May 17, 2010

Hello families!

Next week, on Tuesday the 24th, the 4th graders will be participating in the Ray Olympics.  I mention this now so your students will have time to prepare their shirts with their  Olympic numbers on them.  Ms. Perez sent home a flyer with each student's number, and she explained the event and what was required (basically a shirt with the number and a pair of sneakers!)

Our Variety Show is tentatively set for 10:15 am on the mornings of June 2,3 and 4th.  I will check the dates with Ms. Butler to make sure there are no conflicts with all-school activities.  The performance will be in the classroom.  In addition to parents/friends, we will be inviting some lower grade classes to attend.  We will have the cast party after the last performance, so that would be the best one for parents to attend since we would love to have you join us for the party.  But whatever performance you can make, please come!  We have a very talented cast and know you will enjoy watching the show.

Have a great week.

May 10, 2010

Good day, families.

Today, Monday, we will be doing the CPS Benchmark Reading Test.  Tomorrow, the Math.  Please make sure your student brings a calculator if s/he has one.  Thanks.

We are rehearsing for our Variety Show.  This week, I'll confirm the performance dates with Ms. Butler and will let you know the schedule.  I think you will be delightfully surprised by the students' many talents.   What a great class!

Have a good week.

May 3, 2010

Greetings!

May already.

Just a heads up:  we will be administering the CPS Benchmark Assesment on Monday and Tuesday of next week. May 10th and 11th.  This is the third and final time this year the students will be tested.   For more information, on these test, <a href="http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Assessment/Reading_Benchmark_Assessment/">click here</a>.<a href="http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Assessment/Reading_Benchmark_Assessment/"></a>

<strong>April 27, 2010</strong>

<strong>Thanks for the paper towels and kleenex, generous parents!  You are the best!</strong>

April 26, 2010

Hello families,

We are in desperate need of kleenex and paper towels.  If you can, please send some with your student.  Thanks.

We are beginning to practice for our May Variety Show.  We will choose a date for the performance as soon as we can determine exactly how much practice we need.  You will receive an invitation at least two weeks in advance of the date.  The show will be very entertaining!

Have a great week.

April 19, 2010

Greetings!

Today, Monday, is our afternoon field trip to see the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra at Mandel Hall.  To prepare for the trip, we've listened to the music of some Baroque and Classical composers.  We will learn more about Beethoven this week.

Wednesday is Report Card Pick-up Day.  I look forward to seeing all of you on that day.  In advance, you may sign-up for a designated ten-minute conference time.  The sign-up sheets are posted inside the front door of the school on the bulletin board.

Have a great week.

April 12, 2010

Hello families,

If your student has not already done so, please have her/him return the field trip form for the Mandel Hall Classical Music Concert on Monday, the 19th.  We need two parents to go with us, so if you are interested and available, please send a note with your child.  Thanks.

Have a great week.

April 5, 2010

Welcome back!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Spring Break and got outside to bask in the glorious warm sun.

Now, it's back to work!

Have a great week.

Ms. Cobb

March 15

Our field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Skokie is on Wednesday.  Students DO NOT need to bring lunch.  We will return to school by lunch time.    Five students have not yet returned their forms/fees.   Please make sure your student has done so!

Pleae make sure your child is reading for 30 minutes each night so s/he can earn AR points.

Thanks.

March 8

The last ISAT test is Tuesday morning.  After that we will be back to our regular work.  There will be spelling homework every night and a test every Friday.  We will also be preparing for our field trip next week.

Many students came to school today without their homework.  They received zeros.   Please check your student's assignment pad every night and make sure her/she completes the homework.

March 1

Wekcome to ISAT week!  Please keep your children well rested and well fed!

The students wrote in their assignment books the schedule of ISAT tests.  Please make sure your students brings <strong>2</strong> sharpened <em>number 2</em> pencils and a calculator.  Thanks.

Also, on March 17th, we will be taking a field trip to the Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.  Your child needs to return the signed field trip form and $10.60.  We can only take 2 paretns with us, so chaparones will be "first come first served."  Thanks.

