Week of 4/2/12 - 4/6/12

Highlights for the Week of 4/2/12 in Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Classroom

Spelling - More VCV Words
This week's spelling list will again focus on the VCV pattern. The final test on this lesson will be given on Thursday, 4/5. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Use Reading Strategies While Reading
We will continue using the novel, Charlotte's Web to practice and review our reading strategies. At the beginning of the week we will revisit the questioning strategy as we read chapters 5 & 6. After reading chapter 7, we will work together to complete a Book Club Discussion sheet that will include many of the strategies that we have studied all year. During the week of 4/9, students will begin independently filling in discussion sheets and having Book Club meetings during class.

English- Verbs
Correct spelling of present and past tense verbs is what we will focus on this week in English. Students will be completing a chart that will help them to remember the spelling rules for these types of verbs.

Social Studies - The West

Our journey across the U.S. has brought us to our final region, The West. This week students will create their region maps, and study the mountainous geography of the western states.

Science - Magnets / Invention Convention
Students should continue working on their inventions, which are due on 4/10. We will be learning about sources of electricity in lesson 3 of chapter 15. Students will be taking an open note/book QUIZ on this lesson on Wednesday, 4/4. The chapter 15 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 4/12.

Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Math Class - Fractions

We will begin our unit on fractions with a look at how to read & write fractions, equivalent fractions, and comparing & ordering fractions. Students will have a QUIZ on lessons 1-3 of chapter 15 on Thursday, 4/5.

Don't Forget...
March 26 - Spring Break Begins

April 2 - Classes Resume after Spring Break
April 6 - NO SCHOOL
April 12 - Prairieview Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m.
April 25 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

Mrs. Karen Bell & Miss Kristin Johnston

Week of 3/19/12 - 3/23/12

Highlights for the Week of 3/19/12 in Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Classroom

Spelling - Changing the Final "y" to "i"
This week's spelling list will focus on the VCV pattern. The final test on this lesson will be given on Friday, 3/23. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Identify Fact and Opinion
This week, our strategy will be identifying fact and opinion. A fact is a statement that can be proven true. An opinion tells what a person thinks, believes or feels. Good readers should be able to identify when an author is using a fact or an opinion in a story. We will also be focusing on making connections. The three types of connections we will be learning about include text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections. Good readers always make connections based on evidence from the text and their personal experiences! We will continue reading the novel, Charlotte's Web, which will be our tool for studying the reading strategies for the next few weeks. The students will have a QUIZ on Friday, 3/23 over chapters 1-4 of their novels.


English- Verbs
This week, students will be completing a Verb Review on the lessons we have covered up to this point. The students will also have a QUIZ on Wednesday, March 21, that covers Subject-Verb Agreement.

Social Studies - The Navajo

This week we will complete our writing project about the people of the Southwest, the Navajo.

Science - Magnets / Invention Convention

This week in Science, we will be learning about electromagnets. The students will have a QUIZ over the lessons in 15-2 on Wednesday, March 21. In addition to working with chapter 15 in the text, we will begin working on our "Invention Convention" project. The students will be asked to identify a problem in their lives and come up with an invention that helps to solve this problem. Think simply...this does not have to be a complex invention. An informational letter, project time line/calendar, rubric and contract will be handed out in science class on Friday, March 16th. All students will be expected to complete this assignment. The contract, or plan, for the invention is due in class on Thursday, March 22nd. We will then review each contract to make sure they are on the right track. Once we confirm that they are moving in the right direction, students will be free to begin constructing their inventions. Inventions aren't due until after spring break, and the construction of the invention will be done at home. We will not be giving time in school to work on the project.

Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Math Class - Perimeter, Area, and Volume

This week, the students will have a TEST on Wednesday, 3/21 that covers chapter 23 on Perimeter, Area, and Volume. Students will be provided with a chapter review to study. At the end of the week, we will also be doing an enrichment activity that explores perimeter, area, and volume on a deeper level of different figures such as a triangle, trapezoid, and parallelogram.

Don't Forget...

March 20 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher's Institute
March 20 - PTO Dine Out Fundraiser - Panera Bread
March 26 - Spring Break begins April 2 - Classes Resume after Spring Break
April 5 - NO SCHOOL

Mrs. Karen Bell & Miss Kristin Johnston

Week of 3/12/12 - 3/16/12

Highlights for the Week of 3/12/12 in Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Classroom

Spelling - Changing the Final "y" to "i"
This week's spelling list will focus on the rule of when to change a final "y" to an "i". The final test on this lesson will be given on Friday, 3/16. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Make Judgments
Next week, our strategy will be making judgments. Making judgments involves deciding whether or not a character's actions are appropriate for a situation. Readers must ask themselves, "Do I agree with this? Is this right or fair". We will begin reading the novel, Charlotte's Web, which will be our tool for studying the reading strategies for the next few weeks.


English- Verbs
Using main & helping verbs will be our focus this week. Students will also revisit the concept of past, present & future verbs.

Social Studies - The Navajo

This week we will be learning about the people of the Southwest, the Navajo. The students will have a QUIZ on the Navajo on Thursday, 3/15. The students will also be working on a writing project that focuses on the life, history, and culture of the Navajo people.

Science - Magnets

This week in Science, we will be learning about how magnets and electricity are related. In groups, students will investigate through a hands-on learning experiment how a magnet can affect a compass needle. We will also be learning about the magnetic poles and the magnetic fields of magnets.

Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Math Class - Perimeter, Area, and Volume

This week, students will continue to discover how to use formulas for perimeter, area, and volume of polygons, plane figures, and 3-dimensional figures. The students will have a QUIZ over perimeter and area of squares, rectangles, and plane figures on Friday, 3/16.

Don't Forget...

We are still going to have ISAT tests this week. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a big, healthy breakfast before coming to school!

March 20 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher's Institute
March 20 - PTO Dine Out Fundraiser - Panera Bread
March 26 - Spring Break begins April 2 - Classes Resume after Spring Break
April 5 - NO SCHOOL

Mrs. Karen Bell & Miss Kristin Johnston

Week of 3/5/12-3/9/12

Highlights for the Week of 3/5/12 in Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Classroom

Spelling - We will not be having a spelling lesson due to the shortened week. Next week's spelling lesson (3/12/12) will focus on words that change the final 'y' to 'i'.


Reading
The poetry project will be collected from the students and assembled together in their own booklet. The students will also be taking a QUIZ on Figurative Language on Tuesday, 3/6. In addition to poetry and figurative language, we will continue to prepare for ISAT testing.

English- Verbs
This week we will beginning our new unit on Verbs. The students will take a pretest on Verbs Tuesday, 3/6, that will determine regular or challenge work throughout the unit.

Social Studies
We will be taking a break from Social Studies this week in order to spend additional time preparing for the Science portion of the ISAT test. Next, we will be studying the Navajo tribe of the Southwest then journey across the U.S. to the West region.

Science - Electricity

Students will have a QUIZ that covers electricity, electrical circuits, switches, and conductors and insulators on Tuesday, 3/6. We will then begin our study on Magnets.

Mrs. Bell & Miss Johnston's Math Class - Perimeter, Area, and Volume
This week we will begin a new unit on Perimeter, Area, and Volume. Students will discover how to use formulas for perimeter, area, and volume of polygons, plane figures, and 3-dimensional figures. We will also spend time preparing for the ISAT tests that will take place.


Don't Forget...

ISAT testing begins this week. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast each day before coming to school!

March 5 - Casimir Pulaski Day - No School
March 9 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School


Mrs. Karen Bell & Miss Kristin Johnston