of  Lewis and Clark and the expansion of the United States.  

Chapter 11 Test will be the week of May 28th!

SCIENCE:  Chapter 6 Lesson 2  "How Do Ecosystems Change Over Time?" and Lesson 3 "How Do People Affect Ecosystems?"   CHAPTER 6 Test = Wednesday, May 30th!

MATH:  Chapter 17... We will be doing problem solving making organized lists and tree diagrams.

Wednesday = HOMEWORK SHEET

Thursday = Chapter 17 Test

Friday = A special event.......METRIC OLYMPICS!!!!

The Week of May 14, 2012

Dear Parents,

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!!  Hoping your day is as special as you are.

Some reminders:
*Monday = SCOOPer Reading goals due!!!
*Monday = Band and Choir Concert assembly at 9:00 in the Prairieview gym.  Parents are always welcome!
                   Concert at Lakeview at 7:00 pm.

*Thursday = 5th grade is invited to see the dress rehearsal of the LV play!!!

*Friday = John Lynn assembly for 5th grade "An expedition with Louis and Clark"

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Words of the Week test for words I - Q.
ABC books for letter I-Q due Thursday!

LANGUAGE ARTS:  Persuasive final copies for school uniforms due Monday!
Our next Persuasive topic is Should Schools have an Extended School Day?
The students piece of writing will be used as a sample for Lakeview.

SCOOPer READING:  Due Monday!  We then will plan our celebration!!

READING:  Book Club discussion sheet, crossword, and final book club meeting is Monday.
The students' final assessment will be a Flapbook.  This will be an in class activity on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  The project is due on Friday.  It may be taken home on Wednesday to complete as homework if necessary.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 11 Lesson 2 Thomas Jefferson begins to expand the United States to the west.

NATIONAL TREASURE!!! We will be watching this movie since it coincides with social studies as a special treat!!!

SCIENCE:  continuing Chapter 6 Lesson "How do Organisms Compete and Survive in an Ecosystem?"
We will learn about symbiotic relationships:  mutualism, parasitism, and  commensalism.

MATH:  Chapter 9 test on Tuesday **No math on Monday.
Next, we will be learning about probability and doing some different types of problem solving activities.

May 7, 2012

Dear Parents,
 
     Teacher Appreciation Week.....Thanks to all of you who are providing "goodies" for the teachers through out the week with breakfasts and lunches! A nice treat!!

    Thanks to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Dziedzic for helping with scrap booking in our classroom.  The children are creating very special keepsakes as they work on their memory books.  Thanks again to all of you who have picked up and paid for pictures.  Also, thanks to anyone who has donated scrap booking supplies!!

HERE's WHAT WE ARE UP TO THIS WEEK:

SPELLING:  Words of the Week - Letters A -H. The children will have a Words of the Week "ABC" book that they will need to complete letters A-H due Thursday.  Friday there will be a test on the Words of the Week A-H....words only, not definitions!

SCOOPer Reading......May 14th is the due date!!!

READING:  Fantasty Genre Book Clubs!!! Book Club reading assignment and book club discussion sheet for the second part of the book are due Tuesday for their Book Club meeting!

Students will be graded on their book club discussion sheets, book club participation, and other assigned activities.

LANGUAGE ARTS:  Persuasive Writing....Each student is planning a persuasive based on the topic of school uniforms in public schools.  They have been encouraged to share their graphic organizer/planning sheet at home and have a discussion on this topic.  We will be using this graphic organizer to write a persuasive essay  on this topic.  The students need to have strong arguments, support, and elaboration!

These are important elements in persuasive writing.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Your child has an opportunity to recite the Preamble and earn 2 social studies bonus points.  It has to be memorized!! The deadline is Friday, May 11th!

Chapter 10 test = Friday!!!

SCIENCE:  Chapter 6 Lesson 1 How Do Organisms Compete and Survive in an Ecosystem

MATH:  Graphs!!!

   
 

April 30, 2012

Dear Parents,
    
     MAPs testing this week.  Reading = Monday @ 10:30
                                            Math = Tuesday @ 8:05

    This is our final MAPs test this year!  I anticipate seeing great scores!!!

THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 30

LANGUAGE ARTS:  Persuasive Writing!  Our first writing prompt will be about school uniforms.

SCOOPer READING:  May 14th is approaching......

