Since this website has been down for the past month (I can only publish new blog posts to existing blogs), I have created a new website at paulsolarz.weebly.com.

If you click on the links, you can visit our:

• Daily Photo Journal
• Literature Circles Information
• Our Weekly Tentative Schedule
• Eventually our Individual Student ePortfolios, and more!

Updates from the office & for our class will remain here at psolarz.weebly.com & all the links on the site still work (I just can't add new ones).  Some helpful pages on our main site include:

• A Calendar with Homework Assignments & More
• Spelling Instructions
• The sign-up page for the Soup Kitchen

Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

Some parents have asked for a typing website that they can have their child work on at home.  Here is one that has been recommended to me by some of the middle school teachers: http://www.typingclub.com/

As I posted this, a colleague on Twitter mentioned this website to try as well: http://www.typingweb.com/

Please let me know if it works well or not!!!  Thanks!

Picture Day- September 9th

Patriots Day- September 11th (Wear red, white, and blue today!)

A Word About Fruits and Vegetables as Snacks…

“The school continues to encourage fruits and vegetables as healthy snacks options. We cannot force any parent to abide by this request. Presently, there are over 40 students attending Westgate with life-threatening food allergies. As a diverse community, we encourage families to support each other. Fruits and vegetables can support both a balance diet and students with severe food allergies.”

(The website is still down, but I'm able to update our current blogs

I will be traveling to Australia next summer with a group of 5th and 6th graders from the area through an organization called People to People.  I have traveled with them twice previously and have really enjoyed each trip!  The itinerary is below, but you can also find it here.

Brandon Perlow is Head of Admissions for the Midwest (and lives in Buffalo Grove).  He is offering $250 scholarships to those who sign up ASAP.  He wrote that he only has a small pool of money left, though.  Here is his email address: [email protected]

Here is what he wrote to me:

People to People supports 21st Century learning in many ways similar to what we do in our classroom:

2014 MAP Reports
If you have not already picked up your MAP reports, they will be sent home via backpack mail on Tuesday. The envelopes will be sealed.

Third Trimester Report Cards
Thursday, June 5th Reports Sent Home with Students

Last Day of School
The last day of school will be Thursday, June 5th. It is a FULL DAY!

What Students Worry About Entering Middle School
Please keep this in mind for your child! 
- Peer issues and peer pressure – 20%
- Adjusting to multiple teachers – 17%
- Opening lockers – 16%
- Managing time – 11%
- Finding their way to classes – 11%
- Other – 4%
- Organization – 2%

Source: “What Do Students Entering Your School Seem to Worry About or Struggle With Most?” in ASCA School Counselor, May/June 2014 (Vol. 51, #5, p. 40), no e-link available

There is no Review Packet or Test for Unit 10.