Week of 1/6/14 - 1/10/14

Highlights for the Week of 1/6/14

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Words with the final / ē / Sound
The final test for this lesson will be on Friday,1/10. Workbook pages & the cursive page OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Identify the Problem and Solution


This week, we will be working on the reading skill of identifying the problem and the solution. Most stories involve a problem for the character to solve, and the solution to the problem may come after others have been tried. We will be using the story, Marven of the Great North Woods to practice this school. After several close readings of this story, students will practice answering text dependent questions. They will focus on developing the meaning of vocabulary words as they reread the story.We will also be reading a Time for Kids magazine that reviews 2013 in pictures.  Students will take a comprehension QUIZ on the magazine in school on Wednesday, 1/8.

English - Nouns 
We will finish our study of nouns with a peek at singular and plural possessive nouns. Singular possessive nouns show that something belongs to ONE person, place or thing (the boy's books). Plural possessive nouns show that something belongs to MORE THAN ONE person, place or thing (the students' books). We will review the chapter on Wednesday. The nouns TEST is scheduled for Thursday, 1/9.

Social Studies - The Midwest

Our journey through the U.S. has brought us to the Midwest.  We will finish our study of the Great Lakes, and continue on to lesson 2 of chapter 8. This lesson covers the terrain & climate of the South Dakota Badlands.

Science - The Human Body / How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?

The circulatory systems will be the topic in science this week.  We will study the different components of blood, how the blood travels through the body, and the heart.   

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 6 - Divide by a 1-Digit Number
Our new unit will focus on division. The pretest will be given on Monday, 1/6. This week's lessons will cover division with multiples of 10, 100 & 1,000, and how to estimate quotients. 

Don't Forget...

Students will be taking the MAPS test during the week of 1/6. Our class will take the reading test on Wednesday, & the math test on Thursday. Please encourage your child to do his/her best on the test, and be sure that he/she comes to school well rested. Thank you!

Wishing you & your family a happy, safe & relaxing 
holiday break!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/16/13 - 12/20/13

Highlights for the Week 

of 12/16/13 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Words with the /k/, /ng/ & /kw/ Sounds
The final test for this lesson will be on Friday, 12/20. Workbook pages & the cursive page OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Use Text Proof to Respond to Comprehension Questions
This week in reading, students will be reading a Time for Kids magazine about the storm in the Philippines. During Daily 5, students will read the main article with a partner, independently read the main article, and work on analyzing a chart. The comprehension quiz will be assigned for homework on Monday. 

English - Nouns
Students will take a QUIZ on plural nouns on Monday, 12/16. They should review and remember the rules for spelling most plural nouns (add -s), for plural nouns that end in -s, -x, -ch, and -sh (add -es), for plural nouns that end in a vowel and "y" (add -s), for plural nouns that end in a consonant and "y" (change the "y" to an "i", and add -es), and irregular plural nouns such as children, mice, deer, and moose. They have practice sheets in the English folder of their binder that should be helpful when preparing for the quiz.

Social Studies - The Midwest

We will begin our study of the Midwest with a look at the formation of the Great Lakes. The Midwest map QUIZ is scheduled for Thursday, 12/18. 

Science - How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?

The respiratory system will be our focus this week.  Students will create a model of the respiratory system that will show how the diaphragm pushes air in and out of the lungs.  Ask your child to demonstrate it for you! 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class 

Students will take the 4th, and final, division "Mad Minute" on Monday, 12/16. The Unit 5 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/18.

Don't Forget...

December 17 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
January 6 -- Classes Resume after Winter Break

January 20 -- M. L. King Birthday -- No School

The Fourth grade BOWLING field trip is the afternoon of Wednesday, 12/18.  Students may bring a small amount of money to purchase snacks while bowling.

The "all-school" field trip to the TIVOLI Movie theater will be the afternoon of Friday, 12/20.  Students will enjoy watching "Tale of Despereaux". No money is necessary; snacks will not be available.

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 12/9/2013 - 12/13/13

Highlights for the Week of 12/9/13

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling - Review Lesson
This week's spelling list will contain 30 words from the second theme in our reading text. Words will be chosen from lessons 8-12. Students must score 100% on the pretest to earn challenge work for the week. The final test will be on Friday, 12/13, and will cover 20 words from the list. Homework will also be collected on Friday.

