Surprises for Baby Morizzo!

Thank you so much for the generous gifts and thoughtful book for Baby Morizzo!  It was so kind of everyone to think of us during this exciting time!  Baby Morizzo will love reading all of the students' kind messages, tips, and name suggestions!

This Week...

February 22- February 26, 2016

Reading:  We read a variety of poems and worked on finding the “big idea”.  As we read each stanza, we annotated our thoughts in the margins.  Students learned that the reader must read through the poem in its entirety to truly understand the poet’s message.  They also determined the mood of the poem by looking for clues.  Many of these clues included sensory details.  On Wednesday, we celebrated World Read Aloud Day!  Mrs. Sessler was able to visit our classroom and read us one of her favorite books! Reading Logs are due Monday, February 29.  (100 minutes)

Math:  Students reviewed key concepts from unit 7.  Fact extensions, in and out boxes, and puzzles were some of the main topics.  We took our unit 7 test on Thursday.  Next week, we will begin unit 8.  A family letter will be going home to explain the details of the upcoming fraction unit. **If applicable: for students still on addition and subtraction, fact tests and graphs are due Monday, February 29.

Social Studies:  Students watched a video on Abraham Lincoln and discussed his importance in our state.  They created Lincoln collages based on significant events in his life.  We had a great discussion about the impact Lincoln had on our country and our state.

Writing:  In writing, we began our poetry unit!  Students used strong verbs and interesting adjectives to write “I Am” poems.  In grammar, we focused on identifying and applying helping verbs.  The February writing words test was on Thursday.  March words will be going home next week.

Spelling:  We had our week 21 test.

Miscellaneous:  Students were excited to attend the Band of Steel assembly, which was sponsored by the PTA!  They loved watching the performance.  On Thursday, the class surprised me with a sweet baby shower!  It was so generous of everyone to give us the adorable baby gear and I absolutely loved reading the baby book written by our class.  Baby Morizzo is one lucky baby!  Since this is my last newsletter before I go on maternity leave, I just wanted to thank each one of you for a wonderful school year!  I have truly enjoyed working with each of your children.  I know they will continue learning and growing during this last trimester of the school year.  Thank you for all your support…I really appreciate it!  Have a wonderful weekend!

A Few Pictures...

We love to read!

Art Appreciation work...based on Seurat's pointillism!





Happy World Read Aloud Day!  Mrs. Sessler visited our classroom and read us a story!

This Week...

February 16- February 19, 2016

Reading:  We continued our study of poetry!  Students figured out how poets utilize white space and line breaks to help the reader understand the message.  We also discussed the importance of reading a poem “start to finish”.  Students determined the meaning of a poem after each stanza.  They learned that it is necessary to read a poem in its entirety to truly understand the meaning.  Finally, students analyzed a poet’s style by comparing and contrasting poems by the same author. Reading Logs are due Monday, February 22.  (100 minutes)

Math:  Students started solving extended fact problems based on their knowledge of basic multiplication facts.  Solving puzzles was a useful way for students to practice their facts.  They also learned how to use fact extensions to estimate costs.  The unit 7 math test will be on Thursday, February 25.  A review guide will be going home next week. **If applicable: for students still on addition and subtraction, fact tests and graphs are due Monday, February 22.

Social Studies:  Students read about the Illini Native Americans.  They created note taking webs that focused on their homes, jobs, resources, and traditions.  We also discussed how Illinois became a state by focusing on particular countries and important individuals.

Writing:  In writing, students worked on understanding the difference between literal and figurative language.  They created idiom projects by illustrating both meanings.  Students were also excited to share their response to literature essays with Mrs. Lo’s class.  In grammar, we focused on the past and present tenses for various linking verbs.  The February writing words test will be on Thursday, February 25.  This test will be cumulative.  Please let me know if you need additional copies of the lists.

Spelling:  We had our week 20 test.

Miscellaneous:  We were very excited to welcome Ms. Young to our classroom!  She spent the day with us on Tuesday in order to learn all about our subjects and routines.  We are looking forward to having her be our substitute teacher!  In the LMC, students continued their planet research projects.  They utilized Kidrex.org and DKFindOut to take important notes.  Students found many interesting facts to support why their planets are unique.  Please let me know if you have any questions…enjoy the warm weather this weekend!

