Good afternoon,

I hope everyone is enjoying their half day of school.  We have been in a meeting discussing the new PARCC Test, which will take the place of the ISATs.  We will begin taking these tests in March.

Next week we will be reading the story, “We’ll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente.”  We will have activities and writing that accompany our story.  On Thursday, the students will have their end of story test, along with a DLP Test.  On Thursday, we will also finish up Chapter 10, Lesson 2 in social studies with a quiz.  We have been learning about the new government the United States had to create after winning the Revolutionary War.  We are discussing acids and bases in science and will finish up our science unit at the end of the week or toward the beginning of next week. 

All students must have their second trimester book report completed by February 12 at the latest.  Please remember that any school supplies needed may be bought at our very own Wesley Store, The Paw Pantry.  The store is open during lunch time on orange days.  We will have DARE on Tuesdays for the next four weeks.  The students enjoy this and receive valuable information.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.  Have a nice, three-day weekend.

 

Mrs. Constantopoulos

 

 

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing break.  Welcome to the New Year and to a cold week.  The students were very busy today and have a lot of homework tonight.  I gave them some time in school to begin working, so those who used their time wisely shouldn’t have to spend too much of the evening on their homework. 

This week we are reading “Iditarod Dream,” which is a story from our reading books.  We will have a test on Friday on the book, vocabulary, and the spelling words that accompany the story.  This will be done, as all spelling is, by writing sentences and writing the spelling words (and all words) correctly. We are continuing with decimals in math.  We will have a quiz on Friday to check our progress in math and also on Chapter 10, lesson one in social studies, where we are forming our new government.  We will also have a science test on Friday, and our outlines are due as well.  It’s back to a full week, so please encourage your child to keep up with his/her school work. 

I wish all of you a very healthy and happy 2015. 

 

I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.  This year has gone by so fast, and I’m fortunate to be able to say this is in part due to the nice group of students I have. 

We’re finishing out 2014 with a math quiz and a social studies quiz over Chapter 9, Lesson 3 on Friday.  Then we have our Christmas party in the afternoon. The only homework the students have over break is to read.  I sent home an on-line reading program through RAZ Kids, which they can practice over break.  It has a lot of fun activities, and I think it will be helpful.

I hope everyone enjoys their break.  Again, Merry Christmas to all!

Mrs. Constantopoulos          

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Only two weeks to go until Christmas break!  Remember, there is no school for students on Friday, December 12.  This coming week we will be finishing up our chapter on addition and subtraction of decimals.  We will have a review on Wednesday and the Chapter 5 test on Thursday.  We will then be moving on to multiplication and division of decimals.  In social studies, we have started the Revolutionary War.  We will have a quiz on Chapter 9, lesson 2 on Thursday.  To help celebrate the season, in reading we will all be reading The Worst/Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  This is a fun book, which the students typically enjoy.  We are studying mixture and solutions in science.  This is a difficult unit, so please ask your child to bring his/her book home to go over what we’ve done in school. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. 

I can’t believe how the time is flying.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner, although it feels like the middle of winter.  I look forward to seeing you all at conferences on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week.  It’s my hope that your child can accompany you to our conference, since it is all about him/her.  If not, that’s not a problem, but I want you to know they are more than welcome, if not encouraged, to join us.

We have finished up with division temporarily in math.  We are now adding and subtracting decimals, and we’ll move back to multiplying and dividing, but it will be with decimals this time.  We will have a short quiz to check our progress on Thursday.  We began the Revolutionary War in social studies, in which the students seem to take an interest.  We will have a quiz on Chapter 8, Lesson 3 on Thursday as well.  We are finishing up A Family Apart in reading this week.  The children have been doing activities that go along with the book.  In science, we have been working on the circulatory system and the heart, and we’ll have our quiz on these this Thursday.  I’m trying to teach the students that studying is just as important as doing written homework.  Please reiterate this message at home.

The week we return, we will be continuing with decimals in math. They’ll be having a quiz on Thursday, December 4 on what we’ve learned through that time.  In social studies we will continue with the Revolutionary War through the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Also on the fourth we will have a quiz on Chapter 9, Lesson 1.  We’ll be reading various stories in reading during our guided reading time, having a written assessment on that Friday, December 5.  We will be starting our unit in science on mixtures and solutions.  Outlines will be passed out the day we come back to class, December 1. 

I think that pretty much catches you up.  As always, please contact me with any questions.  Have a wonderful week with your children, and I wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. 

 

The heat finally came on today, so we should be nice and warm in the classroom as it gets colder outside.  I hope this finds everyone well.  We are finishing up the trimester, as it ends on November 12.  The students’ book reports and common assessment writing pieces are both due on November 6.  Some of the students are experiencing anxiety about this.  I understand the writing is difficult since this is the first time they have to write using sources.  However, the book report was assigned the first day of school.  Each student is responsible for one book report per trimester.  I advised them not to wait until the last few days.  Unfortunately, as kids will be kids, most have waited.  Thus, they’re experiencing concern to get everything finished.  This is a good lesson as far as not waiting until the last minute, which I will reiterate all year.  Part of them being ready for the junior high is to learn to manage their time well.  Everyone needs help with that, and I will try and help them as best as I can.

We are continuing with division this week, with a review on Wednesday and a test on Friday.  We are leading up to the American Revolution, and we will have a quiz on Chapter 8, Lesson 1 on Thursday.  We are spending most of our afternoons finishing up our writing projects, as well as starting new books in guided reading. 

I hope everyone has a good week.  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.   Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a nice three-day weekend.  The students are working on the math mid-trimester district assessment right now.  We have just finished up with chapters one and two in math, and we will be moving on to division.  In social studies, we are talking about the colonies and slavery in the colonies.  The students will be making a horn book, signifying what colonial children used in school.  We will have a test on Chapter six, Lesson 3 tomorrow (Thursday).  We are continuing in reading by doing guided reading in our groups.  This week we are focusing on main idea and details, along with figurative language.  We will be working on a new story this week, and we will continue working on it next week as well as with the accompanying activities.  We will have a science quiz on the endocrine system and the reproductive system tomorrow, Thursday, October 16. 

Next week we will be going to Addison Trail High School to see the Lyric Opera.  That will take place on Tuesday morning.  Also, next Friday there is only a half day of school for the students.  They will be getting out of school at 12:00.  Next week Thursday, students will have a math quiz on what we’ve covered in Chapter three.  Please remind your child to study the vocabulary words, which are a large part of the test.  The Chapter six, Lesson four social studies test will be next Thursday, October 23.  Conference letters are going home today.  Please send them back to school with your child, indicating if you can make the time/date designated.  Thank you!