Week of 4/28/14 - 5/2/14

Highlights for the Week of 4/28/14 

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Three Syllable Words
This week's spelling list will focus on three syllable words. The final TEST on this lesson will be given on Friday, 5/1. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Use Reading Strategies 
At the beginning of the week, we will be reading a Time For Kids magazine that highlights the Top Inventions of 2013. This subject matter ties in with the Invention Convention that is scheduled in Science. The magazine comprehension QUIZ will be given in class on Thursday, 5/1. 
Has your child told you about the book, Hana's Suitcase that we just finished during read aloud? It is a nonfiction book that tells the story of Hana Brady, a young girl who was a Holocaust victim. Reading the book together sparked many meaningful conversations in our classroom about tolerance and compassion. The children are so interested in this subject, that I have chosen to do a novel study of the book Number the Stars as our next unit in reading. Number the Stars is a historical fiction novel that focuses on a family in Denmark that is determined to help a Jewish family reach safety while under Nazi occupation.  While reading this novel, we will revisit many of the reading strategies that we have studied this year, including predicting, summarizing, connecting, summarizing and questioning. We will work towards conducting student led book club meetings in which they will discuss the novel and share their ideas.

English- Explanatory Writing / Adverbs & Prepositions

Who is your personal hero and why? This is the prompt that students will finish writing about this week. The final handwritten draft is due on Monday, 4/28. Students will type the essay in school. The next unit that we will study in English is Adverbs and Prepositions.  The pretest for this unit will be given on Thursday, 5/1. Students that demonstrate proficiency in the majority of the unit lessons will complete challenge work.

Social Studies - The West

Aloha! This week we will complete our study of the Navajo people and reach the final destination in our study of regions in the United States, The West.  We will begin with a look at the geography and climate of the region.  Look for the map QUIZ to be scheduled for the week of 5/5.

Science - "How Do Simple Machines Help People Work?"
We will complete our look at the lever on Monday.  Students will take an open note/book QUIZ on lesson 1 of chapter 17 on Tuesday, 4/29. The pulley, and wheel & axle are the next simple machines that we will study.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Fraction Operations / Fractions & Decimals
The last topic that we will cover in Unit 9 is multiplication of fractions by whole numbers.  The Unit 9 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/30. Fractions and decimals is the next concept that we will study.

Don't forget...

May 16 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
May 26 - No School - Memorial Day

The Prairieview Open House / Book Fair is rescheduled for Thursday, 5/1 from 6:30 to 8:00.  Hope to see you there!

Mrs. Karen Bell 

Week of 4/21/14 - 4/25/14

Highlights for the Week of 4/21/14

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Theme 5 Review
This week's spelling list will be a review of 30 words we have learned in Theme 5.  Students will be required to score 100% on the pretest to earn challenge work for the week. The final test (20 words) on this lesson will be given on Friday, 4/25. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Close Read Non-fiction Text
Students will be reading about the Native Americans of the Southwest, the Navajo. We study the culture and traditions of the Navajo, and work on creating projects that coincide with the culture of the group.

English- Explanatory Writing
Students are working with their partners to respond to the prompt, "What Would You do with a Robot?". After conferencing with me, they will write the final draft of that essay. Check out the pictures of students collaborating on their essays at the end of the blog. On Wednesday, they will begin writing their third, and final, explanatory essay which answers the question, "Who is a Hero to You?". This essay will be completed individually, and typed the week of 4/28.

Social Studies - The Southwest
We are back in the computer lab as we get busy creating our Southwest Region brochures. Your child will be conducting research on a chosen state, and using the collected information to create a brochure that will convince visitors to visit his/her state.  Although I will be giving time to work on the project at school, students should expect to work on it at home, as well.

Science -  Inventions / Making & Using Electricity / Simple Machines

The TEST on chapter 15 in Science is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/23.
Students will receive a study guide to help them prepare. On Thursday we will begin the next unit in Science, which is simple machines. The first type of simple machine that we will study is the lever.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 9 - Operations with Fractions
We will be moving very quickly through this unit.  We will review addition and subtraction of like fractions (lessons 2 & 4) on Monday. Students will take a QUIZ on those two lessons on Tuesday, 4/22. We will also study the problem solving method of working backwards on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will study addition and subtraction of mixed numbers (lessons 6 & 7). On Friday, students will take a QUIZ on lessons 5-7 of unit 9. 

Don't Forget...

May 1 - Prairieview Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you at the Prairieview Open House on Thursday, 5/1 from 6:30 to 8:00. The students have been working hard to create a "Southwestern Fiesta" in the Fourth grade wing. Be sure to ask your child to show you his/her "I Am" project, and all of the other work (including inventions) displayed in our room. Be sure to stop at the book fair in the gym!

Writers' Workshop...

Mrs. Karen Bell 

Week of 4/14/14 - 4/18/14

Highlights for the Week of 4/14/14

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Homophones
This week's spelling list will focus on homophones. The final test on this lesson will be given on THURSDAY, 4/17. The workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Write a Pourquoi Tale

Did you know that your child can speak French?  Ask him/her about the meaning of the word "pourquoi". We have studied the characteristics of a Pourquoi tale, and your child has had the opportunity to write his or her own tale that explains how something in nature was created.  This week, students will type their final copies & create an interesting cover page for their stories. 



English- Explanatory Writing
"What Would You Have a Robot Do?" - this is the prompt that students will respond to this week while writing an explanatory essay. Students will work with partners to brainstorm and organize ideas, and to write and edit the essay. The following week, they will begin writing an individual explanatory essay about their personal hero.




Social Studies - The Southwest
We will be completing the Southwest portion of the U.S. map at the beginning of the week.  On Wednesday, I will introduce the writing project that coincides with this region, which is a travel brochure. Students will conduct research to collect information for the brochure, and create their document using Google Docs. 
Work on the brochure will be completed at home and at school.

Science -  What are Some Sources of Electricity? / Inventions
Don't forget that inventions are due on 4/29! In class, we will be studying different sources of electricity, including hydro-electrical power and geothermal energy.  We will also take a look at the difference between potential and kinetic energy.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 8 / Fractions
Mixed numbers and improper fractions are the last two topics that we will cover in Unit 8 this week. The Unit 8 TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 4/17.

Don't Forget...
April 17 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
April 18 - No School
May 1 - Prairieview Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m.



All fourth grade students will be taking the OLSAT (Otis Lennon School Ability Test) test this week. Our homeroom will be taking the test on Wednesday, 4/16. The OLSAT test is an assessment of ability, and students cannot prepare for it, other than coming to school well rested & having eaten a healthy breakfast.

Mrs. Karen Bell