Week of 5/3/10 - 5/7/10

Highlights for the Week of 5/3/10 - 5/7/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 31 - The Prefix "ex"

The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 5/7. Workbook pages and Master 31B will be collected on 5/6. Checklist work is due on 5/7.

Reading - The Kid in the Red Jacket

We will continue to use the reading strategies and skills that we have learned throughout the year. Students will complete the last page of their "minibooks" which focuses specifically on making inferences. There will be a comprehension QUIZ for the novel on Wednesday, 5/5.

Bite into a Good Book - Independent Reading Program
The end of the year is coming quickly! Has your child given his/her book talk yet?

English - Verbs

Students will be writing one final persuasive essay in class this week. Then, it's back to verbs! We will do a small project called, "Tommorow, Today will be Yesterday", that reviews verb tenses. Then, it's on to agreement with be & have.

Social Studies

We've reached the end of chapter 10, and the TEST has been scheduled for Wednesday, 5/5. Students should focus on their notes and worksheets to prepare for the test. Pay particular attention to the duties of the three branches of government. Students will be able to earn 3 bonus points on their test if they can write (not sing !) the Preamble :).

Science - Earth's Moon & Beyond
How are craters formed? That is the question we will answer with our hands on activity this week. We will also look at Earth's moon as we compare and contrast its characteristics with those of Earth.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Using percents is our last topic in this chapter. We TEST on the chapter on Thursday, 5/5. Next stop...integers!

FYI...

Students from Project Challenge have started a fundraiser for the ASPCA, a foundation to stop animal cruelty. The kids will be selling "Smencils" (scented pencils) FOR $1.00 each. The pencils will be sold each morning in the grade level areas. The sales will start on Monday, April 30, and will end on May 28th.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 4/26/10 - 4/30/10

Highlights for the Week of 4/26/10-4/30/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 30 - Words Spelled with "or"

The final test for this week's list will be on Friday, 4/30. Workbook pages and Master 30A are due on 4/29, & Checklist work will be collected on 4/30.

Reading - The Kid in the Red Jacket

Students will continue to practice the reading strategies that we have studied this year while preparing for book club discussions. The third and final book club meeting will be on Tuesday, 3/27. Students will then begin their final project for this novel, a mini book that focuses on each of the 7 reading strategies, one per page.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

Students should ALWAYS have a silent reading book with them at school If your child needs one, I'll be happy to help him/her choose one from our classroom library!

English - Persuasive Writing

Should students in public schools be required to wear uniforms? This is the prompt that your child will be responding to this week. Students will be taking a stand on this issue and providing reasons, facts and examples that support their position. They will be developing their essay throughout the week, and the rough draft is due on Thursday. After proofreading & editing, I will collect the final copy of the essays on Friday.

Social Studies - "Ratifying the Constitution"

We will focus on the process of ratifying the Constitution this week. Students will focus on note taking while creating his/her own "Important Book". Singing the Preamble song has become a daily event in our room...ask your child for a private performance at home!

Science - "Earth's Moon & Beyond"

We will begin a new chapter in science this week, the study of the moon and outer space. This week's lesson will focus how the movement of the earth and sun affect the seasons. The open note ASSESSMENT on lesson 1 of chapter 13 is tentatively scheduled for 4/30.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Our week will begin with a QUIZ on Monday that will cover lessons 1-6 in chapter 8.
Then, we will focus on the concept of percents, how percents translate into fractions and decimals, and finally, using percentages to calculate discounts, tips and sales tax.

FYI...

I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to all of the families who donated items for our chinese cooking activity. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 4/19/10-4/23/10

Highlights for the Week of 4/19/10 -4/23/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Lesson 29 - Compound Words & Contractions

This week's final test will be on Friday, 4/23. Workbook pages & Master 29A are due on 4/22, & Checklist work will be collected on 4/23.

Reading - The Kid in the Red Jacket

We will continue to review the reading strategies that we have studied this year using the novel, The Kid in the Red Jacket. Students will be preparing for their first and second book club meetings by independently reading the novel, and completing the book club discussion sheet. The discussion sheet revisits the skills of summarizing, questioning, connecting, and predicting. It also includes a look at vocabulary. The first book club meeting is scheduled for 4/19, and the second will be on 4/23.

"Bite into a Good Book" - Independent Reading Program

We are nearly midway through the trimester. Your child should be half way to his/her reading goal. Please do not wait until the last minute to fill in the "Getting to the Core of the Book" sheets, or to give your book talk!

English - Persuasive Writing

We will be taking a break from the english text book to focus on the art of persuasive writing. We will begin by analyzing what makes a great persuasive essay & how other authors present their ideas to convince their readers. By the end of the week, students will be organizing their own persuasive essay.

Social Studies - "A Weak Government"

Our focus in social studies will be on how the government of the U.S. came into existence. We will look at the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and what led to the meeting in Philadelphia that resulted in the U.S. Constitution. Ask your child to sing the Preamble song for you!

Science - Earth's Oceans

The open note/book ASSESSMENT for chapter 12, lesson 3 will be on Monday, 4/19. We will spend Wednesday reviewing for the chapter 12 TEST, which will be on Friday,

4/23.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Similar figures, Indirect Measurement & Scale Maps and Drawings will be our topics this week. Students will take the midchapter QUIZ for chapter 8 on Thursday, 4/22.

FYI...

It was such a pleasure to see so many families and friends at open house. Thank you for coming out and supporting your child!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 4/12/10-4/16/10

Highlights for the Week of 4/12/10-4/16/10 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom


Spelling - Lesson 28- Greek Combining Forms
The final test for this lesson is scheduled for Friday, 4/16. Workbook pates and Master 28A are due on the 15th, and checklist work will be collected on 4/16.



Reading - The Kid in the Red Jacket
We will revisit all of the reading strategies that we have mastered this year as we journey through the novel, The Kid in the Red Jacket. This novel is a humorous look at what happens when a boy moves to a new town and his younger (very annoying) neighbor wants to be his friend. During the first few chapters we will focus primarily on the strategies of connecting, questioning, summarizing & predicting.

English - Verbs

We will cover future tense verbs and subject/verb agreement early in the week. The verbs "QUEST" is scheduled for Thursday, 4/15. The assessment will cover lessons 1-8 in the chapter.

Social Studies
The Chapter 9 TEST will be on Wednesday, 4/14. We will be reviewing for the test on Tuesday. On Friday we will begin chapter 10 which focuses on the formation of government in the new United States.

Science - Earth's Oceans

The forces that shape shorelines will be our topic this week.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Due to the Geospace field trip, we will only have two days of math this week. The topics that we will be discussing are proportions and customary measurement.


FYI...

OPEN HOUSE is Thursday, 4/15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a book fair in the gym & classrooms will be open. Please be sure to stop by to see all of your child's hard work, & to say "hi" to Yoshi (& Mrs. Bell)!

It was so nice to see all of the parents who came to TGFD graduation. Congratulations to all our our fifth grade students!

Mrs. Karen Bell