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