Week of 10/4/10 - 10/8/10

Highlights for the Week of 10/4/10 - 10/8/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Short "u" / "yoo" / "oo"
The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 10/8. Workbook pages, the print/cursive sheet, and contract work will also be collected that day.

English - Capitalization & Punctuation

Our new unit begins with a look at writing correct sentences, how to write names of people, pets, names & things, and abbreviations. After Monday, ask your child what happens when punctuation takes a vacation!

Social Studies - The Beautiful Northeast

We will finish our study of the scenery and natural formations of Northeast regions by reviewing chapter 4, lesson 1.

Science - How are Animals Classified?

CONGRATULATIONS to Kurt, who came in first in our classroom's Worm Races. I was so pleased to see the creativity and effort that the children put into building their tracks. Click on this link to read a story about our fourth grade worm unit in the local Tribune:

http://triblocal.com/downers-grove/community/stories/2010/09/4th-graders-hold-wormy-race-at-prairieview-school/

Our next unit of study in science will cover how animals are classified (chapter 1 / lesson 3). We will be taking a look at the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates. Look for a QUIZ on this lesson to take place the week of 10/11.

Reading - Mrs. Bell's Reading Class

Next week our story is "Finding the Titanic" by Robert D. Ballard. The reading skill that we'll focus on is text organization. Many non-fiction authors organize their selections in time order, as is done in this story. They also use features such as headings, pictures, captions and charts to help the reader better understand the information.

Math -Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will begin chapter 3 with a look at the properties of addition. That will be followed by our first exposure to addition expressions and equations.

Have a relaxing weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/27/10-10/1/10

Highlights for the Week of 9/27/10-10/1/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Short & Long "i" and "o"

The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 10/1. Workbook pages, print/cursive pages, and contract work will also be due that day.

English - The Sentence / Capitalization & Punctuation
The TEST for chapter 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, 9/28. Students should prepare by reviewing the textbook, practice pages and workbook pages. There is also a chapter review section in the textbook that covers all of the topics on the test. The next unit that we will study is Capitalization and Punctuation. On Thursday, students will be taking a pretest for that unit that will assess their expertise in the topics that we will study. Students who demonstrate proficiency on the pretest will have the opportunity to do independent challenge work in place of the regular lessons.

Social Studies - The Northeast Region

The fourth grade curriculum for social studies focuses on the regions of the United States. The first region that we will study is the Northeast. Students will create their own regional map and take a look at the geography of the Northeast this week.

Science - The Scientific Method

Ready, set, go...We're off to the races in room 213! The final activity for our worm unit, the "Worm Race" is scheduled for Wednesday. Students have received the project sheets for their worm tracks, and should have them at school that day, along with a fresh worm. A QUIZ on the scientific method has been tentatively scheduled for 9/30.

Reading - Mrs. Bell's Reading Class
The fourth graders will be reading Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say and Elena in America by Robin Bloksberg. They will focus on the reading strategy to determine author's viewpoint. Author's viewpoint refers to the author's opinion, ideas of what is important or attitude. The author might give their opinion directly or you might have to infer the information by reading clues or other information that the author provides. Here is a great link to practice author’s viewpoint: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/authorsviewpointp.cfm. The vocabulary for the week is: bewildered, surrounded, reminded, longed, homeland, marveled. Your child can practice these words at: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/ewordgame/index.html?grade=4&theme=1&selection=2. We will also work on the skill of putting words in alphabetical order.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will be finishing chapter two with a look at choosing a method for calculating. The chapter 2 TEST will be on 9/30. Students should prepare for the test by reviewing quizzes and workbook pages. We will also spend our math time on 9/29 reviewing together.

Don't forget...

The last turn in day for the MAGAZINE DRIVE is Tuesday, 9/28.

PICTURE DAY is Thursday, 9/30.

Fourth grade will be watching the movie "How to Eat Fried Worms" to celebrate the end of the worms unit. Permission slips are due on or before 9/29.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/20/10 - 9/24/10

Highlights for the Week of 9/20/10 - 9/24/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Review Lesson

This week's spelling lesson will include words from the two commonly misspelled words lists & the long and short "a" & "e" list. All students will be completing three activities from the contract list. The final test for the lesson will be on Thursday, 9/23.

English - The Sentence

A look at run on sentences will complete this unit. We will begin reviewing for the TEST which is tentatively set for the week of 9/27.

Social Studies - Strength of our Freedom

We will complete our study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens this week. The TEST for chapter 2 is scheduled for Thursday, 9/23. Students will receive a study guide on Monday.

Science - Scientific Method

We are having a ball with our worms unit! Students are using the scientific method to complete a series of inquiry activities with their worms. Look for information about the final segment of this unit, the Worm Races, to come home on Wednesday.

Mrs. Bell's Reading Class

This week, we will finish reading Akiak, by Robert Blake. We will continue to focus on story structure. We will have a QUIZ on the vocabulary words from Akiak on Wednesday. Students will complete their Akiak diaries, which are due on 9/23. The children will also explore character and setting in depth. When your child is reading at home, you can practice and review story structure by asking them to identify characters, setting and plot (which includes the problem, sequenced events, and solution).

Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Estimating sums and differences, finding exact answers and estimates, and addition and subtraction of 3 and 4 digit numbers will be our topics this week. Students will have a QUIZ on lessons 1-3 of chapter 2 on Tuesday, 9/21.

Don't forget...

From Mrs. Cushing...The PE study guide for the soccer test went home on Friday. Have you seen it yet? If not, please ask your child about it. The PE soccer test will be Wednesday. Please help your child review for the test.

There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, 9/24 due to Teacher's Institute.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/13/10 - 9/17/10

Highlights for the Week of 9/13/10-9/17/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Long and short "a" and "e"
The final test for spelling this week will be on Friday, 9/17. This is the first week that we will be using the spelling words from our reading series. Students who score a 90% or above on Monday's pretest will have the opportunity to do challenge work via the contracts that we have used for our first two lesosns. Workbook pages and contract work will also be collected on 9/17.

English - The Sentence
Subjects and predicates is the next topic in our english unit, and that means that Mr. Morton will be coming to town! Ask your child to sing one of my favorite Schoolhouse Rock songs for you this week. In addition to singing about subjects & predicates, we will be learning the difference between complete and simple subjects and predicates.

Social Studies - Strength of Our Freedom

We've moved on to lesson 3 which focuses on our rights and duties as citizens. Students will continue to practice their skimming and scanning skills while taking notes for the lesson.

Science-The Scientific Method

Students will be taking a QUIZ on Tuesday, 9/14, that reviews what we have studied about scientific tools and lab safety. Then, we will be move on to the Scientific Method.

Mrs. Bell's Reading Class

This week, we will read a story called Akiak that is written by Robert Blake. Akiak is about a world-famous Iditarod Race that takes place in the Alaskan wilderness. While we are reading, we will focus on story structure. We will use a story map to look at how a problem and its solution affect the story’s plot and characters. The children will also be working with the following vocabulary: blizzard, checkpoint, courageous, experienced, musher, and rugged. You may want to have your child review these key words with the e-game at http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr06/gr4/gr4_th1_sel1.html.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class

The chapter 1 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 9/14. We will be reviewing on Monday to prepare for the test. As we move on to chapter two, the first topics will be understanding relationships between inverse operations, and rounding numbers through the millions.

FYI...

The magazine drive will begin with the kickoff celebration on Monday, 9/13. Look for an information packet to be sent home with your child that day.

Happy Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell