Miss Pellin's Post
November 1st to November 5th

We had a boo-tiful time at our Halloween Party and Halloween Parade. Thank-you to all the volunteers who helped make it possible.

There will be no school on Tuesday, November 2nd. Please plan accordingly.

The picture above is Pierce Downer the founder of Downers Grove! We will be taking a field trip to Downers Grove as part of our Social Studies unit about our city on Wednesday, November 10th! I do not need any more volunteers due to the overhwhelming previous response! You still are welcome to come and meet the class at Giordanos for lunch at 12:15 pm. If you would like to meet the class for lunch and eat the pizza we are ordering, please send in $7.00 by Monday, November 1st. Otherwise, you can buy a separate lunch or bring a sack lunch.

The Tenth Week of 2009 at School:

Science: We will continue the study of space. Students will learn about the lunar cycle. They will also learn about solar and lunar eclipses.

Social Studies: We will continue learning about the history of Downers Grove.

Math: We will finish the study of chapter 4. There will be a chapter 4 test on Wednesday, November 3rd. Students have already received a study guide. Then we will begin the study of "T" charts. This Make-a-Table problem solving is one strategy for solving math story problems. We will be learning the strategy by solving problems together in class. This type of strategy is one area of emphasis on the coming ISAT tests. Look for a packet and a letter of explanation in your students to be left at home folder.

Spelling: This week the students will focus on solving part/whole analogies. We will work on this skill every day. A packet will be given to the students on Monday. We will work on the packet in class and some pages will be homework. This packet can be studied and reviewed for Friday's graded review on part/whole analogies.

Reading: We will be focusing on the following skills and strategies as we read novels this week: identifying character traits, setting, and problem/solution, summarizing, predicting, and making inferences.

English: This week we will finish the study of nouns. There will be a test on nouns (unit 2) on Monday, November 8th. Students will receive a study guide on Wednesday.

Things to Remember:
Tuesday 11/2: There will not be school today.
Wednesday 11/3: There will be a chapter 4 math test.
Friday 11/5: There will be a spelling test.

Monday 11/8: We will have an English unit 2 noun test.

Contact Information:
E-Mail address: mpellin@ccsd66.org
Voice mail: (630)783-5065

Miss Pellin's Post
October 18th - October 22nd

We will be taking a field trip to Downers Grove as part of our social studies unit about our city on Wednesday, November 10th. The signed permission slip is due on Friday, October 29th. You may also send $7.00 along with the signed permission slip to cover the cost of a Giordano's pizza lunch. If you do not wish to have your child participate, they may bring a sack lunch on the day of the field trip (no money required). I do not need any more volunteers due to the overhwhelming previous response!

There will be an early dismissal day on Wednesday, October 20th. Please plan accordingly.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when helping your child pick out a Halloween costume:

1. We only have 15 minutes for costume changes. Please make sure your child can change into his/her costume easily and by themselves. If the costume can be worn over their clothes, then both the time to change and the chances of losing any clothes is minimized.

2. If the costume involves make up, please apply it before your child comes to school. If you send your child in with make up then your child has to be able to apply it themselves.

3. Please do not send any weapons (guns, swords, etc.) as part of the costume. Save those for trick-or-treating.

4. We will not have time to change back into our clothes for dimissal. Your child will wear their costume home.

The Eighth Week of 2009 at School:
Science: We will begin the study of space.

Social Studies: We will continue the study of Downers Grove. Students will learn about how Downers Grove played a part in the underground railroad.

Math: This week we will continue the study of Chapter 4 which deals with subtracting large numbers, borrowing, and story problems.

Spelling: We are on list 8 this week. The rule for the week is three-letter clusters and unexpected consonant patterns. The pretest will be Monday and the graded test will be Friday.

Reading: We continue to work on cause and effect, as well as making predictions and inferences, as we read Cliff Hanger.

English: This week we will continue descriptive writing unit. Students will write a descriptive story about a haunted house.

Things to Remember:
Wednesday 10/20: This is an early dismissal day.
Thursday 10/21: There will be a book fair.
Friday 10/22: This is bus driver's appreciation day.

Contact Information:
E-Mail address: mpellin@ccsd66.org
Voice mail: (630)783-5065

Miss Pellin's Post
October 4th - October 8th
I learned a lot about my reading class this week! Each of them made an excellent presentation of their "Me" bag.

Remember Monday, October 11th is Columbus Day and there will be no school.

The Seventh Week of 2009 at School:
Science: We will continue to study weather. Students will learn about different kinds of storms.

Social Studies: We will study the continents and oceans. There will be a continents and ocean test on Thursday, October 7th. Look for a study guide to come home at the beginning of the week. Then we will begin to study Downers Grove. Students will learn about our town's location and history. This is an opportunity for students to relate to their studies.

Math: This week we will continue the study of Chapter 3 which deals with estimating and problem solving. There will be a Chapter 3 test on Friday, October 8th. Students will receive a study guide at the beginning of the week.

Spelling: We are on list 6 this week: more long vowels words. We will take a pretest on Monday and homework will be sent home on Monday. On Friday, homework packets are due and students will take the final test.

Reading: We will continue to work on the comprehension strategy of making inferences.

English: We will work on descriptive writing.

Things to Remember:
Thursday 10/7: There will be continents and oceans test.
Friday 10/8: There will be a chapter 3 math test.

Monday 10/11: There will be no school. It is Columbus Day.

Contact Information:
E-Mail address: mpellin@ccsd66.org
Voice mail: (630)783-5065