Week of 3/1/10 - 3/5/10

Highlights for the Week of 3/1/10 - 3/5/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 22 - The Prefix "com"

The final test for this lesson is scheduled for Friday, 3/5. "Words to Know" are we're-wouldn't. Workbook pages & the master are due on 3/4, and menu work will be collected on 3/5.

Reading

This week we will be reviewing all the reading strategies used in reading for preparation during the ISATs. Students will be taking the reading portion of the state tests on Tuesday-Thursday.

"Bite Into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

We're ready to set our reading goals for the last trimester! Watch for your child's reading contract to come home to be signed this week.

English - Expository Writing

This is it! Students have written a total of 4 expository essays over the past month. This week they will use their hard earned skills to write an expository essay during the writing portion of the state test on Friday, 3/5.

Social Studies

The battles of Lexington, Concord & Bunker Hill will be our focus this week. Students will complete the notes for this portion of lesson 3 & write their Patriot/Loyalist paragraphs for Paul Revere's Ride & Lexington/Concord. The chapter 8 test will take place the week of 3/8.

Science - Weather & the Water Cycle

The open note/book ASSESSMENT for chapter 11, lesson 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, 3/3.

We have finished this unit of study, and I anticipate that the test for chapter 11 will be the week of 3/8.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will not have any new lessons in math this week. Our math class will have state tests on Tuesday - Thursday. Students will be testing in my classroom. They are well prepared, and I feel confident that they will excel.

FYI...

NO SCHOOL on Monday, 3/1 in honor of Casimir Pulaski day!

Parent/teacher conferences will take place during the week of 3/8. If you requested a conference, look for your confirmation form to come home with your child next week.

The permission slips and $ for the Naper Settlement field is due on or before 3/12. Please ask you child to see the form that was sent home on 2/6.

Stay Warm!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 2/22/10-2/26/10

Highlights for the Week of 2/22/10-2/26/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 21 - Words Spelled with "ei"

The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 2/26. "Words to Know" are tried-weird. Workbook pages and Master 21B are due on 2/25, and menu work will be collected on 2/26.

Reading - ISAT Preparation

This will be our last week of ISAT preparation. Students will be simulating the tests by reading passages and answering multiple choice questions. We will also be writing extended responses as a group and independently.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

The DEADLINE for this trimester is Friday, 2/26. In order to reach their goals, students must read the number of books that they set in their contracts, write a "Getting to the Core of the Book" report for EACH of those books, and give one book talk. I am hoping that 100% of the students will reach their reading goal.

English - Expository Writing

We will finish typing the "If I were President" essays. Students will also practice writing an essay in a timed situation that simulates what will take place during ISAT testing. We have been working hard to perfect our writing by using organizers and symbols developed by the PV teachers. Ask your child what the symbols on their organizers represent!

Social Studies - The War Begins

The British are Coming! Paul Revere's famous ride will be our focus this week. Students will also write and type their Patriot/Loyalist paragraphs for the Boston Tea Part and the Intolerable Acts.

Science - Weather and the Water Cycle

We will take a look at weather patterns and fronts, and finish lesson 3 of chapter 11.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

In preparation for ISAT testing, we will review the topics of elapsed time and customary measurement. We will also revisit everyone's favorite...the famous "T-Chart". Students will work on problem solving and being able to effective explain the process by which they solved the problem by writing a paragraph.

FYI...

From the PV Office...
Thursday, February 25, 2010 is Spring Picture Day - Look before you buy. Send no money now - see your portraits first. Your finished portrait package will be sent home for your review. Simply return any un-used portrait sheets with your payment. All students will be photographed. Please notify your student's teacher if you do not want an individual portrait taken of your child. Additional flyers will be sent home with your child on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Please check their backpacks.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Highlights for the Week of 2/15/10-2/19/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 20- Words that end in "ary"

The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 2/19. Workbook pages & Master 20A are due on 2/18. Menu work will be collected on 2/15.

Reading - ISAT Preparation

We will continue preparing for the ISAT tests which are only two weeks away! We will practice by reading a passage and analyzing how to answer multiple choice questions about what was read. We will also practice writing extended responses, which is part of the reading portion of the test.

"Bite into a Good Book" Independent Reading Program

The deadline is drawing near! All "Getting to the Core of the Book" reports & book talks must be completed on or before 2/26.

English - Expository Writing

We will finish writing our second essay. Students are writing about what they would do if they were president. Most of them are writing about saving the environment, helping earthquake victims in Haiti and improving the economy. Their creativity never ceases to amaze me!

Social Studies - The Colonists Rebel

The Patriot/Loyalist project will be our focus. Students will write paragraphs about the Boston Massacre from the point of view of a patriot, and a loyalist. We will also spend time in the computer lab typing this portion of their book.

Science - Weather & the Water Cycle

Recording the final observations for our water cycle investigation will be our job for the beginning of the week. Then, we will finish reading and taking notes for the second lesson in chapter 11. The open note/book ASSESSMENT for this lesson is scheduled for Friday, 2/19.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Data collection & organization will be our topic for the week. Translation: we will study mean, median, mode & range. After reviewing the meanings of these statistical terms, students will participate in a group activity in which they will record high and low temperatures for a given city over a period of time. They will then calculate the mean, median, mode & range for the data that was collected. We will be compiling the data as a class and discussing how this information is meaningful in day to day life. Students will also prepare for the ISAT tests by practicing with the multiple choice and short answer assessments.

FYI...

NO SCHOOL on Monday, 2/15 in observance of Presidents' Day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 2/8/10 - 2/12/10

Highlights for the Week of 2/8/10 - 2/12/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 19 - VAC Words

This week's list consists of VAC words - words that have a single Vowel before a single Consonant in an Accented final syllable. These words have special rules when suffixes are added. The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 2/12. "Words to Know" are then-they're. Workbook pages and Master 19A will are due on 2/11 & manu work will be collected on 2/12.

Reading - Connections / ISAT Preparation

We will be finishing this unit of ISAT preparation with a look at analogies. Students will complete a unit review test on Wednesday. The test will cover the concepts of using context clues to determine meanings of unknown words, prefixes and suffixes, homophones and analogies. We will continue to practice writing extended responses to text passages.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program
The deadline for reaching reading goals is 2/26. Students must write "Getting to the Core of the Book" for EVERY book that they have read for their goal. They also must give one book talk for the trimester. Book talks are scheduled for every Friday. Ask you child if he/she has given a book talk yet!

English - Expository Writing

We have completed our first expository piece & will begin on a second essay. We will continue to use the same organizers and terminology when writing until the process becomes second nature. The prompt will ask what your child would do if he/she was president. I look forward to reading their ideas!

Social Studies - The Colonists Rebel

The Stamp Act, the Townshend Act & the Sons of Liberty...ask your child about the series of events leading up to the Revolutionary War & about the cause/effect relationships that we studied! Now we will move on to focus on the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.

Science - Weather & the Water Cycle

Lesson 2 of chapter 11 will involve studying the water cycle and how it is related to weather. Students will investigate condensation in a hands on activity this week, and we will also learn about the different types of clouds.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will begin the week with a look at the addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators and multiplying fractions by whole numbers. The chapter 4 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 2/11.

FYI...

Our classroom celebration for Valentine's day will be the afternoon of Friday, 2/12. Thank you to all of the parents who have worked so hard to make it a special day for our classroom!

Don't forget...no school on Monday, 2/15 for President's Day!

Enjoy your Super Bowl weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell