Week of 1.6.20

Highlights for the Week of 1/6/20 in Mrs. Bell'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 meanings 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, 11/10.

Reading- Greek Mythology

On Tuesday I will introduce 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 weeks of 1/6 and 1/13, but should expect to do some work outside of school as well. The mythology project is tentatively due on 1/21. I will post the project on Google 
Classroom on 1/7 if you are interested in viewing the details.  

English - Explanatory Writing

We will begin our study of explanatory writing with a look at "hooks". Students will learn about different types of hooks and look for examples of hooks in literature. I will model how to write an original hook while writing a "whole class" essay on why Lou Gehrig is considered a hero. I will also introduce how to write key ideas. Students will then begin writing their own explanatory essay about who is a hero in his/her life.

Social Studies - The Southeast

The SE Feast is scheduled for Thursday, 1/9. Students will sample several resources that come from this region .

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

We do not have a specific Second Step lesson this week. We will read the book A Girl with a Cape which is the story of a child whose act of kindness spreads throughout a community. The book will be the springboard for activities that focus on kindness.

Math - Unit 4 - Multiplication and Division of Whole Numbers & Decimals

The concepts we will cover in math this week look at multiplicative relationships using fractions as operators and applying our knowledge of multiplication with fractions to decimal multiplication. A CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Monday, 1/13.

We had a VERY busy week! Below are some photos from our recent adventures.

"The Polar Express" - Tivoli Outing

Visit to Oak Trace Senior Living Center

Bowling

Wishing you & yours a very happy holiday season and all the best in the new year!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12.16.19

Highlights for the Weeks of 12/16/2019
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, 12/20.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 




Our study of Greek Mythology continues 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. After winter break, I will introduce a mythology project that focuses on personalized learning.



Social Studies - The Cherokee

An open book/note QUIZ on the Cherokee is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/18. Students should review their textbooks and note-taking sheets to prepare for the quiz.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
No new lesson is scheduled for this week. We will spend our morning meetings completing team building activities.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals / Unit 4 - Multiplying & Dividing Whole Numbers and Decimals
The Unit 3 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/16.  Students should review their practice pages and spiral notes to prepare for the test. We will then spend one day looking at multiplication and division of decimals. In Unit 4 students will study and practice a variety of strategies for multiplication and division. We will begin with the Half-Tens Facts and Doubling and Halving strategies.

FYI...

12/17 - Class trip to Oak Trace Senior Living Facility 
12/18 - 4th Grade Bowling Trip
12/23 - Winter Break begins 

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12.9.19

Highlights for the Weeks of 12/9/2019
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, 12/20.

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. After winter break,  I will be introducing a mythology project that focuses on personalized learning.

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 - Energy Conversions

Our focus in Science this week will be on how to support a claim with evidence. We will look at how to gather evidence through a simulation activity and with a reference book. Then, we will work to write a design argument to help Ergstown solve its blackout problem.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Emotion Management
This week I will be introducing the topic of emotion management. We will discuss that when you have strong feelings, it's hard to think clearly and how unmanaged, strong emotions can lead to negative behavior and consequences. The objective is for students to be able to describe what triggers their own strong emotions and what happens in their brains and bodies when they experience strong emotions.

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


Writing division problems will keep us busy this week. The Unit 3 TEST is scheduled for 12/16. Students should review their practice pages and spiral notes to prepare for the test.

FYI...

12/12 - All school field trip to the Tivoli to see The Polar Express
12/17 - Oak Trace Senior Living Center visit - permission slip coming home 12/6
12/18 - Bowling Field Trip
12/23 - Winter Break begins

Mrs. Karen Bell

Weeks of 11.28.19 & 12.2.19

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/25/19 & 12/2/19
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling 
Week of 11/25 - There will be no Spelling lesson the week of 11/25. 

Week of 12/2 - Unit 12 - Homophones
The week of 12/2, the list will contain words that are homophones. A homophone is a word that sounds like another word, but has a different spelling and meaning, for example, bear and bare.  The final TEST for the homophone lesson will be on Friday, 12/6.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

The vocabulary QUIZ for the Lou Gehrig story is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/26. The quiz will also include responding to a prompt using the RACC format. During the week of 12/2 students will work in small groups to complete a comprehension activity related to the Lou Gehrig story. We will also begin using a new tool in reading called Time for Kids (TFK) which is a magazine that includes nonfiction stories related to current events. TFKs offer various opportunities to practice the close reading skills that we are honing.

Social Studies - The Southeast - "Sunlight & Storms"

The Chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/4. Look for a study guide for the test to come home on 11/25/

Science - Energy Conversions

The next two lessons in Science focus on the topics of energy past and present & energy in the system. Students will discover what happens when too many electrical devices are added to an electrical system.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Showing Compassion
We will not have an official Second Step lesson next week. Instead, we will spend our morning meetings completing team building activities. The lesson for the week of 12/2 is "Showing Compassion". Compassion means saying kind words or doing something helpful to show you care about how another person feels. Having empathy helps you show compassion. The objective for the week is for students to be able to demonstrate expressing concern or showing compassion for someone.

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

Looking at fraction and decimal equivalents, metric conversions and place value patterns will fill our time for the next two weeks. We will also take a look at decimals on a number line. 

A CHECKPOINT that covers decimal place value is scheduled for 12/2. Time for students to "show that they know!".

FYI...

11/27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
12/10 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
12/23 - 1/3/20 - No School - Winter Break

The bowling field trip for 4th grade is scheduled for 12/18. If you would like to pre-order snacks for your child you may do so by clicking on the following link and placing your order: https://forms.gle/LPQapqB14uW9QiQu6

Happy Thanksgiving to you & your families!

Mrs. Karen Bell 

Week of 11.18.19

 

Highlights for the Week of 11/18/2019
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 11 - Words with "ei" & "ie"

This week's list contains words that have the letter combinations "ei" and "ie". We will study the rule for spelling these words. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 11/22.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

The next 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. Students will work in small groups to respond to text-dependent questions and there will also be vocabulary work. Look for a QUIZ on the Lou Gehrig story and vocabulary to be scheduled for the week of 11/25.

Social Studies - The Southeast -  Wildlife & Resources
The final lesson on the Southeast will focus on the resources and the wildlife of the region.

Science - Energy Conversions
The use of energy in the past and present will be the topic in Science this week.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Joining In
The message of this week's lesson is that being assertive can help you join a group and invite others to join a group. Objectives for students are that they will be able to identify and demonstrate skills for joining a group.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 3 - Place Value & Decimals
Comparing, ordering and rounding decimals will fill our time this week. We will also take a look at fraction/decimal equivalencies and decimals on a number line. Look for the first CHECKPOINT of Unit 3 is scheduled for Friday, 11/22.

FYI - 

11/27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
12/10 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
12/23 - 1/3/20 - No School - Winter Break

The bowling field trip for 4th grade is scheduled for 12/18. If you would like to pre-order snacks for your child you may do so by clicking on the following link and placing your order: https://forms.gle/LPQapqB14uW9QiQu6


The Veterans' Day assembly on 11/11 was a wonderful tribute to our nation's heroes. Our class was selected to represent 4th grade in singing a song to honor those who serve. Below are some photos and a video from the assembly.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11.11.19

Highlights for the Week of 11/11/19
in Mrs. Bell's Class

Spelling -  Unit 10 - Suffixes -ment, -tion and -ly

This week's list contains words with the suffixes -ment, -tion and -ly.  Students will study the definitions of the suffixes and how they change the root words that they are attached to. We will also look at antonyms of the spelling and vocabulary words. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 11/15. This test will include dictating the words, so students should study how to spell the words as well as how to apply them and rules that we study.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
The Happy Birthday Dr. King / I Have a Dream Speech QUIZ is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/12. Students should review the story, "Happy Birthday Dr. King" and the words to the U2 Pride song (in the Reading folder of their binder) to prepare for the quiz. 

We also will be digging into an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech". Students will use their close reading skills in the whole group and with partners to interpret the message, language, vocabulary, and perspective of the piece. 

English - Capitalization & Punctuation
The chapter 5 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 11/13.  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 Southeast - "Sunlight & Storms"
We will explore the diverse climate of the Southeast. Be sure to ask your child about the destructive nature of hurricanes.

The Northeast Feast on 11/6 was enjoyed by all. Below are some photos of students enjoying the NE resources of maple syrup and cranberries. 

Science - Energy Conversions
Reading about energy converters and completing a simulation about how to convert energy will be our focus this week in Science.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) - Conversation & Compliments
During our morning meetings, we will discuss how having successful conversations with peers helps you make and build friendships and how giving a sincere, thoughtful compliment is a good way to start a conversation or keep one going. The lesson objective is for students to be able to identify components of a successful conversation and to demonstrate giving and receiving a compliment.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class- Unit 2: Adding & Subtracting Fractions / Unit 3: Place Value & Decimals

The Unit 2 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 11/11. Students should review their math spiral, workbook pages, and the U2 Pre-Assessment to prepare for the test. Unit 3 will begin with a look at strategies for adding and subtracting decimal numbers.

I wanted to share this photo of student work that shows the four strategies for adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators that we have studied.  These strategies include the Double-Number line, the money method, the clock method and finding common denominators. Be sure to ask your child if he/she can explain each of the four methods and how one chooses which method to use.

FYI...

It was a pleasure to meet with so many of you during conferences. Please do not ever hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have about your child's progress.

Next Monday, 11/11, PV will host a school-wide assembly to honor our veterans.  We are having a red-white-and-blue spirit day to show our support for the veterans and armed forces. FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS SHOULD WEAR WHITE ON MONDAY. Thank you to all who have served!

I hope you all enjoyed Halloween as much as we did!  Thank you to our amazing parents who took time out of their busy schedules to help out with our party...we had a ball!

Mrs. Karen Bell