READING:  The students will be reading a fantasy novel and be given Book Club discussion sheets to be completed in time for their book club meeting.  They will also be given a participation grade.

The first book club meeting = Friday.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Chapter 10 Lesson 3 "Ratifying the Constitution"

Your child has an opportunity to memorize the preamble to the Constitution "We the People" and perform in front of the class.  This will earn your child 2 Bonus Points in social studies and earn a prize!!

SCIENCE:  Chapter 5 Test = Thursday.

MATH:  Time and Temperature!!

     

April 23, 2012

Dear Parents,

   A huge thank you to Mrs. Dziedzic and Mrs. Hoffman for picking up and paying for our classroom pictures that will be used for our Memory Books.  A huge thank you to Mrs. Gustafson for the generous donation of  the DRAGONBREATH series.  Our classroom has all 7 books!  Thanks to all of you who continually support our classroom is so many ways.

IF YOU CAN DONATE.....
We could use more FRUIT SNACKS!  Thanks in advance!!

Ask your child about the classroom read aloud we just finshed Because of Mr. Terupt.  There is a sequel Mr. Terupt Falls again.  It might be something worth "checking out"!

   REMINDERS:

   Monday, April 23 thru Friday, May 4, 2012
   Book Worm Angels  Book Drive- Monday, April 23 thru Friday, May 4, 2012

   Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Project Challenge - 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

   Wednesday, April 25, 2012S- Early Dismissal - 11:00 a.m.

  THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING:  Lesson 29

SCOOPer READING = Due on May 14th!

READING:
 We are finishing our Poetry Unit with learning more about Hyperboles.

 The children have written a Yankee Doodle parody and a cinquain.
 Next, they will write a diamante poem.

LANGUAGE ARTS: 
We will begin learning about the elements of Persuasive text and writing.
 The first writing assignment will be about SCHOOL UNIFORMS.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
 Chapter 9 tests have been graded and returned.

 Chapter 10 Lesson 1 "Forming a Weak Government"

 Chapter 10 Lesson 2 "Debate in Philadelphia"

SCIENCE:
 Chapter 5....  Food Webs and The Energy Pyramid

MATH: 
The Metric System

There will be an assessment at the end of the week -  A QUEST (quiz/test)  !!
Homework sheet  = Friday

The Week of April 16, 2012

Dear Parents,
We are now halfway through our 3rd trimester of 5th grade. If your child has a grade lower than a C a progress report is being sent home. Please review your child's progress at this time using Parent Connect.
It was nice to see many of you at the TGFD (Too Good For Drugs) 5th grade graduation.
Matt did a fabulous job sharing his Promise Letter.
Congratulations to Meghan for winning 1st place in the Citizen's Bank essay contest and to Camille for receiving an honorable mention.
Thank you, Mrs. Peloso for bringing in a special treat for our China unit.

HERE's WHAT's HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING: Lesson 28

SCOOPer READING: Due date is May 14th!

READING: We will be looking at how figurative language is used in poetry. This week we will specifically be looking at poetry that uses similes, imagery, onomatopoeia, and personification.
We will also be writing a CINQUAIN and a PARODY to "Yankee Doodle" which correlates with social studies.

ENGLISH: finishing Unit 3 Verbs.....TEST on FRIDAY!!!

SOCIAL STUDIES: We are finished with Chapter 9!
Monday = How to Study sheet and highlighting notes.
Tuesday and Wednesday = review
Thursday = CHAPTER 9 TEST!!!

SCIENCE: Chapter 5 Lesson 1 Plant Structures and Lesson 2 How Energy is Passed through an Ecosystem

MATH: Chapter 22 Measurement
Customary measurements of length, capacity, and weight.
Homework sheet and quiz = THURSDAY!

The Week of April 9, 2012

Dear Parents,
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Fifth Grade - Too Good for Drugs Graduation - 8:15 a.m. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Project Challenge - 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 12, 2012
Spring Open House/Book Fair - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Friday, April 13, 2012
Wheel of Wisdom Assembly - 12:45 - Gym
Progress Reports

THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING: Lesson 27 and our last word of the week!

ENGLISH: Unit 3 Contractions & Irregular Verbs

READING: China Brochures due Monday.
We will be doing some various activities that focus on CHINA.

SCOOPer Reading: Goals are due on May 4th!

SOCIAL STUDIES: Chapter 9 continued..... The students learned what it was like for Washington's soldiers to cross the Delaware River and how important this event was in American history. This week we will be discussing Revolutionary War Uniforms and the final events of the American Revolution.

MATH: Chapter 13 Adding and Subtracting fractions.
*No math Tuesday due to TGFD graduation
Friday = Homework sheet and Quiz

The Week of April 2, 2012

Dear Parents,

WOW! April already! It seems like just yesterday that it was Open House and we were meeting for the first time!

SAVE THE DATES:
Tuesday, April 10th- 8:15 Too Good For Drugs Graduation

Thursday, April 12th - Prairieview Open House and Book Fair

This week we have Bill Bellis, weatherman, from Fox News coming to talk to our 5th grade students!

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM:

Spelling: Lesson 26 and word of the week

SCOOPer Reading: Each student should have at least on book read and activity completed!

Reading: China! This week we begin using a variety of non fiction resources to gather facts on our note taking sheets. Class time will be given on Monday and Tuesday. The note taking sheets need to be completed for Wednesday.
Then, we will begin making a China Travel Brochure with the information we have gathered.
Class time will be given to start the brochure, however it will need to be worked on at home.
The China Travel Brochure will be due on Monday, April 9th.

English: Unit 3 Verbs - Present, Past, and Future Tense Verbs and subject/verb agreement.

Social Studies: Chapter 9 Lesson 2 "Patriots at War"

Science: We will be using science time to do additional activities with China this week.

Math: We will be learning about the relationship between fractions and decimals.
We will review Chapter 12 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Chapter 12 test is Thursday.

The Week of March 19, 2012

Dear Parents,

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, March 20th "Teacher Institute"

FIELD TRIP -
Naper Settlement = Students need a sack lunch and drink with their name clearly labeled on the bag.
Please have students dress according to the weather since we participate in activities both inside and outside. We will be leaving Prairieview @ 9:15. We will be returning around 1:30.
Chaperones = Mrs. Gibbons, Mrs. Guagliardo, Mrs. Kirkolis, and Mr. Rutter.

Tuesday, April 10th = T.G.F.D. Graduation @ 8:15!

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOM:

SPELLING: Lesson 25

SCOOPer Reading: I encourage students to look at their Scooper Reading folder first before reading a book to make sure that it will count as one of the choices they have left.
I continue to enjoy meeting with the students and hearing all about the book they read.

READING: CHINA!! We will be using a variety of non fiction books and researching using the internet to learn about this interesting country. We will be focusing on main ideas and supporting details.

ENGLISH: Unit 3 Verbs continued... This week we will learn about main verbs and helping verbs, as well as, linking verbs.
We will continue this unit after spring break.

SOCIAL STUDIES: We are finishing Chapter 9 Lesson 1.
This chapter will continue after spring break.

SCIENCE: We have finished chapter 14. The test is Thursday. Hopefully, your child has begun studying since they have known about the test for over a week!!!
A review sheet will be given Monday.
We will be playing "HOT SEAT" as a review for the test on Wednesday. The students Hot Seat questions count as a participation grade.

MATH: Chapter 12 Fractions
This week we will be learning about mixed numbers, comparing and ordering fractions.
Thursday = Homework sheet

The Week of March 12, 2012

Dear Parents,

Thanks to all of you who generously donated snacks for ISAT testing! We have had plenty of healthy snacks to refuel us during testing. One more day of ISATs on Monday! YEAH!!
We will have many leftover snacks for our classroom snack drawer!

SCOOPer Reading Celebration will be Thursday!! We will be watching, MIRACLE, a Disney Movie based on the 1980 United States ice hockey team's Olympic victory against the Soviet Union. It is about fulfilling a goal and achieving the "impossible". It has a great message about what true inspiration and team work can accomplish.
They students who have volunteered to bring in snacks may bring them in on or before Thursday!

SOME UPCOMING DATES:
Monday = Skating Party
Thursday = SCOOPer Reading Party

Tuesday, March 20th = Teacher Institute-No School
Friday, March 23rd = NAPER SETTLEMENT Field Trip
*sack lunch and drink
*dress according to weather since there are outside activities
Chaperones: Mrs. Kirkolis, Mr. Rutter, Mrs. Guagliardo, and Mrs. Gibbons - be here at 9:00!

Tuesday, April 10th = T.G.F.D. Graduation @ 8:15!

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE UP TO IN THE CLASSROOM:

SPELLING: Third Trimester to be on challenge words, the pretest must be passed with 100%.
We will continue to have "word of the week" bonus!

ENGLISH: Unit 4 Adjective Test = Monday
Adjective ABC project due on Tuesday.
We will be writing Adjective poems on Wednesday.
Next, we will be learning about VERBS!

SCOOPer READING: Trimester 3 Goal sheets are due. Your child should be reading and completing a book activity sometime soon!

READING: Historical Fiction Book Clubs....Wow! The students have had very interesting book club meetings. I have enjoyed listening to their conversations. This week they will be creating a book commercial with their book club group.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Chapter 9 "Winning the Revolution"

SCIENCE: Ch 15 finishing Lesson 3 and beginning Lesson 4 "How Do People Use Energy Resources". This has been a long chapter and some reviewing this week of Lesson 1-3 would be helpful. Ch 15 test will be the week of March 19th!

MATH:
Monday = No math
We begin fractions this week including equivalent fractions and putting fractions in simplest form.
Friday = Homework Sheet and Quiz covering Lessons 1-3.

The Week of March 5, 2012

Dear Parents,


LATE POLICY FOR 5th grade....This is also Lakeview's Late Policy.

Third Trimester: 1 day late - minus 25%

More than 1 day late until unit test is taken - minus 50%

After unit test is taken - a zero in the grade book

Monday- No School in honor of Casmir Pulaski.

ISAT testing schedule: Please make sure your student is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast!!!

Tuesday, March 6th

Math Session #1: 8:15-9:30 AM (Switch to Math classrooms)

Reading Session #1: 9:45-11:00 AM (In homerooms)

Wednesday, March 7^th

Math Session #2: 8:15-9:30 AM (Switch to Math classrooms)

Reading Session #2: 9:45-11:00 AM (In homerooms)

Thursday, March 8^th

Math Session #3: 9:00-10:15 AM (Switch to Math classrooms)

Monday, March 12^th

Reading Session #3: 9:00-10:15 AM (In homerooms)

SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday, April 10th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 in our gym.
Parents are encouraged to attend!!

HERE's WHAT WE ARE UP TO BESIDE ISATs:

SPELLING: none this week

READING: Historical Fiction novels and book club discussion sheets. The next book club discussion sheet and meeting is Thursday.

SCOOPer Reading: Trimester 3 goal sheets and book activity sheets will be given to the students on Wednesday. We will also be planning our SCOOPER READING CELEBRATION!!!
More information to come about that.....

ENGLISH: Unit 4 Adjectives. We are finishing the unit and testing on Monday, March 12.
The students will be given an end of the unit project this week.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Chapter 8 Test on Tuesday. How to Study sheet filled out and a parent signature is worth 2 bonus points.

SCIENCE: Chapter 15 L3 "How Heat is Transferred" We will be testing the following week.
Get a head start on studying!!!

MATH: No regular math due to ISAT testing.....

February 27, 2012

Dear Parents,

EARLY DISMISSAL - Tuesday!

SCOOPer Reading is due Monday!! Since I am not here on Thursday 2/23 or Friday 2/24, I will accept more than one Scooper Reading activity on Monday!

PATRIOT/LOYALIST project typed and illustrated due Monday.
We are doing the cover at school!

This is our last week of T.G.F.D.!! It would be nice if your child would like to write a thank you note or card!

SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday, April 10th is our Too Good For Drugs Graduation at 8:15 in our gym.
Parents are encouraged to attend!!

Field trip slips for NaperSettlement will be given to your child on Monday.
The permission slip and $ is due by the end of the week.

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE UP TO THIS WEEK:

SPELLING: Lesson 23

ENGLISH: Unit 4 Adjectives

READING: The students will be reading a historical fiction novel independently and completing book club discussion sheets. They will also be participating in book club discussion groups.
The novel they are assigned is according to their readability (Lexile level) and comprehension.
I also tried to select books that would interest each reader.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Chapter 8 Test = Tuesday, March 6th

SCIENCE: Chapter 15 continued....This week we learn about different forms of energy!

MATH: Monday = Lesson 11.3 Factors and Greatest Common Factor
Tuesday = No Math due to Early Dismissal
Wednesday = Trimester Target Test and ISAT practice
Thursday = Lesson 11.4 Prime and Composite Numbers
Friday = Homework sheet and Quiz over lessons 1-4