Week of 1/4/10 - 1/8/10

Highlights for the Week of 1/4/10-1/8/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 14- "More Prefixes"

The final test for lesson 14 will be on Friday, 1/8. "Words to Know" are pretty-Saturday. Workbook pages and Master 14A will be collected on 1/7, and menu work is due on 1/8.

Reading - Clarifying

Our new reading strategy is clarifying. At the beginning of the week we will be reading passages about storms and tornadoes, and analyzing the text structure to make the meaning more clear. We will be reading the novel The Night of the Twisters in small groups while focusing on strategies to make the text more clear, such as identifying the author's purpose and themes of the chapters.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

Holiday break is a perfect time to enjoy reading a good book! Don't forget to read for at least 20 minutes every day!

English - Adjectives

We're unpacking our adjectives! Adjectives will be our new unit after break. This week our focus will be on "What is an Adjective?"

Social Studies - The Fight for a Continent

The Spanish are coming to North America, and they're ready for a battle! The first lesson in Chapter 7 describes the competition between the Spanish and other Europeans for control of North America. We will be reading and taking notes about this exciting time in our history.

Science - Ecosystems & Change

The effect that people have on ecosystems is our topic this week. The message of the last lesson in Chapter 6 is "Recycle, reuse & reduce!" The open note assessment for chapter 6, lesson 3 is tentatively scheduled for Friday, 1/8.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Our new chapter covers perimeter, area & volume. We will begin by taking a look at how to find perimeter, how to estimate and find area, and the mathematical relationship between perimeter and area. Students will study vocabulary and formulas to assist them in this unit!

FYI...

Iowa testing is scheduled for the week of 1/11/10. We hope that students will be well rested during the testing period.

It's hard for me to believe that the holiday break is upon us already! We have had a tremendous start to our year, and I am looking forward to a fabulous finish in 2010!

Happy Holidays to You & Yours!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/14/09 - 12/18/09

Highlights for the Week of 12/14/09-12/18/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Winter Holiday Word List

The final test for this week will be on Friday, 12/18. The test will consist of 15 holiday words and 5 "Words to Know". The "Words to Know" for this week are o'clock-people . Homework will include a scramble puzzle and a word search that will be collected on 12/17.

Reading - Self Questioning

Metaphors, similes & alliteration...figurative language is our focus this week! After studying different types of figurative language, students will write their own alliteration poems about everyone's favorite topic, SNOW!

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

Every student MUST have a silent reading book with them at school every day!

English - Nouns / Adjectives

We are taking a break from English this week. When we return in January, our new we will be unpacking our adjectives.

Social Studies

The chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/14. Students should focus on studying notes, review questions and workbook pages. This will be the first social studies test that will have essay questions in addition to the multiple choice questions.

Science - Ecosystems and Change

The open note/book assessment for chapter 6, lesson 2 will be on Tuesday, 12/15. Students should review their notes & be familiar with the lesson for this quiz.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

The chapter 7 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 12/14. We will complete the week with a look at Tangrams - how they were developed, and how they are used.

FYI...

All Prairieview students will be packing up and going to the Tivoli to see the movie "Unaccompanied Minors" next Friday, 12/18. Hot lunch and milk will be available that day.

The bowling field trip is the morning of Thursday 12/17. Students are allowed, but not required, to purchase snacks at the lanes.

From the PV office...As of January 4, 2012, there will be a price increase in the student hot lunch program. The price of hot lunch will be $2.50 per meal.

Thank you to all of the families who participated in the PV service project for cancer patient families. We collected enough gifts to fill three very large boxes. Your generosity is very much appreciated!

Stay Warm!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/7/09 - 12/11/09

Highlights for the Week of 12/7/09 - 12/11/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 13 - Negative Prefixes

The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 12/11. "Words to Know" are might-myself. Workbook pages and Master 13B are due on Thursday, 12/10. Contract work will be collected on 12/11.