This Week...

February 8- February 12, 2016

Reading:  Students continued reading various poems.  Students analyzed the subjects of poems to determine the poets’ inspirations.  We also discussed how the language a poet uses can elicit a certain mood or feeling for the reader.  Students connected to the poems through personal experiences to deepen their understanding.  We also talked about how poetry can contain difficult vocabulary or use words in unusual ways.  We used our background knowledge and context clues to determine the meaning of words. Reading Logs are due Tuesday, February 16.  (100 minutes)

Math: We began unit 7!  Students discovered that square products are formed by multiplying two identical factors.  They also solved multiplication/division puzzle boxes.  Multiplication Bingo was a great game to practice and review important facts. At the end of the week, students created equations using parentheses to solve for various number stories.  **If applicable: for students still on addition and subtraction, fact tests and graphs are due Tuesday, February 16.

Social Studies:  We finished up our solar system unit by having our moon quiz on Tuesday.  Students were very excited to start our next social studies unit: Illinois!  We started off discussing the land of Illinois, including bordering rivers and states.  State symbols were also discussed.  At the end of the week, students had the opportunity to study the climate of certain cities across the state: Springfield, Rockford, and Cairo.  After graphing the average monthly temperatures for each city, students discovered that the colder cities are in the northern part of the state, while the warmer cities are in southern Illinois.

Writing:  In writing, students completed their response to literature essays!  They used an editing checklist to make final changes.  Next week, we will share our essays with our classmates.  In grammar, we focused on the past and present tenses for the following verbs: have, be, and do.

Spelling:  We had our week 19 test.

Miscellaneous:  Thank you to everyone who made our Valentine’s Day party possible!  The students really enjoyed the celebration!  The West states and capitals information went home this week.  Students will have about a month to learn this region.  Before spring break, we will have a test over the West (March 15).  Just a reminder, students do not have school on Monday due to President’s Day.  Enjoy the 3-day weekend and I’ll see you back on the 16th!

This Week...

February 1- February 5, 2016

Reading:  Students were excited to start our next unit: poetry!  We learned that poetry can come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Students analyzed various poems and noticed different types of elements.  Some of these included the shape, font, amount of stanzas, colors, print size, etc.  We also talked about the following poetic techniques: alliteration, repetition, and onomatopoeia.  Students learned how to identify these techniques within different poems, while also inferring why the poets used them.  Reading Logs are due Monday, February 8.  (100 minutes)

Math:  At the beginning of the week, we reviewed key concepts from unit 6.  Students took their unit 6 test on Wednesday.  At the end of the week, students took a “pop” test over units 4-6.  This test will be shared with you during spring conferences.  On Monday, we will begin unit 7! **If applicable: for students still on addition and subtraction, fact tests and graphs are due Monday, February 8.

Science:  Students used physical models to demonstrate how the earth, moon, and sun interact with each other.  We also reviewed key ideas about the moon.  The moon quiz will be on Tuesday, February 9.  A review guide went home this week.  In the LMC, students learned which planets the will be researching!  They learned about a valuable resource, TrueFlix, which has important information they can use for note-taking.

Writing:  Students worked hard on their literature essay rough drafts.  Students also learned the importance of peer feedback.  They participated in an activity where they discovered that feedback can be a helpful part of the revision process.  Students utilized this feedback to make changes to their pieces.  In grammar, we reviewed major concepts from the unit.  Students practiced writing verbs in the present, past, and future tenses.  February writing words also went home this week.

Spelling:  We had our week 18 review test.

Miscellaneous:  Students enjoyed the book fair this week!  It was great to see everyone picking out some wonderful books.  Just a reminder, if your child is planning on bringing valentines, please be sure there is one for each student and that they do not contain food/candy.  Valentine boxes are due on Thursday, February 11.  Students took their Northeast states and capitals test this week.  Our next region will be the West!  Finally, field trip forms and conference forms went home...please return these when you get a chance.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Have a fabulous weekend!