Reading - I Can Review Strategies

We will be very busy in reading this week! The Because of Winn-Dixie timeline project will be collected on Monday, 12/9. We will also have our Winn-Dixie Friendship Celebration that day. Students will enjoy the same menu that the characters in the book shared: egg salad sandwiches, dill pickles, "Dump" punch & Littmus lozenges. Your child should plan on bringing a lunch that day in case the menu does not appeal to him/her. Students will take a QUIZ on making generalizations on Tuesday, 12/10. 

English - Nouns
We will continue to study spelling patterns for plural nouns with a look at how to spell nouns that end with the letter "y", and irregular plurals. Students will also be writing a descriptive paragraph about their favorite holiday or winter memory.


Social Studies - The Cherokee & The Midwest

Students will take an open note/book QUIZ on the Cherokee (chapter 7) on Wednesday, 12/11. On Thursday, we will begin the Midwest unit with a look at the map of the region. Look for the Midwest map quiz  to be scheduled the week of 12/16.

Science - The Human Body / How Does Your Body Get Oxygen & Nutrients?
The first body system that we will study is the digestive system. We will take a look at all of the organs that comprise the system, and learn their function. Students will take a QUIZ on the the organs of the digestive system on Friday, 12/13.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
We will finish Unit 5 with a look at multiplying by two-digit numbers, multi-step word problems, and making a table to solve a problem. Students will also take the third "Mad Minute" for division on 12/9. Check the Google Doc that I shared with your child to monitor his/her progress with the division timed tests. The Unit 5 TEST is scheduled for the week of 12/16.  

Don't forget...

Tivoli Field Trip forms are due on 12/11.

"Goo, Globs & Guts" - On Friday, 12/13 fourth grade will participate in a special program presented by High Tech, High Touch.  Students will learn about the body systems, and will participate in some hands on activities in the classroom. 

Mrs. Karen Bell

Weeks of 11/25/13 & 12/2/13

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/25/13 & 12/2/13

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling 
There will be no spelling the week of 11/25. The following week, we will study words with the the patterns of  ôr/ ür / yŏŏr, which sound like "more", "hurt" & "pure". The final test for that week's lesson will be on Friday, 12/6. Cursive and workbook pages OR challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - Because of Winn-Dixie
During the week of 11/25, we will finish reading Because of Winn-Dixie. We will also take a look at a Time for Kids magazine that focuses on leadership. Students will take a comprehension QUIZ on the magazine on Tuesday, 11/26. On 12/2, students will begin the final project for Because of Winn-Dixie. The project will focus on using the skill of summarizing, as students create a timeline. Students will be given some time in school to work on the project, but should expect to work on it at home as well.  The project will be collected on Monday, 12/9. A comprehension/vocabulary QUIZ on chapters 11-26 is scheduled for Tuesday, 12/3. We will also continue practicing the skill of making generalizations.

English - Nouns
Students will be taking the pretest for the Nouns unit on Monday, 11/25.  Those that are proficient in at least half of the lessons will have the opportunity to do challenge work. What is a noun, common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, and spelling rules for nouns that end with the letter "y" will be our focus for the rest of the week.

Social Studies - The Southeast
The chapter 6 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/26. When we return from break, students will begin working on a descriptive writing assignment for the Southeast region. Look for the project description sheet to come home on 12/2. The project is due on Friday, 12/6. We will finish the week by working on the Southeast portion of our large United States map, and "Chef Bell" will make another appearance by creating our Southeast Feast. The Native Americans of the southeast, the Cherokee, is the next unit that we will study in Social Studies.

Science -  Adaptations & Human Body
The chapter 3 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 11/25. The next unit that we will look at in science is the Human Body. Our study of the human body will begin with an investigate that will demonstrate how pulse rates increase and decrease with activity. Lesson 1 of chapter 4 takes a look at cells, tissues, organs and body systems, and how they are related.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

We will only have one day of math during the week of 11/25, so we will take a break from our hard work, and enjoy some holiday math activities.  We will begin Unit 5, Multiplying with Two Digit Numbers,  the week of 12/2. Students will take a pretest for the unit on Monday, so that I may see where our strengths and weaknesses are. A QUIZ on lessons 1 & 2 of the unit is scheduled for Thursday, 12/5.

