Week of 10/22/12-10/25/12

Highlights for the Week of 10/22/12

 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom !

Spelling - Theme 1 Review

This week's spelling list will contain words from the first theme in our reading text. Included in this group are words with long and short "a","e", "i", "o", "u", and homophones. Students must score 100% on the pretest to do challenge work.  The final test will be on Friday, 10/28, and homework will also be collected that same day.

Reading - I Can Predict and Make Inferences

This week, we will be reading the story of The Parcel Post Kid, by Michael O. Tunnel. This piece is a nonfiction story set in 1914, which tells the tale of a young girl whose parents mail her to her grandmother because it is cheaper than paying her train fare. While reading the story, students will be reviewing the strategies and skills that we have studied so far this year, with particular emphasis on predicting and making inferences.

English - Capitalization & Punctuation

This week's topics in English will include abbreviations and commas in a series.  Students will be taking an independent assessment on Monday which will cover capitalization of people, pets, places, and things.

Social Studies - The Northeast
Students will be doing some descriptive writing in Social Studies this week. They will be imagining what it would be like to take a "road trip" through the Northeast, and writing a descriptive paragraph about the experience. The assignment will also require two illustrations to go with the paragraph. Look for the assignment sheet for this activity to come home on Monday. The rough draft is due on Thursday, 10/24, and the final copy will be collected on Monday, 10/29. On Thursday we will have our "Northeast Feast", when students will get to sample some of the products of the region, including cranberries, grapes and maple syrup.  "Chef Bell" will be whipping up some pancakes to go with the syrup :-)

Science - Life Cycles of Animals

The life cycles of different animals is the new topic in science. Students will be taking an open note/book QUIZ on lesson 3 of chapter 23 on Monday, 10/29.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
Chapter 4 begins on Monday.  This chapter focuses on multiplication and division facts.  We will review our facts using a program called "Multiplication Facts in 7 Days", although we will stretch the system to a longer period of time.  Look for a letter explaining the system to be sent home with your child on Monday. I will also be sending home flash cards with students whose parents were unable to attend curriculum night.  Please use the flash cards to review facts with your child.

Don't Forget...

10/25 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
11/29 - PICTURE RETAKES

Mrs. Karen Bell