Week of 12/3/12 - 12/7/12

Highlights for the Week of 12/3/12

in Mrs. Bell's Class!

Spelling - The ôr/ ür / yŏŏr sounds
The words this week will have sounds like the words, "more", "hurt" & "pure". The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 12/7. Cursive and workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Summarize & Make Generalizations

We have finished reading Because of Winn-Dixie, and are ready to begin the final project for the novel. The project will focus on using the skill of summarizing, as students create a timeline. During the week, we will work on how to summarize and make generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most. Students will be given time in school to work on the project, which will be collected on Monday, 12/10.  We will also have our "Winn-Dixie Friendship Celebration" in the classroom on Friday, 12/7.  The celebration is modeled after the party thrown by the main character in the book.  Student chefs will recreate the book's menu of egg salad sandwiches, dill pickles & "dump punch". We will finish our celebration by watching the movie while comparing and contrasting the novel with the movie.  Please watch for movie permission slips & a request for menu item donations to come home today.

English - Nouns
We will continue our study of how to spell plural nouns, and take a look at singular possessive nouns.

Social Studies - The Southeast
Our focus this week will be on the wildlife and resources of the Southeast.  Students will learn about the crops that flourish in the Southeast's long growing season, and how the alligator was saved from becoming an endangered species. The chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for Friday, 12/7. The topic in this week's Time for Kids magazine is a recap of the election.  Students will read about election results & use a chart to interpret information.  The comprehension QUIZ on the TFK magazine will be on Thursday, 12/6.  Please be sure that your child has his/her magazine at school that day.

Science - "How do Living Things of the Past Compare with Those of Today?"

Looking at how scientists use fossils is the topic for the week. Students will be taking an open note/textbook QUIZ on lessons 2 and 3 of chapter 3 on Wednesday, 12/5.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
Students will be taking a quiz on lessons 1-4 of chapter 5 on Tuesday, 12/4.  The QUIZ will include properties of multiplication, multiplication and division expressions, and order of operations.  Ask your child what PMDAS stands for!  We will also take a look at the problem solving skill of "predict and test", inequalities and finding patterns and rules.  Look for the chapter 5 test to be scheduled for the week of 12/10.The following pictures are of a collaborative activity that we did while practicing order of operations...

Don't forget...

December 11 - PTO Dine Out Fundraiser 

December 24 - Winter Break Begins

January 7, 2013 - Classes Resume

Mrs. Karen Bell


Posted by Mrs. Karen Bell at 4:46 PM

Weeks of 11/19/12 & 11/26/12

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/19/12 & 11/26/12 

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling 
There will be no spelling the week of 11/19. The following week, the rule for the lesson is words with the patterns of îr/är/âr , which are words that have the sounds like the words, "ear" &"glare". Cursive and workbook pages, as well as challenge work for the lesson will be collected on Friday, 11/30. The final test for that lesson will also be that day.

Reading 
Over the next few weeks, we will be reviewing the skills that we have gone over since the beginning of the year. The students will also work on summarizing and making generalizations. In writing summaries, the students will learn to pick out the main points or events of a story or passage and concisely put them in their own words. In making generalizations the students will learn that generalizations are broad statements that are true most of the time, and are based on fact or good reasons, and may include words like always or most. We will continue to read the novel, Because of Winn-Dixie as we practice these skills.

English - Nouns
Students will be taking the pretest for the Nouns unit on Monday, 11/19. Those that are proficient in at least half of the lessons will have the opportunity to do challenge work. Singular and plural nouns, and spelling rules for nouns that end with the letter "y" will be our focus over the next two weeks.

Social Studies - The Southeast
The next region on our journey across the U.S. is the southeast.  We will begin with a look at the geography of the region, focusing on the how the land changes as you move inland from the coast.  Students will take the map QUIZ for the Southeast the week of 11/26.

Science -  Behavioral Adaptations / TFK  - "Sandy Strikes"
We will continue to study how the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals help them to meet their needs. Students will also be reading a Time for Kids that focuses on the impact that Hurricane Sandy has had on the northeast. 

