Week of 10/3/2016

Highlights for the Week of 10/3/2016
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 6 - "Suffixes "-ed" and "-ing"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the suffixes -ed and -ing.  We will study how adding these suffixes to base words changes their spelling. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/7.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 

The Courage unit begins by exploring how one person can make a difference . We will introduce Martin Luther King by reviewing the words of the U2 Pride song which highlights his life. In order to gain some background knowledge, students will work in small groups to close read a biographical article on Dr. King. We will then move on to a fiction piece titled, "Happy Birthday Dr. King".

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
The final copy of the Northeast descriptive paragraph project is due on Monday 10/3. Students should submit their work through Google Classroom no later than 8:00 a.m. on the 3rd.  We will complete our study of the NE region with a look at the Native Americans of the area, the Narragansetts. Our focus will be on the culture and traditions of the group and how they have changed over time.

Science - The Scientific Method
Our first unit in Science will begin with a look at the Scientific Method. We will apply this method to all investigations that we perform this year.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 2 - Adding & Subtracting Fractions

We will begin Unit 2, which is one of my favorite units of the year! In Unit 2, students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators. They will learn a number of strategies for finding common denominators in order to perform the operations. Look for an overview letter to come home with your child on Monday. The unit begins with a look at simplifying fractions. Once we have studied this concept, it is my expectation that all answers on homework, checkpoints and assessments will be given in simplest form. We will also look at using a "money model" to find common denominators for fractions.

"Work Places" has become an essential part of learning in math. During Work Places, students work with partners to play a variety of games that support skills such as multiplying and dividing. Below are some photos of a Work Place session this past week...

FYI...

Friday, 9/30: PV Movie Night

Tuesday, 10/4: Picture Day

Thursday, 10/13: Fall Book Fair

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/26/2016

Highlights for the Week of 9/26/2016
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 5 - "Greek Roots"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the Greek roots "graph", "auto", "photo", "tele", and "rupt".  We will study the meanings of these roots and how to use them correctly. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/30.

Below are some photos of students using Chromebooks to work on a Spelling activity in class...

English - What is a Sentence?
The chapter 1 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 9/26. Students should prepare for the test by reviewing the textbook, practice pages, and workbook pages for the chapter. There is also a chapter review section in the textbook (p. 56-62) that covers all of the topics we have studied.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
Students will be independently complete a baseline common assessment in reading this week. The assessment is designed to give teachers data to guide instruction - it's not for a grade.

Close reading is the 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. It is a skill that we will work on and develop throughout the year...we call it "digging into the text". Below is a photo of some junior archaeologist digging deeper into text to took for meaning.

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
We will begin a descriptive writing project in which students will describe an imaginary trip to the Northeast region. As they describe their journey they will write about the geography, resources and fishing industry of the region. The rough draft of the Northeast Trip descriptive paragraph is due on Thursday, 9/29. The final copy will be typed in Google Classroom, and is due on 10/3. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume

We will conclude this unit with a look at interpreting remainders. On Thursday, 9/29, students will take the Unit 1 TEST. They should use their math spirals, Student Book and Home Connections pages as tools to review for the test.

Math students "teaching" about Multiplication Strategies

The video below shows my mathematicians playing a game designed to improve computational fluency. As the student leader points to her classmates, they count from 1-100. When it is his/her turn, if the number is a multiple of 6, he/she states it in a "regular" voice. If the number is not a multiple of 6, he/she states it in a whisper voice. If you listen carefully you can hear them counting...

FYI...

The Brookfield Zoo field trip is scheduled for Friday, 9/30. Please send a 100% disposable lunch to school with your child. We will be outside come rain or shine, so please have him/her dress for the weather!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/19/2016

Highlights for the Week of 9/19/2016
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 4 - "Frequently Confused Words"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include homophones such as to, too and two & their, there and they're. We will study the meanings of these words and how to use them correctly. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/23.

TJ demonstrates the meaning of the word "crouch" from this week's spelling list.

Playing "Antonym Concentration" makes learning fun...

English - What is a Sentence?
How to correct a run-on sentence will be the final topic that we will study in the sentence unit. The chapter 1 TEST is tentatively scheduled for 9/26. We are set to review for the test in class on 9/22.

Reading - Close Reading- "Theme"

We will conclude our study of the Casey at the Bat poem. On Tuesday,  students will work in partners to complete a PARCC based assessment on the poem. This will be practice for future assessments. We will discuss and model strategies for how to use the text to respond to test questions.

The reading skill that we will focus on this week is how to find the theme of a story. Theme is the message that the author is sending. Sometimes the message is stated, but most times it is implied. We will work together and independently to determine the theme of several pieces of text. At the end of the week, students will independently complete a graded assessment that will measure their understanding of this concept.

