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Elizabeth Manon » Ms. Manon's Bio

Ms. Manon's Bio

About Me

The 2025-2026 school year will be my 11th year teaching. I received a Bachelors Degree in Theater from Illinois State University. After working at Universal Studios Creative and EMI Music in Los Angeles, I returned to Chicago where I received my Masters in Education at the University of Illinois-Chicago. 
 
After graduating, I worked at Pritzker Elementary teaching the gifted first grade class for 9 years. I also worked as the Gifted Coordinator for the school. I love teaching novels and writers' workshop as part of a balanced literacy program. This will be my second year teaching at Decatur Classical. 
 
When I am not at work I love competing in trivia nights, watching any Chicago sports team, reading, attending comedy shows and hanging out with my handsome cat, Jake. 
 

Posts

Spelling Words /schwa/

Test will be on Wednesday. The words are spelled with an 'a' or an 'e' to make the schwa shound
 

Dozen        Secure     Again        Taken      Enemy         Probably

Deposit      Bulletin    Ability        Company  Problem     Distance

Debate       Sentence    Area

 

Challenge: American

About Challenge: Independent

Elegant Content Word: Glistening

My artistic friend Ralph is making new labels for some of our book bins. He made them for Timmy Failure and The Babysitters Club - our new books donated by very generous parents!

Spelling List for 1/20/26

For this test, students will be required to sort the word into the proper column. These are all words with different ways to spell the /n/ sound. 
 
N
recently
nearby
understand
 
NN
skinny
flannel
manned
channel
annoy
 
GN
gnat
design
gnarly
campaign
 
KN
knotted
knighted
knobby
knowledge
knuckle
 
BONUS
very
vary
enough
astronomer

On Friday the students learned about Japan and how to make an origami bird. We got to work with our buddies in 104! 

Lunch - Week of 1/12/26

Due to the Winter Show (2nd grade will not be performing, we will be in the spring musical) students will eat lunch in the classroom. The Gym will be set up for the show and unavailable for lunch. The lunch options will be limited. If you think your child may not like the bag lunch choices, please send one with your child!
 
Have a lovely weekend :)

Spelling Test - Tuesday 1/13

Welcome Back! I wanted you to get a jump on the spelling words for Unit 5 - Part 1. The test will be on Tuesday the 13th. As always, the bonus words can make up for a misspelled word on the test. 
 
Spellings of /j/
 
jellyfish
germy
digest
fringe
nudging
ridge
exchange
eject
budget
lodging
gymnasium
jewel
bridging
dodge
average
fudge
giraffe
 
Challenge Words
answer, great, grate, Jupiter

Spelling List - Monday 12/15

4 versions of the /ee/ sound:
 
gladiator
grief
chariot
stadium
eager
shriek
leader
each
rookie
grease
atrium
teacher
 
Bonus Words:  again, often, Caesar

We had a celebrity all the way from Germany for our first Cultural Corner! St. Nicklaus and his translator came and shared the German Tradition of St. Nicklaus Day. 

Cultural Corner

I am so lucky to have so many generous parents who want to volunteer in the classroom. We have two parents coming in this month to present a Cultural Corner about holidays they celebrate in the next few weeks. Both are kind enough to bring something sweet to send home with the students at the end of the day. I will be telling students that they are not allowed to have the treats until they are with you and have your permission. Please be on the lookout for FULLY INTACT uneaten treats brought in by parents :)

Spelling Words Tuesday 12/9

Here are the spelling words that will be assessed next week (week of 12/8). Just like this week, the bonus words are used as a true bonus. They will replace a misspelled word if spelled correctly but will not be penalized if spelled wrong. The list is long /e/ words spelled with an /e/ or /ee/. 
 
Greeks
Venus
Secret
Meter
Asleep
Agreed
Breed
Jamboree
Degree
Retail
Screech
Tedious
 
Bonus: except, follow, Colosseum