Reading - Self Questioning
Our study of the comprehension strategy of "self questioning" will continue this week. We will be practicing writing extended responses to the stories that were shared in small groups.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

Students must ALWAYS have a silent reading book with them at school!

English - Nouns

We will be finishing this unit on Tuesday with a look at exact nouns, and a chapter review. The nouns TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 12/10.

Social Studies - Slavery in the Colonies

We will finish chapter 6 by studying how slavery evolved in the colonies. The chapter 6 TEST is TENTATIVELY scheduled for Monday, 12/14.

Science - Ecosystems & Change

Students should be working on completing their "Adaptations Story Board", which is due on 12/9. Ecosystems changing over time is the topic for our next lesson. We will be taking notes to prepare for the assessment which is scheduled for the week of 12/14.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Symmetry and tessellations will be the final two topics covered in this chapter. Students will learn about these two concepts, then spend some time creating their own tessellations. The chapter 7 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Monday, 12/14.


FYI...

Donations for the PV service project will be collected until 12/8.

I enjoyed meeting with you during conference week. Please do not ever hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or questions about your child at school.

Have a warm & wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/30/09 - 12/4/09

Highlights for the Week of 11/30/09 - 12/4/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Lesson 12 - "ous" words

The final test for this lesson will be on THURSDAY, 12/3. "Words to Know" are its-letter. Workbook pages & Master 12B will be collected on Wednesday, 12/2, and contract work is due on 12/3.

Reading - Self -Questioning

We will begin our new strategy with a look at a story titled, "Hurricanes: Weather at Its Wildest". Students will examine the patterns in text to decide how the piece is designed. Small group work will fill out the rest or the week.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

The reading celebration for students who reached their first trimester goal will be on Monday, 11/30 during lunch & recess. Contracts for second trimester need to be signed and returned on 11/30.

English - Nouns

Singular & plural possessive nouns will be our focus this week. The chapter 2 TEST is tentatively scheduled for the week of 12/7.

Social Studies

We continue our study of life in the early colonies with a look at education, religion, leisure activities, and diet. Students will be creating circle books as their note taking tool for this lesson.

Science - Ecosystems and Change

Finishing chapter 6, lesson 1 is our goal this week. There will be an OPEN NOTE/BOOK ASSESSMENT on this lesson on Wednesday, 12/2. Students will begin working on writing their own adaptations storyboard after hearing the tale of The Great Fuzz Frenzy.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

The second QUIZ for chapter 7 will be on Tuesday, 12/1. This quiz will cover lessons 5-8. We will finish the week with a look at congruence and transformations.

FYI...

Report cards will be coming home with your child on Tuesday, 12/1.

I look forward to seeing you at conferences the week of 11/30.

The deadline for the PV Service Project is 12/8.

Yearbook orders are due on by 12/1.

NO SCHOOL on Friday, 12/4.

Happy Holidays!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/23/09 - 11/27/09

Highlights for the Week of 11/23/09 - 11/27/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling

There will be no spelling this week, due to the short week!

Reading - Making Inferences

We will be concluding our study of inferring this week. There will be an assessment on Monday in which students will read independently read a story, then answer questions which will involve making inferences. We will also look at idioms, a type of figurative language. Creating our own class book of idioms and how we interpret them is our project for the rest of the week.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

The reading celebration for students who made their goal will be during lunch & recess time on Monday, 11/30. Students will also be signing new contracts for second trimester

Social Studies - Cities, Towns & Farms

We will be taking a look at how the colonists settled in North America, and the differences between the cities, towns and farms. Ask your child what impact Ben Franklin made on the city of Philadelphia!

Science - Ecosystems and Change

We will begin our new chapter with an activity that focuses on adapatations.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Quadrilaterals & polygons will be the topics this week.

FYI...

Don't forget...Yearbook Orders are due on or before 12/1!

Conference confirmation letters and movie permission slips were due on 11/20.

Our classroom trade fair was a tremendous success! I think that we all had fun while learning about supply & demand. I was amazed with the creativity of the products that were made by the students, and would like to thank all of their parents for supporting them in their efforts as entrepreneurs!

Information about the PV holiday service project will be sent home on 11/20.

It's hard to believe that we have completed the first trimester of school! As I look forward to the Thanksgiving break, I feel so thankful to have the opportunity to work with your wonderful children, and for the supportive environment that their parents provide for our classroom family! Have a happy & relaxing holiday!


Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/16/09 - 11/20/09

Highlights for the Week of 11/16/09 - 11/20/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Holiday Words List

Our list this week will contain words associated with Thanksgiving. There will be no "Words to Know" or contract work. Students may still earn the opportunity to skip the final test by scoring 100% on Monday's pretest. Spelling homework will be collected on 11/19.The final test for this list will be on Friday, 11/20.

Reading - Inferring

Our week in reading will begin with an activity in which students write about different situations, and their classmates will make inferences as to what is being descrived. We will also be doing some small group work which will focus on improving our skills in making inferences. Students will read the story of Bronco Charlie or Shellflower and work with others to draw logical conclusions about the character and the stories.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

The deadline for first trimester was 11/13. I am hoping that we will have 100% of the students reached their goal! We will be signing new contracts the week of 11/23.

English - Nouns

Plural nouns will be our focus this week. We will be studying spelling patterns for changing a singular noun into a plural noun.

Social Studies - Trade Fair

The big event in social studies this week is our trade fair on the afternoon of 11/18. Information sheets were sent home on 11/10. Students will be earning a participation grade for this activity, and creating a sign to advertise their products.

Science - Energy and Ecosystems

The chapter 5 TEST is on Wednesday, 11/18. Students should prepare for the test by reviewing their notes, the lesson assessments and the textbook. Don't forget that you may access the textbook online!

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
We will begin our week with a look at angle relationships. Students will have their first QUIZ in chapter 7 on Wednesday, 11/18. We will spend the rest of the week covering the characteristics of triangles, and how they are classified.

FYI...

From the PV Office...

YEARBOOK: Now's the time to place your orders! Yearbooks are $10.00 and the deadline for your order is Tuesday, December 1, 2009. No orders will be accepted after that date. Please make checks payable to Lifetouch. Please make sure your student's name, teacher's name, and grade level are marked on the order form. If you have multiple students, please fill out one order form for each child.

Yearbook order forms went home with your child on 11/12, and there are a few extra envelopes available; please try not to lose them. If your child loses it, you may send your order in an envelope with the following information written on it: student's name, teacher's name & grade level, along with a check made payable to Lifetouch for $10.00. It is very important that you put the information on the envelope; Lifetouch does not know who your child's teacher is!

PV yearbook orders were not paid at registration!

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/9/09 - 11/13/09

Highlights for the Week of 11/9/09 - 11/13/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 11 - "The Suffix -ly"
The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 11/13. "Words to Know" are I'd-into. Spelling workbook pages and Master 11A are due on 11/12, and contract work will be collected on 11/13.

Reading - Inferring

We will begin a new reading strategy, making inferences. Making inferences is the practice of determining underlying meaning in text, "filling in the blanks" in text with prior knowledge, and drawing logical conclusions from what is read. We will be doing some group activities this week to practice making inferences using a picture book called Baloney and a collection of photographs.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

The deadline for our reading program is quickly approaching...11/13. Students must have completed their book talk and their "Getting to the Core of the Book" sheets by the end of the school day on 11/13 in order to reach their goal.


English - Nouns

We will continue our study of the definition of a noun by writing some silly poems. Students will also have practice in identifying "invisible" nouns, or words that we don't usually associate with being a noun.

