Week of 9/29/08 - 10/3/08

Highlights for the Week of 9/29/08 - 10/3/08 in Mrs. Bell’s Classroom

Mrs. Bell’s Reading Class

Spelling - Lesson 5 - "Prefixes & Root Words"The final test will be on Friday, 10/3. Words to Know this week are cannot-clothes, and the vocabulary word is astute. Contract work is due on 10/3.

Reading - Summarizing

We will discuss how sequencing is important to summarization. Students will independently complete an assessment on summarizing on Tuesday. We will begin our study of the novel, The Wishgiver at the end of the week. We will continue to practice our summarizing skills while reading this book together.

Language Arts - Capitalization & Punctuation

Proper nouns & adjectives and the use of commas will be our focus this week.

Mrs. Bell’s Math Class

We will be finishing chapter 2 with a look at multiplication and division equations. The chapter 2 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 10/2.

Mrs. Bell’s Homeroom Class

Social Studies

We will be moving on to lesson 3 of chapter 5 by studying the first colonies. The topics covered will include the Pilgrims and the Puritans. Students will also be comparing and contrasting the different colonies that we have studied.

Science

We will be finishing the introductory unit, "Getting Ready for Science". The TEST will be on Wednesday, 10/1.

FYI…

Permission slips for the field trip to see the stage production of "The Legend of Pocahontas" are due ASAP.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/22/08 - 9/26/09

Highlights for the Week of 9/22/08 - 9/26/08 in Mrs. Bell’s Classroom

Mrs. Bell’s Reading Class

Spelling - Lesson 4 ' "Prefixes & Base Words"

The final test will be on Friday, 9/26. Words to Know are before-because & the vocabulary word of the week is apathy.

Reading - Summarizing

We will begin studying the reading comprehension strategy of summarization with a review of main ideas and details, and sequencing.

"Bite into a Good Book" reminder: every student must make a book presentation in order to reach his/her reading goal. Has your child signed up to present?

Language Arts

The TEST on Unit 1 - "The Sentence" is scheduled for Tuesday, 9/23. Our next unit will be Capitalization and Punctuation.

Mrs. Bell’s Math Class

On Monday, students will take the midchapter QUIZ for Chapter 2. We will finish out the week by studying addition, subtraction and multiplication equations

Mrs. Bell’s Homeroom Class

Social Studies

Topics covered this week will include the lost colony of Roanoke Island, the Battle of the Spanish Armada, and the Jamestown Colony. Ask your student about his/her theory of the lost colonists at Roanoke!

Science

We will study the Scientific Process. Students will participate in an activity which focuses on the steps of the Scientific Method, and what tasks are performed under each step. We will also review for the test which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 9/30

FYI…

MEET YOSHI...

This week our class welcomed a new member...a bearded dragon named "Yoshi". The students have enjoyed learning about our new "student", and will take turns caring for him. We are providing "foster" care for him until the end of the year, when he will return to his owner. Yoshi enjoys a diet of greens, crickets, and mealworms. If you would like more information about bearded dragons, please refer to the following website:
http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/BDcare.html

Don't forget...PICTURE DAY is 9/25!

Happy Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/15/08 - 9/19/08

Highlights for the Week of 9/15/08 - 9/19/08 in Mrs. Bell’s Classroom

Mrs. Bell’s Reading Class

Spelling - Lesson 3 - "The suffix -er / singular & possessive"

The final test for this lesson will be Friday, 9/19. Words to Know are anyway - because, and the vocabulary word is alacrity. Workbook pages 17 & 18, and Master 3A are due on Thursday, 9/19.

Reading - Preview & Predicting

Synonyms and antonyms will be our focus this week, along with the study of how pictures, diagrams and graphs enhance nonfiction text.

Language Arts - "The Sentence"

Conjunctions and run on sentences are the topics for the week. The Unit 1 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 9/23. We will be reviewing for the test at the end of the week.


Mrs. Bell’s Math Class

The Chapter 1 TEST will be on Tuesday, 9/16. We will cover two lessons in Chapter 2, which is Introduction to Algebra.

Mrs. Bell’s Homeroom Class

Social Studies

Chapter 4/Lesson 3, "Life in New Spain" will be our focus at the beginning of the week. We will have the Chapter 4 TEST on Friday, 9/19 after spending time reviewing in the middle of the week.

Science

The question for the week is, "What type of inquiry skills do scientists use?". Students will practice their classifying skills in a midweek activity.

FYI…

It was a pleasure to see so many parents at Curriculum Night. I look forward to working with you this year as a partner in your child's education!

Don't forget...Tuesday, 9/16 is Early Dismissal!

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/8/08 - 9/12/08

Highlights for the Week of 9/8/08 - 9/12-08 in Mrs. Bell’s Classroom

Mrs. Bell’s Reading Class

Spelling - Lesson 2 - "The Suffix -able"

We will pretest this lesson on Monday. Students will receive a word list that includes "Words to Know" & the vocabulary word for the week. This sheet should be kept in the spelling folder of his/her binder. Contract work is due on 9/12. The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 9/12.

Reading- Preview & Predicting

We will continue to focus on the reading skill of predicting by focusing on two stories from our reading series, "Falling Off a Log" & "The Fear Place". Students will be demonstrating their proficiency at predicting on an independent assessment on Thursday, 9/11. We will end the week with ISAT practice, once again in the area of predicting.

Language Arts

Subjects, predicates, subjects in imperatives, and conjunctions are the topic this week. Students will be introduced to Mr. Morton, a favorite Schoolhouse Rock character who teaches the concept of subject & predicate. Ask your child to sing the song for you at home!

Mrs. Bell’s Math Class

The first midchapter QUIZ of the year will be on Monday, 9/8. The quiz will cover lessons 1-3 in chapter 1. Then we will move on to order of operations, using mental math and finding patterns.

Mrs. Bell’s Homeroom Class

Social Studies

We will be concluding our study of Christopher Columbus, and moving on to the conflicts between the Aztecs and European settlers. Students will read and take notes on Chapter 4/Lesson 2 in our text, and create their own original Aztec masks.

Science

Students will discover and study the tools and inquiry skills used by scientists. A paper airplane activity will round out the week.

FYI…

Curriculum night is Thursday, September 11 at 7:00. Parents will have an opportunity to visit all three of their child's classrooms. I look forward to seeing you there!

Enjoy your Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell