Weekly Newsletter
Dear parents,
We are back to our regular routine for the first week since before Spring Break. We were a little rusty but
managed to get back into the swing of things for the most part. However, the end of the year brings many
assemblies, concerts, rehearsals, Open House and other activities, so we will deviate from the routine quite often.
Please note the upcoming important dates:
May 10 and May 12- MAP testing in the afternoons
May 10-12- Book Fair
May 10- 5th grade band concert
May 11- Open House @ 6:30 p.m.
May 12-5th grade orchestra concert
May 25- 5th graders visit MSS for lunch and tour
May 31- 5th grade Awards Ceremony @ 2 p.m.
June 3- 5th grade class picnic at Lakewood Forest Preserve ***this is a change from the district calendar
Parents are welcome to attend the 5th grade Awards Ceremony and the 5th grade picnic.
Literacy:
We began our new Read Aloud novel, Wolf Brother by Michele Paver. It is a fantasy/mystery. Every 5
chapters the students participate in Socratic Circles, which encourage in depth discussions about the book
through open-ended questions. So far, they love it!
Word Study:
 We began our unit on pronouns. We learned about subject, object and possessive pronouns and we
learned how to use I and we.
 This week during word study rotations, we focused on the prefixes auto- and self-. Students practiced
recognizing and applying pronouns at their own pace through Versa Tiles activities. Students analyzed
words according to meaning and spelling patterns through differentiated Words Their Way word sorts.
 Students compared a variety of texts with related content during guided reading rotations. They read 2
literary non-fiction pieces entitled Meet the Wards and If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon both
individually and with partners. They also read non-fiction text about westward expansion at the Guided
Reading table. These texts support our current social studies unit.
Science:
 Students completed their Taft journals and wolf packets.
 Students reflected on their Taft experiences and created artistic projects in which they depicted favorite
activities and memories.
Social Studies:
 I introduced the students to group projects in which they will each focus on a small section of their S.S.
text and then work with their groups to write scripts for skits. The goal of each skit when p resented is to
teach the audience the big ideas of the text, the causes and effects of the events and the lasting outcomes
of these events. They have been working cooperatively within their small groups to discuss and
understand their topics, to brainstorm ideas, and to create the scripts. These presentations will take place
on Wednesday, May 11.
Math Objectives:
 Subtract fractions with common, related and unrelated denominators
 Subtract mixed numbers with common, related and unrelated denominators
 Decompose whole numbers when subtracting
We reviewed past objectives through our Blast from the Past activity.
Students enriched their math knowledge and skills through Manga High and math centers activities.