Social Studies - Working & Trading

Life in the 13 colonies will continue to be our focus this week. I will be introducing the Trade Fair activity on Tuesday, 11/10. Ask your child about the laws of supply and demand that we discuss in class. Look for the information sheet to come home with your child on 11/10. The Trade Fair will take place on 11/18, & students will receive a participation grade for this event.

Science - Energy & Ecosystems

The open book/note assessment on chapter 5 / lesson 2 will be on Monday, 11/2. Students should be able to apply the concepts in their notes to questions asked on the quiz. We will continue our study of food webs and food chains with a look at the picture book, Wolf Island. Students will be analyzing how removing one member of a food web destroys the entire ecosystem & writing a paragraph about it.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

GEOMETRY - one of my favorite units is here! We will begin this chapter by looking at where we find geometry in our everyday lives. Then we will take a look at points, lines, planes, angles, and angle relationshipe. Your student will see an increase in note taking during this chapter. At the end of the week, ask him/her about the geometry "cheer" that we use at the end of class every day!

FYI...

NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, 11/11 in honor of Veterans' Day!

PICTURE RETAKES are scheduled for Thursday, 11/19.

Please be sure that your child dresses for the weather...cold, rain or snow! PV students go outside for recess almost every day.

Have a Great Week!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/2/09 - 11/6/09

Highlights for the Week of 11/2/09 - 11/6/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 10 - Final "y" words & suffixes

The final test for this week's list will be on Friday, 11/6. "Words to Know" are happened -here. Workbook pages for this lesson will be due on 11/5 & contract work will be collected on 11/6.

Reading - Visualization

The story of Pecos Bill will be the final tall tale that we study. Students will begin a story pyramid project on Tuesday in which they will summarize a tall tale that we have read together, and draw a picture of what they visualize when they read the story. We will be typing the summary together on 11/4. The final project is due on 11/6.

"Bite into a Good Book" Independent Reading Program

I have conferenced with each student to discuss their first trimester reading goals, and have made adjustments where needed. Students must write a "Getting to the Core of the Book" report for EACH book read towards their goal, and give one book talk to reach their goal.

English - Nouns

Our new unit in English is nouns. We will begin the unit by focusing on the definition of a noun. Ask your child about the new Schoolhouse Rock song that we are singing!

Social Studies

The Chapter 5 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/3. Students should focus on reviewing the notes and workbook pages when preparing for the test. Ask your child to verbally summarize the lessons in the textbook for you. We will begin chapter 6, which looks at life in the colonies, at the end of the week.

Science - Energy & Ecosystems

We will continue our study of the interdependence of ecosystems & food webs.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Students will be taking the chapter 3 TEST this week. They are aware that this is a very long test, and that I have allotted two days for them to complete it. I have strongly suggested that they work very carefully on the test, and check their work. And of course, all scratch work must be shown!

FYI...

Our field trip to Robert Crown is scheduled for the morning of 11/6. Students must bring a SACK LUNCH to school that day!

I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the parents who worked so hard to make our Halloween celebration so special. Thank you for the wonderful treats, the extra decorations for our pumpkins, cleaning up the room, your time & efforts, and for taking care of our absent students. It was truly a memorable afternoon!

Have a "Spook-tacular" Halloween!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/26/09 - 10/30/09

Highlights for the Week of 10/26/09 - 10/30/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Holiday Word List
In honor of Halloween, our words this week will be a list of "spooky" words. "Words to Know" are getting-guess. Students will have the pretest on Monday, but there will be no contract work this week. Every student will be completing a word puzzle and word search that will be due on Thursday, 10/29. The final test on Friday will be the 15 holiday words + the five "Words to Know".

Reading - Visualization

We have moved on to our next reading strategy, which is visualization. A good reader makes "mind pictures" to improve his/her comprehension while reading. We will be practicing this skill while focusing on the genre of tall tales.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

Students MUST ALWAYS have a silent reading book at school. Your child should be more than half way to completing his/her goal. Grades for the "Bite into a Good Book" program will not be entered into the gradebook until after the due date of 11/13.

English - Punctuation & Capitalization

We will be finishing chapter 5 and preparing for the TEST, which is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, 10/28.

Social Studies - The 13 English Colonies

The last lesson in chapter 5 will be our focus this week. The chapter 5 TEST will take place the week of 11/2. We will also spend time reading and discussing an issue of Time for Kids that focuses on bullying.

Science - Energy & Ecosystems

We will begin lesson 2 of chapter 5 which focuses on food webs & "what eats what".

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Finishing up chapter 3 (decimals) will be our task this week. We will take a look at interpreting quotients, and solving decimal equations. Students will also spend time reviewing for the chapter 5 TEST which is scheduled for the week of 11/2.

FYI...

We are looking forward to our Halloween celebration on Thursday, 10/28. Students may bring their costumes to school, but should keep in mind that they will only be given 10 minutes to change into them. Students will not be allowed to change in the restrooms, so they should plan their costumes accordingly. Due to the time constraints, make up should be kept to a minimum, and, of course, no props resembling weapons of any kind are allowed.

The PTO has generously donated a pumpkin for every student to decorate during the celebration. Each child is responsible for decorating his/her pumpkin, and may bring in materials to use. We will not be carving the pumpkins.

The Parent Information Session for the Robert Crown Field trip is Wednesday, 10/28 at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Prairieview.

NO SCHOOL on Friday, 10/30 - Teacher's Institute!

Have a "Spook-tacular" Week!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/19/09 - 10/23/09

Highlights for the week of 10/19/09 - 10/23/09 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 8 - Review

The final test for this week's list will be on Friday, 10/23. There will be no "Words to Know" this week. The format for this week's test will be different, because it is a review lesson. Students will be given lists of spelling words, some of which contain a misspelled word. They will have to determine which word is not spelled correctly, or if all of the words are correct. I recommend studying the spelling rules from each lesson to prepare for this test.

Reading - Summarizing / Visualization
We will begin our week in reading with an introduction to writing extended responses. Writing an extended response is a skill that is assessed on the ISAT test in the spring. I will introduce the concepts of using a key idea, providing evidence, interpreting the evidence, and extending the ideas. We will practice writing a response together using the story, 'The Three Little Pigs." Students will independently write their own responses to The Wishgiver on Wednesday. On Thursday, we will begin a new reading comprehension strategy: "Visualization". Being able to create mental pictures while reading is beneficial to comprehension. Students will practice this skill while focusing on the genre of tall tales. We will begin with the study of the story of "Bess Call".

"Bite Into a Good Book" program
We have been enjoying the book talks given by students. They should be at least half way to their reading goal by now!

English - Capitalization & Punctuation

The Comic Strip Quotation project will be due on Tuesday. Then, students will be collecting quotations for our "Me Front Page" newspaper, and typing them. Abbreviations and titles are the other topics that will be looked at.

Social Studies

We will be moving on to the study of the first 13 colonies. We will focus on the geography, resources, and industry of each region settled by the English.

Science - Energy & Ecosystems

We will have an OPEN NOTE ASSESSMENT on Tuesday, 10/20. The assessment will cover chapter 5, lesson 1. Students should be familiar with their notes & should have them safely stored in the science folder of their binders! Your child should be collecting leaves for the animal leaf project. An information packet on preserving the leaves was sent home on 10/15. Leaves should come to school on 10/22 in a "ziplock" bag.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will continue our study of decimals with a look at multiplication of decimals, division of decimals by whole numbers & decimals. The second QUIZ for chapter 3 is TENTATIVELY scheduled for Friday, 10/23.

FYI...

For the next five weeks, our class will be participating in the Junior Achievement program. The goal of the program is to introduce students to basic concepts of business.

Don't forget...early dismissal on Wednesday, 10/21. Students will be dismissed at 11:00.

Mrs. Karen Bell