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

As we move on to chapter 5, the concepts that we will focus on are multiplication properties and multiplication and division expressions. We will also take a look at order of operations. It is imperative that students continue to practice their multiplication and division facts.

FYI...
November 21-23 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday Break

On Monday, November 19, all fourth grade students will attend an in school presentation titled, "Life on the Appalachian Trail". This presentation is given by John Lynn, and it will feature a slide presentation that illustrates the history, geography and nature of the Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S.

I am so thankful for the privilege of having your child as my student. Wishing you & yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/12/12 - 11/16/12

Highlights for the Week of 11/12/12

 in Mrs. Bell's Class!

Spelling - The /ōō/ & /ŏŏ/ Sounds
The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 11/16. Cursive and workbook pages or challenge work will also be collected that day.


Reading - Because of Winn-Dixie Novel Study
We will be reading chapters 5-10 in our novel this week.  The skills that we will practice while reading include clarifying and visualizing.  We will also be studying several new vocabulary words. Students will be taking a comprehension/vocabulary QUIZ on chapters 1-10 of Because of Winn-Dixie on Friday, 11/16.

English - Nouns
The chapter 5 English TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 11/14. The next unit that we will study is nouns.

Social Studies - People of the Northeast
We will continue our study of the Native Americans of the Northeast.  Students will learn about the culture and traditions of the Narragansetts. They will also learn about the Iroqouis Americans, and will compare and contrast their culture with the Narragansetts. On Tuesday, students will receive guidelines for a project in which they will illustrate a Narragansett Village. The project will be collected on 11/19. There will be a QUIZ on Thursday, 11/15, that will cover lesson 1 of chapter 5.

Science - How do the Bodies of Animals Help Them Meet their Needs?

Our week in science will begin with an investigation that will demonstrate how birds' beaks are adapted to their diets. We will also study how adaptations help species to survive.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
We will finish multiplication facts through 12, and take a look at how to find missing factors in equations.  The chapter 4 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 11/20.

Don't forget...

November 12 - Veterans'  Day - No School
November 21, 22, 23 - Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/5/12 - 11/9/12

Highlights for the Week of 11/5/12

in Mrs. Bell's Class!

Spelling - The "ou" and “â” sound 
The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 11/9. Cursive and workbook pages or challenge work will also be collected that day.


Reading - Sequence of Events
This week, we will focus on the reading comprehension skill known as sequence of events. Recognizing the order of events in a story makes it easier to understand. Clue words such as first, later, then, and finally signal sequence. We will be working on this skill as we begin our study of one of my favorite novels, Because of Winn-Dixie.

English - Capitalization & Punctuation
We will finish chapter 5 with a look at how to write titles, and a review of the chapter.  The chapter 5 TEST is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 11/13. Students should review their practice pages, workbook pages & textbook to prepare for the test. There is a very helpful chapter review on pages 189-190 in the textbook. Also, pages 194-202 contain extra practice for each lesson. 

Social Studies - People of the Northeast
We will be studying the Native Americans of the Northeast Region, the Narragansetts. Students will learn about the culture and traditions of the Narragansetts. They will also learn about the Iroqouis Americans & will compare & contrast their culture with the Narragansetts. 

Science - Life Cycles of Plants and Animals
The TEST on chapter 2, lessons 2 & 3 is scheduled for Thursday, 11/8.  Ask your child to see the study guide that was given out to help prepare for the test.  Tests in science are not open book or open note.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class 
We are nearing the end of multiplication facts.  Students will be tested on threes and review on Tuesday, 11/7. The facts for the numbers 4-8 will finish up the week. We will also work on some problem solving.

FYI...

November 5 and 6 - No School
November 12  -- Veteran's Day -- No School
November 21-23  -- Thanksgiving Holiday -- No School

This week students will be "filling their buckets" by giving to others. Andrea's cousin has been deployed to Afghanistan for the fourth time.  We will be making holiday cards to send to him and his company of Marines. 

Mrs. Karen Bell