Have a great week.

February 24, 2010

Last lap for ISAT practice!  ISATs start on Tuesday, March 2  (No school on March 1st - Pulaski Day).  Please make sure your child  is <em>well rested</em>, <em>eats breakfast</em>, and has at least two sharpened <em>number 2 pencils</em> for the tests.   Also, your child can use a <em>calculator</em> on the Math ISAT.  Please make sure your student has a calculator: either his/her own or one of the school's calculators that I have given to the students to use.

February 16, 2010

We continue to review and practice for the ISAT.  We will be concentrating on writing both the extended response for writing and the extended response for math.

Students have been assigned a topic for Black History Month.  Their project should be a creative rendering of the topic, such as a diorama, a posterboard, etc.  The project should make clear the who, what, when, where, why and how of their topic.

Have a great week!

February 2, 2010

Greetings,

Report Cards will be going home on Wednesday, February 3rd.  The grades reflect your child's classwork and participation, homework, and test/quiz grades  over the past ten weeks.

Help!  We are out of paper towels and kleenex.  If you could send a roll/box to the classroom that would be very helpful in this time of runny noses, coughs and  sneezes.  Thanks.

Ms. Cobb

January 25

Hello Families,

This Friday there is no school for students.  It is a professional development day for teachers.

We continue to prepare for the ISATs.  Please discuss math and reading assignments with your student.  Your interest and help always improve your student's learning.

Have a great week.

Parents, please note:

Starting on Thursday, Room 310 will be taught science by Ms. Garcia, who is a Science Specialist and currently teaches all 5th and 6th grade science classes.  For her class, Ms. Garcia requires the students to bring the following to class each day:  a pencil; colored pencils; and a composition book (NOT a spiral bound one).  Please make sure your student has his/her supplies by Thursday.  Thanks.

January 11, 2010

Greetings Families,

On Tuesday the students will be taking the Reading and Math Benchmark assessments.   For more information on these assessments, please go to <a href="http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Assessment/Reading_Benchmark_Assessment/">http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Assessment/Reading_Benchmark_Assessment/</a>

In Math, we will be reviewing the pre-test students took last week in the ISAT REVIEW Math book.  We will also be working on fractions.

In Language Arts, we will continue practicing reading comprehension questions in the EXPRESS ISAT review book.  We will also practice writing the extended response questions.  In addition, we will be reviewing poetry, particularly poetic language devices.

In Science this week we will be doing the 2nd investigation in the Magnets and Electricity unit.

In Social Studies, we will be doing Activity 13 in the Map Essentials book:  Tornado Alley!  See the cool links on the Social Studies web page.

Once again  I share with you  the following information from Ms. Pickens:

<em>Music homework will be handed out the week of January 11th.  The Quiz was administered the week of December 14th, 2009.  The Final Test will be the week of January 18th.  Students have received four study sheets to help them prepare for these assessments.</em>

Have a great week!

Ms. Cobb

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<em>January 14, 2010</em>

<em>Happy New Year!  I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2010.</em>

<em>For the next two months, our class will be studying/reviewing skills for the ISAT tests which will be given the first week in March.  Fourth graders are tested in Reading, Math and Science.  In addition to the regular work we do in class, we will also be working in the ISAT Math Book and the ISAT Science Book.  The Illinois State Board of Education has posted sample ISAT questions which will give you a good idea of what the tests are like:  <a href="http://metacat2.com/iltestlinks.html">http://metacat2.com/iltestlinks.html</a> Also, we will not be doing weekly spelling words during this time.  Instead, we will be doing a daily analogy. </em>

<em>Ms. Pickens has asked that I share the following information with you: </em>Music homework will be handed out the week of January 11th.  The Quiz was administered the week of December 14th, 2009.  The Final Test will be the week of January 18th.  Students have received four study sheets to help them prepare for these assessments.

<em>Enjoy the week.</em>

<em>Ms. Cobb</em>

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