Parents! Sales tax holiday!

Hello!

I just received this e-mail from the office of Dan Rutherford:

Legislation has been enacted to create an annual state sales tax holiday for clothing and school supplies. Local and home rule sales taxes will still apply to all items.

From August 6 until August 15, residents will be able to purchase back-to-school items and only pay local sales tax. The five percent that typically goes to the state will be waived for these nine days.

Traditional school supplies such as paper, notebooks, writing instruments and other office-type materials will be subject to the sales tax break.

The tax holiday also applies to clothing items under $100 such as shoes, tops, bottoms, underwear and outerwear. Some specific items like school uniforms and limited athletic apparel are also on the approved list of sales tax holiday items.

I hope you are able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Dan Rutherford

State Senator

http://www.DanRutherford.com

Too much fun!

This week, I have been a trainer at Moveable Feast. Each year for the last 12 years, District 87 has been a leader in professional development for instructional technology. Teachers whose districts have funding come and participate in a week-long "Feast" -- some work on projects they have in mind, some come to learn specific programs, most have a wonderful time while learning a great deal.

For this year's Feast, we focused a great deal on what is coined "Web 2.0." That term, very simply, refers to programs on the Internet that exist to make people more efficient and less dependent upon specific software programs. For example, we taught about things like this very blog... free, accessible, and helpful. We also did a great deal of SMART Board training. That was where I spent a great deal of time as a trainer.

I added a few things to my blog for next year. If you look to the left, you will note that I have started a Facebook group as well as a Twitter "hashmark search." If you have (free) Facebook or Twitter accounts, either of these would be a possible way to get and share communication. I do not accept personal Facebook friend requests from current (or recent) students or parents, as my personal Facebook account is something I like to keep separate from my work life when I can. I set this group up in hopes to create an outreach to those students and parents who find Facebook to be an easy method of communication. Feel free to follow me (platoj) on Twitter if you wish. Most of my tweets are about teaching. During the school year, I will use #Plato4 when posting something especially for our class.

I hope that these options open up one more way of communicating between home, teacher, and student!

A Great Day!

Mother Nature helped us out today! The pump at Miller Park was broken for most of the time we were there. The students were troopers! When the water finally came on at 1:15, they were ecstatic!

Tomorrow is our last full day of school. Students may bring in games to play. They will get a special end-of-the-year DVD to take home. The Awards Assembly begins at 1:20. The fourth graders will be performing for us using a variety of instruments, I am told. I can't wait! After that, the students will be treated to a water balloon toss and ice cream treat, care of the Vasquez family. Sounds like a great way to wrap up the year!

Mother Nature is Being Fussy

We have decided to postpone tomorrow's picnic to Monday. Monday's weather is supposed to be pretty terrific. Tomorrow shows a heavy chance of thunderstorms.

For part of the day tomorrow, we will be watching The Indian in the Cupboard with Ms. Fraher's class. The students may bring in a treat for the movie if they wish. They may also bring in games, including electronic ones. I explained that each student was responsible to prevent his/her own things from being lost, broken, or taken.

We will be doing a lot of cleaning tomorrow, so bookbags may come home quite full!

What a gorgeous weekend!

I hope you are enjoying this fantastic weekend.

The only major thing for the students to remember is to get their mark charts signed.

...and enjoy the weather OUTSIDE!

Irving Pride

I am so proud of how the students are doing this week. Testing is stressful, but they have come through it nicely. Tomorrow is our final day of ISAT testing for the year. Results of this test are reported to districts over the summer and to parents in the fall.

The only students who have homework to be concerned about tonight are any students who might have late work to hand in. Also, some students offered to bring in treats tomorrow for our "We Conquered ISAT" celebration.

The weather is supposed to be acting more like spring! We all deserve it after this winter!

Happy Sunday!

Just a reminder: No school on Monday, February 22.

Mark chart slips went home this weekend. The letters on the slip refer to a field trip we will be taking to Heartland Community College on March 12. Some students have, sadly, already lost the privilege of the trip. Others still have letters left, but have two weeks to go to hold on to them.

We will be having a Math Minute assessment on Tuesday. Students have a study guide that needs to be signed this weekend. Please look over Math Minutes 46-50 to see areas that need to be studied.

ISAT begins March 1. More information to follow.

I have the privilege of attending the Illinois Computing Educators confence this Thursday and Friday. I will be gone for those two days, but will intermittently check my e-mail if you need me.

Good morning!

Hello!

I will be gone today (this one was scheduled). Here are some announcements that should be helpful:

1. Planners should be signed tonight.
2. Grade sheets will go home Thursday, as will a few assessments to be signed: S.S. Power Point, Science Ch. 10, ADD assessment
3. There is a social studies test on Thursday. We began making a study guide for it on Tuesday. It is all matching regarding US and IL government.
4. Lots of ISAT prep coming up in reading, math, and science. ISAT begins March 1.

Have a great day!

What a day!

I was out again with a sick child of mine. Sadly, I also got hit on Empire this morning! I was stopped in traffic. The person behind me hit the car at about 20 mph. No fun for me or my 13 year old who was headed to school. : ( No one was seriously injured... unless you count the cars and my knee/neck.

While I was gone, here's what should have occurred:

Students took a Discovery Assessment reading test in the computer lab. They did great! It showed that they should be more than ready for ISAT, which starts March 1.

Math: Math Minute; Sports Math; ISAT prep

Language arts: DLR; Handwriting; DEAR/Reader Response; Six-Minute Solution; narrative essay; VFW essay

Social studies presentations were postponed until tomorrow.

Valentine party tomorrow. Students brought home a sheet about it on Wednesday.

Field trip soon!

Parents, please ask your students about how many "letters" they have left for the Springfield trip on Friday. Some students are dangerously close to losing the trip! If you want to check with me to verify what your student says, shoot me an e-mail, and I'll take a look. If your child loses his/her letters before Friday, I will give you a call. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no more will stay here!

Math: Math Minute 45; ADD assessment

Social Studies: worked on Power Points; last work day will be Thursday
Social studies homework: students should not spend work time looking up information for their slides; this can and should be done on their own

Language arts: partner reading about Groundhog's Day; DEAR; narrative "sandwich" discussion; Six-Minute Solution

Music: bring recorders tomorrow

Happy weekend!

Just a reminder, the students do not have school tomorrow. Enjoy an extra day!

Math: Math Minute 25; x9 tests
Math homework: Study facts; x10 test Tuesday

Social studies homework: Study for test on Tuesday

Science: Test on Ch. 1

Language arts: Six-Minute Solution read and quiz; The Thing About Georgie; Spelling City

Mark chart summary slips must be signed and returned by Tuesday.

Red-Ribbon Week begins Tuesday: Twin Day! Rely on your BFFs to keep you from using drugs and alcohol.

Conference Week Continues

It is such a pleasure to have time to conference with parents this week! Thanks so much for your time.

Tomorrow is a big conference day. Here is the schedule:

7:30 - Cindy
7:50 - Rachel H.
8:10 - Madison
4:30 - Shyanna
4:50 - Thomas B.
5:50 - Jon
6:10 - Nala
6:30 - Ardit
7:20 - Rachel Z.
7:40 - Sa'mond

Math: Math Minute 23; x7 facts tests; money packet; homework check
Math homework: Study for your x8 test (and previous tests if you have not passed yet); division booklet, p. 214, 215, 216, 217 (if the directions say to color, you must color... no exceptions)

Science: reviewed for Friday's test; checked crossword puzzle; gathered all Ch. 1 information and formed a study packet
Science homework: study for test on Friday

Social studies homework: study guide due tomorrow

Language arts: DEAR; Six-Minute Solution; The Thing About Georgie; Noun-Verb-Noun sentence patterns

Book fair is going on all this week!

Weldon Springs

Although the weather was not the best, we were still able to take our trip to Weldon Springs State Park on Thursday. Carol Thompson, our guide, shared her incredible wealth of knowledge with the students. The science lessons from our book came alive all in one day! Please view the slide show and video below for different shots of the students.

Because of last week's shortness, no mark chart slip will be sent home. There was a slip that several students need to return from the week before.

Also, students should be studying their multiplication facts flashcards every night. We will be testing on the 5s Monday. Some students will be retesting on the 4s, also. If they know all of their facts by Veterans' Day, they will be able to participate in an ice cream party.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

Slide Show:

Fishing Video:

Just a few reminders

Tomorrow, we will go to Weldon Springs on a field trip. Please ask your student to show you the checklist we discussed today.

Students should be studying math facts flashcards each night. Today they were tested on their 4s, and some students could have done better had they practiced. On Monday, we will have retakes of their 4s, and we will have tests on their 5s.

Happy weekend!

Just a friendly reminder of safeguards against the flu:
-wash hands regularly and with soap
-sneeze into your elbow rather than your hand
-get plenty of sleep
-drink plenty of water
-if you feel sick, stay home
-if you have had a fever, and it has ended, give yourself 24 hours before returning to school

We have had a pretty healthy room so far! We are very lucky.

This week:
-School is closed on Monday in honor of Columbus Day.
-Mark chart slips will go home Tuesday. No slips will be sent home for this coming school week, since it will be so short.
-Our Weldon Springs field trip is scheduled for Thursday. Students who indicated they will bring a lunch should remember one for this day.
-Students have no school on Friday. It is a Teacher Institute Day.
-The first quarter ends Friday.

Parent Orientation

Tonight at 6:30 in room 201. Please join me if you can!

A few notes

Hello to all!

Students may wish to bring in photos tomorrow if they have earned Friday free time. We are creating mini-scrapbooks.

If possible, I would love to scan a baby/toddler photo of each of the students for an end-of-the-year project. I have asked students to bring them in if they are able.

Tomorrow's mark chart slip will indicate one of three things: 1. if a student has earned our May 28 field trip to Miller Park, 2. if a student has not earned our May 28 field trip to Miller Park, or 3. if a student will be observed one more week before a final decision has been made.

Have a great evening!