Highlights for the Week of 4/29/13
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom
Spelling - Final /ər/, /l/ or /əl/Reading - I Can Apply Reading Strategies
Our novel study of Number the Stars will continue this week. Students will independently prepare to have their first meeting by reading chapters and completing the book club discussion sheet. The discussion sheet revisits the strategies of summarizing, connecting, predicting and questioning, as well as learning new vocabulary and identifying character traits. The first meeting of the book clubs will take place on 5/1. I will be observing and assessing student collaboration during the meetings.English- Adverbs
We have finished the explanatory writing unit, and will be moving on to Adverbs. Adverbs modify verbs, and describe "how, when, or where" an action takes place. Students will be taking the unit pretest on Monday to determine eligibility for challenge work. The first lesson in this unit asks and answers the question, "What is an Adverb?".
Social Studies - The WestOur study of the West region will be completed with a look at resources. The TEST on chapter 12 is scheduled for Thursday, 5/2.
Science - Catapults / Electricity
The Catapult project is due on Thursday, 5/2, and the launch will take place on Friday, 5/3. I have stressed to the children that their catapults do not need to be complex, however, they must include a simple machine. We will also be starting the next unit in science, which is electricity. We will be investigating different ways to light a bulb.
Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Fractions
The chapter 23 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 4/29. On Tuesday we will begin chapter 15, which is fractions. We will begin with a look at how to read and write fractions, and then move on to equivalent fractions.
FYI...
Students will be taking the MAPs test the week of 4/29. Our class will be taking the reading test first thing Wednesday morning. We are scheduled to take the math test Friday morning. Please see that your child comes to school well rested, and with a healthy breakfast and snack those days!
Students will be taking the MAPs test the week of 4/29. Our class will be taking the reading test first thing Wednesday morning. We are scheduled to take the math test Friday morning. Please see that your child comes to school well rested, and with a healthy breakfast and snack those days!
In an effort to make the transition to 5th grade as smooth as possible, the fourth grade teachers will be enforcing the 5th grade policy for late work during the month of May.
The policy is as follows:
Any assignment that is late, but not taken for a grade, will receive a late slip. The student will have one point taken out of his/her homework bank. (NO CHANGE)
Any assignment that is late and taken for a grade will receive a late slip. No points will be lost from the homework bank. If the assignment is turned in one day late, the final grade will be reduced by 10%. If the assignment is more than one day late, but turned in before the unit test, the final grade will be reduced by 25%. If the assignment is not turned in before the unit test, the final grade will be a zero.
The policy is as follows:
Any assignment that is late, but not taken for a grade, will receive a late slip. The student will have one point taken out of his/her homework bank. (NO CHANGE)
Any assignment that is late and taken for a grade will receive a late slip. No points will be lost from the homework bank. If the assignment is turned in one day late, the final grade will be reduced by 10%. If the assignment is more than one day late, but turned in before the unit test, the final grade will be reduced by 25%. If the assignment is not turned in before the unit test, the final grade will be a zero.
Mrs. Karen Bell