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
The chapter 4 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 9/20. Students should review the textbook, review pages, and workbook pages to prepare for the test.The rest of the week will be spent creating the Northeast portion of a United States Map. This is a year-long activity that is completed region by region. It is a favorite activity of mine...I hope the children enjoy it as much as I do! Our NE Feast will take place on Friday. Chef Bell & Chef Krasnodebski will be serving up a variety of tastes from the Northeast including maple syrup (on pancakes), cranberries & grapes. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume

Our focus this week will be to review our multiplication strategies, and then to move on to division with remainders and using area models to represent division.

Enjoy your Weekend

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/12/16

Highlights for the Week of 9/12/2016
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 3 
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the sounds "ou", "aw", "au" and "ow". We will study the word pattern and review antonyms as they are related to the vocabulary words.  The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/16.

English - What is a Sentence?
Mr. Morton has come to town! Subjects and predicates are the next topic as we continue our study of the sentence. The Tale of Mr. Morton is a Schoolhouse Rock song that helps students to understand the concept of subject and predicate. Looks like it's time to warm up our opera voices! 

Students will also complete a small project called "Snapshot Sentences" in which they will write four sentences to describe a photograph that they bring to school. The four sentences will represent the four different sentence types. The photo is due on 9/13. Please do not send any family heirlooms for this project - they will be cut and glued!

Reading - Close Reading- "Casey at the Bat"

We will continue our close read of Casey at the Bat with a look at using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words and author's perspective. We will also do a text to text comparison of the Casey poem with the picture book Mighty Jackie The Strikeout Queen.

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
Our focus this week will be the resources of the Northeast and how the Atlantic Ocean contributes to the economy of the region. Students will learn about crab pots and overfishing. The chapter 4 TEST is tentatively scheduled for 9/20. Look for a study guide to come home on Wednesday. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume
Uniting pricing and multiples are this week's topics. Students will independently complete an in class WORK SAMPLE for a grade on Monday. The Work sample will assess their knowledge of how to find volume and surface area. On Friday, students will take their second CHECKPOINT which will assess their skills in multiplication strategies and in finding the volume of rectangular prisms.

Students presented posters that they created after exploring how many ways they could create a box with a volume of 24. Creativity and learning were key as we reviewed  the Commutative and Associative properties of multiplication:

 

The game of SPLAT was a big hit in our math classroom. Students worked on fluency in multiplication and addition/subtraction of larger numbers as they played this game with partners...

FYI... 

We have some BUCKET FILLERS in our classroom. After reading the book How Full is Your Bucket? our classroom family discussed how each one of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel happy and content. Buckets are filled when others are kind to us and when we are kind to them. Buckets are emptied when we are upset, bullied or unkind. Students will recognize classmates that fill their buckets by writing a bucket slip and leaving it in the friend's bucket on the bulletin board. This is a year-long activity. Ask your child if he/she has been a bucket filler or a bucket dipper!

Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/5/16

Highlights for the Week of 9/5/2016
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling -  Words that End in Suffixes "-ible" and "-able"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the suffixes -ible & -able. We will study the word pattern and how the suffix impacts the meaning of the base word. Most word work will be done in class. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/9.

English - What is a Sentence?
Our study of the sentence continues with a look at commands and exclamations. Ask you child if he/she can describe the difference between statements, questions, commands and exclamations. Those skills will be put to the test when students complete a GRADED REVIEW in class on Thursday, 9/8. 

Reading - Close Reading- "Casey at the Bat"

Our close read of Casey at the Bat continues with a look at using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words and author's perspective. 

Students' first exposure to close reading in fourth grade involved "close reading" an Oreo cookie. For their "first read" they were given a cookie and were told to eat it quickly. This simulated reading text for the "gist". Then we shared words to describe the cookie. For their "second read" they took their time eating another cookie. They ate it with their eyes closed, thinking about the texture, ingredients, taste, uniqueness and other attributes of the yummy treat. This simulated what a close read of text would be like. Students then listed words to describe their second read. Below is a picture of the poster we created during the activity. Please note the difference between what was observed in the first and second "read". Also included are some pictures of students close reading their Oreos...I think they enjoyed the activity!

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
We have begun our journey across the United States...first stop is the Northeast! Students have created their own maps of the region in preparation for the map QUIZ on 9/6. The quiz will be identical to the map sheet in their binder. Students will be given a word bank with the names of states and water areas and will have to label the map correctly. We will also take a look at the geography of the NE this week. Here are some pictures of students working together to complete a textbook scavenger hunt of text features in Social Studies...

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume
Numerical expressions and investigating volume will be our focus this week. Students will take their first CHECKPOINT on Wednesday, 9/7. The checkpoint will review lessons 1-5 of Unit 1.

PDF copies of the Bridges workbooks are now available via Google Classroom. Copies of the pages may be printed using a desktop or laptop computer.

Collaboration is KEY while discovering mathematical concepts in our classroom. Below are pictures of students investigating volume using models to simulate shipping containers. Be sure to ask your child about the formula for finding volume!

FYI... 

Mr. Pagel chats with students during his classroom visit.

Mr. Pagel's visit included a wonderful discussion of a picture book titled What Do You Do With a Problem?

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at Curriculum Night, I'm looking forward to a marvelous year with your children.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell