The "Buzz" from Mrs. Bell's Class: February 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

Week of 2/29/2016

Highlights for the Week of 2/29/2016

in Mrs. Bell 's Classroom

Spelling - Changing the Final "y" to "i"
The final test for this week's lesson will be on THURSDAY, 3/3. Cursive & Google Classroom activities are also due that day.

Reading - Journeys Unit

We will continue our study of the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The Vocabulary in Context QUIZ is scheduled for Monday, 2/29. s. We will also take a look at the poem The Falling Star, and discuss the similarity in theme between the two texts. Students will also respond in their journals to prompts about how Edward is beginning to change as the story progresses.

Social Studies - The Midwest - Bountiful Midwest Farms
Our focus in social studies this week will be how agriculture contributes to the economy of the Midwest. The chapter 8 test in Social Studies is tentatively scheduled for the week of 3/7.

Science - How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?
Our study of the human body continues with a look at digestion. Students will learn the name and function of each organ in the digestive system. A QUIZ on the names of the organs in the digestive system is scheduled for 3/8.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers & Decimals

The Multiplication Algorithm CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Wednesday, 3/2. We will begin the final module in unit 4 with a look at how to estimate and check and how to multiply to divide.

Don't Forget...

3/1 - CAP (Child Assault Prevention) / Erin's Law Presentation in Mrs. Bell's Classroom
3/3 - Panther-Palooza

A team of educators from the YWCA will be making a presentation about Child Assault Prevention to our class on 3/1. The focus of the presentation is keeping our children "Save, Strong and Free". Be sure to ask your child what he/she learned from the program. A parent information night for this event was held on 2/2.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Friday, February 19, 2016

Week of 2/22/2016

Highlights for the Week of 2/22/2016

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spell

ing - Words with a Prefix or Suffix
This week's spelling lesson consists of words that have prefixes and suffixes. The cursive page and Google Classroom activities will be collected on Friday, 2/26. The final test for the lesson will also be that day.

Reading - Journeys Unit - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

We have had many interesting conversations about vocabulary and use of language within the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Our "Executive Archeologists" will continue to dig into chapters 1-7 of the novel during the week of 2/22. We will also conduct a text pair study of the poem Some People. Look for a QUIZ on using context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary from chapters 1-2 to be scheduled for the week of 2/29.
This photo is a copy of the Edward Tulane excerpt that we worked on this week in school. I wanted you to see an example of how students annotate text when we close read.
English- Adjectives

Do you know the rules about how to order multiple adjectives that describe one noun? Ask your child if he/she can teach you the rule after we study them on Tuesday, 2/23. After a mini-lesson about this topic, students will work in small groups to create descriptive phrases using adjectives correctly.

Social Studies - The Midwest

Our study of the Midwest will begin with a look at how the Great Lakes were formed, and how they connect the region with the rest of the world. The Badlands of South Dakota will be our focus at the end of the week. The Midwest map QUIZ is scheduled for Tuesday, 2/23.

Science - "How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?"
Cells to Tissues to Organs to Body Systems...this is what we will look at as we begin our study of the Human Body. Below is a video of students conducting an investigation in which we studied the effect of activity on pulse rates. The junior scientists first counted their pulse rates at sitting, after one minute of marching, and finally after one minute of running in place. Be sure to ask your child what he/she learned about the relationship between activity and pulse rate and why it exists.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers & Decimals

The standard algorithm for two-by-two digit multiplication is the topic for the week. Students will not only review the steps of the algorithm but discover WHY it works!

Students know that I am available at recess and before & after school for extra support in math. We call this time "Math Club". I highly encourage all of my math students to come in for a "boost" whenever they feel the need. This is a picture of mathematicians working together to practice multiplication strategies during a Math Club session.

Enjoy the warm weather this weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Week of 2/15/2016

Highlights for the Week of 2/15/2016

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spell

ing - Words with "-ed" & "-ing" Endings
This week's spelling lesson will focus on words that end with the suffixes "-ed" & "-ing". Cursive pages & Google Classroom activities are due on Friday, 2/19. The final test for the lesson will also be that day.

Reading - Journeys Unit

Our focus will continue to be a close read of an excerpt from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Close reading is thoughtful, critical analysis of a text that focuses on significant details or patterns in order to develop a deep, precise understanding of the text’s form, craft, meanings, etc. Students will be writing a response to the text in their "Reader's Response Journal" at the end of the week.

English - Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe nouns. They answer the questions "What kind?" & "How many?". We will review the use of adjectives with particular attention to ordering them when multiples are being used.

Social Studies - The Midwest
We will begin our study of The Midwest by creating a map of the region. Look for a QUIZ on the map to be scheduled the week of 2/22.

Science - Adaptations
The chapter 3 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 2/16. A study guide was sent home with your child. The notes and textbook are the best resources to use when preparing for the test.

Mrs. Bell 's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers & Decimals

A multiplication CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Wednesday, 2/18. We will complete our study of multiplication strategies with a look at the over & under strategy and drawing arrays for partial products.

Lily & Maya are our official "greeters" for math. Everyday, they write a message to incoming students as they settle into the classroom.

Don't Forget...

Fri 2/12 No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Mon 2/15 No School - Presidents Day
Tues 2/16 & Wed 2/17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 3-6pm
Thurs 2/18 - Spring Picture Day
Thurs 3/3 - Panther Palooza
Fri 3/4 - No school - County Institute Day

Happy Valentine's Day!
Mrs. Karen Bell

Friday, February 5, 2016

Week of 2/8/2016

Highlights for the Week of 2/8/18

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spell

ing - Compound Words
This week's spelling lesson will focus on Compound Words. Some words include hyphens. The spelling TEST, cursive page and Google Classroom activities are due on THURSDAY, 2/11.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys"

We will begin reading the novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. This story tells the tale of a china rabbit who goes on an adventure and learns how to love. We will begin by close reading an excerpt from the first chapter. This novel is rich in vocabulary and underlying themes, and I look forward to sharing Edward's journey in our classroom.

English- Explanatory Writing / Hero Essay
Students will revise and edit the rough drafts of their hero essays early in the week. The final copy is due on Wednesday, 2/10.

Science - How do the Behaviors of Animals Help them Meet their Needs?

Instincts vs. learned behavior are the topics we will study this week in science. Migration and hibernation are two instinctive behaviors that we will take a close look at. Below are pictures from a lab conducted by students in which they worked with different types of tools (spoons, forceps, chopsticks, etc.) to pick up types of food that birds eat. The goal was to determine why birds beaks are different shapes.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers & Decimals
Next week's topics include strategies for multiplying decimals and whole numbers. Be sure to ask your child about the double/half and half of ten strategies that we have learned so far in this unit.

Collaboration is key when working to solve problems with partners! Below are some photos of math students discussing and solving the problems titled "Callie's Cake Pops". Once the problems were solved, they created a poster to share their strategy with the class.