April 9, 2026

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Here we are again. This week has gone quickly. I mean what a week! It is ISASP testing week plus we had a 2 hr. delay due to snow! Unbelievable. I am working on getting those who missed a test caught up. Unfortunately I have to take away some recess and have them after school to do so. I am sorry. It gets a little stressful on the teacher when finding perfect times to make up things. Thank you for being very understanding. Now back to rain. I can handle the rain just no more snow.

Language Arts

We have begun the 3rd and final story of Module 5. It is on Poetry. We are reading several different kinds of poems. The spelling list for the week was focusing on final y changing to I and adding an ending like -ed, -es, -er, or -est. We learned this spelling skill earlier so they should have known what to do. Grammar for this story is on irregular verbs, the BE verb, and helping verbs. Decoding will focus on the spelling skill. We will rap up this story next Friday. So their spelling post test will be next Friday. The following week will be the Module 5 test. it is the last Module test we will take. We will still take end of story tests but not a module test. In May we will end the year by reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I have a book for everyone to borrow. If you have your own or want to get your child their own copy that is fine, they will just need to bring it to school.

Math

We finally wrapped up Topic 5 in Math. Most of the students have finished and corrected the test. I have a couple that missed some school due to illness still working on them. When everyone is finished and corrected I will send them home for signatures. We will begin work in Topic 7 working on Factors and multiples. When we are done with that we will discuss Prime and composite numbers then move into fractions. It will be a busy time the rest of the year trying to work with fractions.

Social Studies

We are working our way through the last Chapter of the Midwest Region. The Southwest is next and only made up of 4 states. We will work our way through these chapters with me picking and choosing the important lessons to cover. We may not cover all of them but those that are a necessary. We will take a map test over states and capitals. I will also choose what we cover in the West. I hate that I feel like we run out of time but we do. So I try to cover those lessons that are most important. The ones usually dealing with the Native American Tribe that lived in the regions, the climate and the resources and products that come from that area.

Monday, April 13th

This is a Professional Development Day for teachers. The kids (lucky ducks) get to stay home but teachers have to report and work on being better teachers for the day.

Spirit Day

Tomorrow the 10th is a Spirit Day. Looks like it might be the perfect day to wear sweatpants. Bring in those dollars!

Book It

March was the last month to keep track of our reading minutes. I have rewarded those who meant the goal for this month. I will now be figuring out who read the most minutes. I will have prizes for those who meant the goal all 6 months and prizes for the top 3 readers! I am always excited to do this. I told the kids it may be the first week in May before I have those prizes ready.

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What a yucky rainy day. I know we need the moisture but blah. We stayed inside for recess because of rain and the play areas were just too wet or muddy. I am traveling directly after school tomorrow to Molly's in Peoria. They purchased a house and are moving this weekend. I am going out to lend a helping hand. I am not looking forward to the drive but I do have a book to listen to on the way out there. That makes me happy. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels