Ms. Palucki's Classroom News
February 2019
Winter Fest Fun!
Thank you to everyone that was able to come out!
Behavior Expectations
Bulldog TV News!
Have you missed any of the episodes this year?? Click HERE to see any or ALL of them!
New Year... New Goals!
Happy New Year! The 5th Graders kicked off 2019 by participating in various goal-setting activities! Students made a New Year Resolution as they reflected on 2018! I am impressed with some of the awesome resolutions the students either want to improve on, do more often, stop doing or do less of.
Some resolutions included:
- Exercising more
- Learning to play an instrument
- Eating healthier
- Spending more time with family
- Limit time playing video games
- Go to bed earlier
- Improve grades
- Beat a video game level
- Make new friends
- Be more confident
Winter Break Share Out
After coming back from a well-rested winter break, students used Flipgrid to share out all the exciting things they did during their time off! Flipgrid allows students to respond using a video. The students are then able to view their peers' videos and respond. The 5th graders loved using emojis to represent their winter break. I loved hearing them present all about their busy break. Some students went on vacation, spent time with family, watched movies, stayed up late, RELAXED and much more!
We also completed "Welcome Back" task cards, which allowed the students to share out their thoughts about winter break, review classroom rules, and set goals for the rest of the year! They used Seesaw to reflect on their goals. It was an engaging and fun way to get the kids reflecting on their first day back at school!
Welcome Back, Room 204!
Technology in Room 204!
Mr. Tombs came in to facilitate a round of Flashcard Factory using Pear Deck. He also set students up on Tinkercad, which is a 3-D design and modeling tool. We finished off the month with Google Expeditions where students took a virtual field trip to learn more about matter and holidays around the world.
Huge thank you to Mr. Tombs for supporting technology integration in Room 204!
Time with our Buddies!
During our second grade buddy time, the students participated in a STEM challenge! The challenge was to investigate and determine which water level was best for water bottle flipping! I loved seeing the collaboration and communication among the buddies! They had a blast!
We look forward to seeing you this month!
Random Acts of Kindness Week!
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
(Mark Twain)
Random Acts of Kindness week is coming up for Apollo. We will be celebrating all week from February 11th - February 15th. We celebrate RAK week to encourage random acts of kindness throughout the week! Here is a look at the week coming up:
Monday, February 11th - Kindness Kickoff Day! Students will be participating in a kindness activity and our annual Wall of Kindness!
Tuesday, February 12th - Care For Our Community Day! We will support our local community by having a food drive! Each student is encouraged to bring 1 canned or dry food item. Students will also be eating lunch with important community members such as police officers, firefighters, and more!
Wednesday, February 13th - Family Day! Students will be brainstorming and participating in ways to spread their kindness at home.
Thursday, February 14th - Valentine's Day A special surprise will be delivered to students and staff! Meanwhile, our Apollo Ambassadors will be delivering flowers from the Flower Sale! Flower Sale information will be going home soon.
Friday, February 15th - Support Our School Day! On this day, we will acknowledge all the wonderful staff that makes Apollo such a special place.
We are looking forward to a wonderful kindness-filled week! Remember, kindness is contagious! :)
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
(Aesop)
Read to Succeed!
Apollo School is participating in an exciting program that encourages students to read! Read to Succeed is a program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before February 21st receives a FREE admission ticket to Six Flags Theme Park! Students can read online articles, magazines, and newspapers! Students will log their hours on their Six Flags Reading Log that was sent home at the beginning of November!
Parent Letter (English): Read to Succeed!
Parent Letter (Spanish): Read to Succeed!
Don't forget, reading logs are due this month!
McTeacher Night!
Tuesday, Apr 9, 2019, 05:00 PM
McDonald's, Dempster Street, Niles, IL, USA
What have we been learning in Room 204?
Reading...
- Students retook the Words their Way Placement Inventory Test and were given new Spelling groups.
- Students identified story elements in literary stories and learned how to write a fiction summary using, "somebody, wanted, but, so then."
- Along with our disease research project, students have been integrating information from several texts on the same topic in order to write/speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Writing...
- Students learned how to paraphrase and quote the information they researched for their informative disease writing project.
- Students started drafting their informative paper by completing their introduction.
Math...
- Students took their Mid Module 4 Assessment. Module 4 focuses on multiplication and division of fractions and decimals fractions.
- Don't forget to continue practicing on Zearn!
Science...
- We continued Bundle 4 of science which is Interactions in Matter.
- Students have conducted experiments to learn all about Changes to Matter and Mixtures.
- The students will be conducting their own investigation this upcoming Monday - don't forget your materials! :)
Important February Dates!
February 1st - National Wear Red Day
February 6th - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
February 7th - Special Education Parent Workshop
February 7th - Board of Education Meeting
February 11th - 15th - Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 14th - Valentine's Day
February 18th - No School - President's Day
February 20th - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
February 21st - Attack of the Bookworms Assembly
A look ahead...
March 1st - End of Trimester 2
March 6th - Apollo Ambassador Meeting
March 8th- Ambassadors Teach Primary Lesson
March 8th - Report Cards go home!
Join us for Family Fridays! Every Friday, come to Apollo and eat lunch with your child! 5th grade lunch is @ 11:45 - 12:15!
Tip of the Month
Many of the “tools” needed for science, math, and engineering exploration are right inside your home!
STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in specific areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM careers are growing in the world! STEM activities teach students important skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. Students are able to solve problems and find solutions.
Schools, such as Apollo, are incorporating more STEM activities for students to explore. You can also find tools to use at home to explore with your child.
Check out:
English Version: STEM Tools at Home
Spanish Version: Herramientas en la casa para STEM
Don't forget to follow Room 204 on Twitter!
Room 204 is on Twitter!
Follow us at @_MsPalucki
Students tweet about what they are learning and all the fun that goes on in room 204!
Don't forget to also check out the hashtags:
#ApolloPride63 #63Success #63Impact
Stay Connected!
Stay connected with what's going on in Room 204!
Remind is a way for me to communicate with you by sending updates, questions, and reminders to your phone as a text, on the app and by email!
To sign up, text @palucki5th to 81010 or sign up online by clicking here!
Email: apalucki@emsd63.org
Website: https://www.emsd63.org/Domain/677
Location: Apollo Elementary School, Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, United States
Phone: 847.493.8380
Twitter: @_MsPalucki