Week of 1/8/18

Highlights for the Weeks of 1/8/2018
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 14 - Soft "g"

This week's list will consist of words that contain the soft "g" sound like fragile and giant.  The final TEST for this lesson will be on Friday, 1/12.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" - Lou Gehrig

The final story that we will read in the Courage unit is a biographical piece about baseball player Lou Gehrig. While studying this text, we will continue to hone our close reading skills and focus on identifying statements that are facts and statements that are opinions. A statement of fact can be proven by looking it up in a reference source. A statement of opinion tells what a person thinks, believes or feels.



The Reading MAP test is scheduled for 1/11. Please see that your child comes to school well rested that day, and remind him/her that our motto is..."Don't stress, just do your BEST !"

Social Studies - The Midwest
Our study of the Midwest region will begin with a look at how the Great Lakes were formed. Students will create a map of the Midwest in preparation for the Midwest map QUIZ which is tentatively scheduled for 1/12.

Science - Chapter 3 - Adaptations
Adaptations is our new unit in Science. We will begin with an investigation that answers the question, "Why do birds have different shaped beaks?". 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 - Multiplying & Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals
In Unit 4 students will study and practice a variety of strategies for multiplication and division. The week will begin with the Unit 4 Pre-Assessment which will I use as a tool for guiding instruction. We will then move on to learning the Half-Tens Facts and Doubling and Halving strategies.

FYI...
1/8 - Winter Break Ends - Back to School!

1/15 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

Some pictures from our bowling field trip...

Wishing you & yours a safe and happy winter break!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/18/17

Highlights for the Weeks of 12/18/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - None

Due to the shortened week, there will be no Spelling lesson.

ELA / Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 
The mythology projects were a huge success! It was a joy to watch students work together to create their presentations. I was amazed by their creativity and enthusiasm, and proud of their effort and collaboration.  I'd also like to thank parents for the support that you provided for the children with this project. From an amazing cave to golden apples to special wardrobes to snacks and at home rehearsals, the students were well prepared to give their best. I appreciate everything that was done outside of school so that they could rock this project! Below are some photos of students presenting...

"Cyclops"

"The Labyrinth"

"Echo & Narcissus"

"Psyche and Eros"

"Atlas"

"Pandora's Box"

"The Midas Touch"

"The Trojan Horse"

After winter break we will study the life of Lou Gehrig, the final hero in our Courage Unit.

Social Studies - The Cherokee
We will continue and complete our study of the life of the Cherokee. The next region we will visit will be the Midwest.

Science - Life Cycles of Plants and Animals

The Chapter 2 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/18. Students should refer to the study guide to help them prepare for the test. The next unit we will study in science will be Adaptations.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals

The Unit 3 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/18. Math spirals, notes, and workbook pages are great resources to use when preparing for the test. We will also look at using other operations with decimal numbers. In January we will begin with Unit 4 which is "Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals".

FYI...

12/19 - PV trip to see "Wonder"
12/21 - 4th Grade Bowling Trip
12/22 - Winter Break begins

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/11/17

Highlights for the Weeks of 12/11/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Mythology Words
We will continue our study of mythological words with an emphasis on allusion in myths. The spelling test for mythology words is scheduled for Friday, 12/15.

Reading- Greek Mythology

The Greek Mythology Project is due on Friday, 12/15. Students will present their projects that day. It's been a pleasure to see their excitement over this project. I'm looking forward to seeing their final products. 

English - Capitalization & Punctuation
The capitalization and punctuation TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/13.  Students should review textbook pages 166-187, the practice packet and workbook pages to prepare for the test. Extra practice for the concepts is also found on pages 189-202 of the textbook.

Social Studies - The Cherokee

We will begin our study of the Native Americans of the Southeast, The Cherokee. We will take a look at how their culture and traditions began and how they continue to keep them alive in modern times. 

Science - Life Cycles of Plants & Animals

The TEST on chapter 2 (Life Cycles of Plants and Animals) is scheduled for 12/18. A study guide was sent home with your child on 12/6. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals

Metric conversions, place value patterns and writing division problems will keep us busy this week. The Unit 3 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/18. Students should review their practice pages and spiral notes to prepare for the test.

FYI...

12/19 - Wonder Field Trip 

12/21 - Bowling Field Trip

12/22 - Winter break begins

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/4/17

Highlights for the Weeks of 12/4/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Mythology Words
This week's list contains words pertaining to Greek Mythology. We will study the definitions of the words as they are used in myths and also look at several myths and their messages. Because this unit has many valuable activities, we will study it for 2 weeks. The spelling test for mythology words is scheduled for Friday, 12/15.

Reading- Unit 1 Courage - Greek Mythology
We will begin our study of Greek Mythology with a look at the myth of Hercules.  We will also focus on the skill of summarizing. A summary is a shortened version of a story that retells all the important parts of the story in sequence. We will work as a team to summarize the Hercules myth. I will be introduced a mythology project that focuses on personalized learning. Students may choose to work individually or in a small group to complete a project from a given list. Each group will be assigned a different myth. The project will include a written piece and a presentation. Students will be given time in class the week of 12/11 but should expect to do some work outside of class as well. The mythology project will be due on 12/15. I will be posting the project on Google Classroom on 12/6 if you are interested in viewing the details. 

Social Studies - The Southeast "Wrap Up"
We will complete this portion of our study of the Southeast by adding the Southeast region to our individual U.S. Maps. Students will also enjoy a "Taste of the Southeast" when Chef Bell & Chef Krasnodebski serve up samples of some of the agricultural products of the region on Friday. We will begin our study of the Native Americans of the Southeast, the Cherokee, the week of 12/11.

Science - Life Cycles of Animals
Our focus this week will be the life cycles of animals. We will learn about the differences in the life cycles of different species. Two examples of life cycles that we will study are metamorphosis and direct development.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals


Our work with decimals will continue this week. We will focus on decimal numbers on number lines and how metric conversions are related to powers of 10. A second decimal place value CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/6. Look for the Unit 3 test to take place at the end of the week of 12/11.

FYI...

Responsibility - Now that we are in the second trimester, our expectations for student responsibility will be more strictly enforced. Part of your child's evening routine should be to charge his/her Chromebook (we write this in our assignment notebooks every day). If the Chromebook is not charged, he/she will receive a late slip. The exception would be if there a hardware difficulty in which case we will refer the device to our technology department.  Also, if a Google Classroom assignment is not submitted on time (even if it is completed) your child will receive a late slip. Our goal is to prepare your child for the upper grades by gradually increasing his/her responsibility.

Mr. Dunning's last day was Friday, 12/1. He has been an enthusiastic and caring part of our classroom family and we will miss him very much. We hope to see him subbing in the halls of Prairieview very soon!  Below are some pictures of students wishing him well...

"Group Hug!"

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/27/2017

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/27/2017
in Mrs. Bell's and Mr. Dunning's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 13 - Homographs

This week's list will consist of homographs. Homographs are two or more words that are spelled the same but have different meaning and sometimes different pronunciations. For example, the word pitcher is a homograph. A pitcher is a player who delivers the ball to a batter or a large container with a handle used for holding and pouring liquids.  The final TEST for the homograph lesson will be on Friday, 12/1.

ELA / Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

Students will be completing "Gloria Estefan: A Star with a Heart" newspaper article which is due on 11/28. We will begin our study of Greek Mythology with a look at the myth of Hercules. We will study the characteristics of myths and how Hercules shows courage. 
In English, we will continue the study of capitalization and punctuation with a look at comma usage and quotation marks. 

Social Studies - The chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 11/29. A study guide was sent home with your child on 11/21.

Science - "Life Cycles of Animals"

We will be completing the life cycle of plants.  Students will complete a take-home QUIZ on Chapter 2 / Lesson 2 in science on Tuesday, 11/29. Then we will focus on life cycles of animals.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals

Comparing, ordering and rounding decimals will fill our time for the next two weeks. We will also take a look at fraction/decimal equivalencies and decimals on a number line.  A CHECKPOINT on decimal place value is scheduled for 11/30. 

FYI...
12/5 - Early Dismissal

12/22 - Winter Break begins

Mrs. Karen Bell and Mr. Scott Dunning

Week of 11/20/2017

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/20/2017
in Mrs. Bell and Mr. Dunning's Classroom

Spelling - There will be no Spelling lesson the week of 11/20. 

ELA / Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

We will begin a writing assignment based on the Gloria Estefan text. Students will write and publish a newspaper article titled, "A Star with a Heart". This will be due on Tuesday, 11/28.  Along with the article, students will also take a comprehension QUIZ on the Gloria Estefan text.  This is scheduled for 11/28.  

In English, we will focus on how to correctly write the names of places and things.

Social Studies - The Southeast - "Wildlife and Resources"

The final lesson on the Southeast will focus on the resources and the wildlife of the region. The chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for 11/29. Students should review their textbook, workbook pages, note pages and review pages to prepare for the test.

Pictured below: Students participated in a "mock" news broadcast that showed how diverse the weather in the southeast can be.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals

We will continue comparing, ordering and rounding decimals will fill our time for the next two weeks. We will also take a look at fraction/decimal equivalencies and decimals on a number line.  A CHECKPOINT on decimal place value is scheduled for 11/30. 

FYI...

No School - 11/22-24

Happy Thanksgiving to you & your families!

Mrs. Karen Bell and Mr. Dunning