FYI...

November 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday Break
December 17 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00

On Monday, November 25th, 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 11/18/13-11/22/13

Highlights for the Weeks of 11/18/13

in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling 
This week's list includes the spelling patterns of îr / är / âr , which are words that sound like "ear" &"glare". Cursive and workbook pages, as well as challenge work for the lesson will be collected on Friday, 11/22. The final test for that lesson will also be that day.

Reading - Because of Winn-Dixie Novel Study
We will continue to read the novel, Because of Winn-Dixie as we practice the skills of 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. 

English - Capitalization & Punctuation
The chapter 5 TEST is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/19. 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. The next unit that we will study in English will be nouns.

Social Studies - The Southeast

We will finish our study of the climate of the Southeast, and move on to a look at the wildlife in the region, which is the last lesson in the chapter. Be sure to ask your child about the alligator, and the efforts that were made to have it taken off the endangered species list. The chapter 6 test is scheduled for the week of 11/25. Look for the study guide to be sent home on 11/18.

Science -  How do the Behaviors of Animals Help Them Meet Their Needs? / How Do Living Things of the Past Compare to Those of Today?
We will be wrapping up our study of animal adaptations this week with a look at fossils.  Students will take an open note/textbook QUIZ on lessons 2 & 3 of chapter 3 on Thursday, 11/21. Look for the chapter 3 test to be scheduled for the week of 11/25.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class

Next week will be very busy in our math class. Students will take a QUIZ on lessons 5-9 of Unit 4 on Monday, 11/18. We will finish Unit 4 with a look at determining whether a problem needs an exact or estimated answer, and how to multiply across numbers with zeros. The Unit 4 TEST is scheduled for Friday, 11/22.

FYI...
November 20 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
November 25 - John Lynn Presentation - "The Appalachian Trail"
November  27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Prairieview School-Community Service Project

Animal Assisted Therapy Program-Edward Hospital

Prairieview School, in Downers Grove, (3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Graders) is proud to have an opportunity to sponsor an Edward Hospital therapy dog.  The students are looking forward to sponsoring, Kodi.

Prairieview School will take donations until November 19^th!

If you want to learn more about this Animal Assisted Therapy Program go the the following link:  httpwww.edward.org/animalassistedtherapy

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/11/13-11/15/13

Highlights for the Week of 11/11/13

 in Mrs. Bell's Class!

Spelling - The /ōō/ & /ŏŏ/ Sounds
The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 11/15. 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, 11/15. Your child should review the vocabulary words and questions in the reading packet to prepare for the quiz.

English - Capitalization & Punctuation
We will spend another day studying quotations, as this lesson is typically difficult to master.  Then, we will move on to how to correctly write titles. Look for the chapter 5 test to be scheduled for the week of 11/18.

Social Studies - The Southeast
The Southeast Map QUIZ is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/12. Students should be able to label the states and bodies of water for the region. A word bank will be provided. We will continue our study of the geography and climate of the southeast with a look at how the land of the southeast changes as you move inland, and how the warm climate and hurricanes affect those who live there.

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

We will continue our study of animal adaptations with a look at how camouflage protects animals in their ecosystem. Students will take an open note/book QUIZ on lesson 1 of chapter 3 on Thursday, 11/14.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
Our study of multiplication will continue with a look at regrouping, the distributive property and multiplying a multi-digit number by another multi-digit number. 

We have had a lot of fun and enjoyed some competitive spirit by playing two games in class.  Below are the links for the games so that your child may practice at home:

Basketball Game (Practices one-digit by two-digit multiplication):

http://www.math-play.com/one-digit-by-two-digit-multiplication-game.html

Racing Game (Practices multiplication facts through 12s):

http://mrnussbaum.com/speedmath-play

Don't forget...

November 11  -- Veteran's Day -- No School
November 25 - Fourth Grade Special Program - John Lynn Appalachian Trail Presentation
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

Prairieview School-Community Service Project

Animal Assisted Therapy Program-Edward Hospital

Prairieview School, in Downers Grove, (3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Graders) is proud to have an opportunity to sponsor an Edward Hospital therapy dog.  Edward Hospital is located in Naperville, Illinois and helps many people every year who have to visit the hospital.  In order to sponsor a therapy dog, we need to raise money that will go toward the program that supports the wellness of patients in the hospital.  The students are looking forward to sponsoring, Kodi.

Prairieview School will take donations until November 19^th!

If you want to learn more about this Animal Assisted Therapy Program go the the following link:  httpwww.edward.org/animalassistedtherapy

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 11/4/13-11/8/13

Highlights for the Week of 11/4/13

in Mrs. Bell's Class

Spelling - The "ou" and “ô” sound 
The final test for this week's lesson will be on THURSDAY, 11/7. 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
Students will independently complete a graded review for lessons 1-6 of chapter 5 on Monday, 11/4. The rest of the week, we will focus on use of quotations.

Social Studies - People of the Northeast / The Southeast
The open note/text QUIZ on lesson 1 of chapter 5 is scheduled for Monday, 11/4.  The Narragansett Village project will also be collected that day. The next region that we will study is the Southeast. Students will create their SE maps, and we will take a look at the geography of the Southeast from the coastal plains to the mountains.

Science - Life Cycles of Plants and Animals
The TEST on chapter 2, lessons 2 & 3 is scheduled for Monday 11/4.  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. The next unit of study in science will focus on how animals adapt to their surroundings to survive.  We will begin this unit by completing a lab that takes a look at why birds' beaks are different shapes.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
On Monday, we will continue our in-depth study of how multiplication works with a look at how to use area models to multiply. Students will have their fourth, and final, "Mad Minute Monday" for multiplication on Monday as well.  We will take a break from the timed tests the following week, but will resume with division during the week of 11/18. On Tuesday, students will take a QUIZ on lessons 1-4 or Unit 4. Then, we will move on to the process of multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, and model multiplication with regrouping.  This past week, one of the topics that we studied was rounding numbers to estimate products.  I shared a fun game in class to practice the skill that we learned.  The game is based on "Pac Man".  I promised students that I would share the link for the game in my blog, so if your child would like to practice, here it is:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/round/mathman_round_multiplication.htm

FYI...

November 8 - No School
November 11  -- Veteran's Day -- No School
November 25 - Fourth Grade Special Program - John Lynn Appalachian Trail Presentation
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

THANK YOU to all the parents who contributed to our Halloween Party to make the afternoon so special for our class. Below are some pictures from our awesome celebration...

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/28/13-11/1/13

Highlights for the Week of 10/28/13

 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - More Short and Long Vowels
The final test for this week's lesson will be on Friday, 11/1. Cursive and workbook pages or challenge work will also be collected that day.

Reading - I Can Identify the Format of a Mystery
Mysteries will be the focus in reading next week. We will begin by learning vocabulary words that are typically associated with mysteries, such as “suspect”, “evidence” and “suspense”. All students will read and study “The Case of the Purloined Pachyderm”.  While reading this mystery, and other mystery stories, students will be studying the format of a mystery, and using the reading strategies of monitoring and clarifying. Students will take mystery vocabulary  QUIZ on Thursday, 10/31. We will also take a look at idioms - a type of figurative language. Students will create their own page for a classroom book about idioms.

English - Capitalization and Punctuation
Abbreviations, commas in a series & other uses for commas are the topics that we will cover in English this week.

Social Studies - The Narragansett
We will begin 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 Wednesday, students will receive guidelines for a project in which they will illustrate a Narragansett Village. The project will be collected on 11/4. There will be a QUIZ on Monday, 11/4, that will cover lesson 1 of chapter 5.

Science - What are the Life Cycles of Animals?
This week, we will finish the lesson about life cycles of animals with a look at metamorphosis. Students will take an open note/book QUIZ on lesson 3 of chapter 2 on Wednesday, 10/30.  

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
Unit 4 begins with a look at Multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000.  We will then move on to rounding to estimate products, and modeling how to use place value to multiply.

Don't forget...
Week of 11/4 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (Homeroom Students)

The Halloween celebration will be on Thursday, 10/31. The traditional PV parade will begin at 1:15, and parties will start at 1:30. Students must be able to put on their Halloween costume in 5-10 minutes by themselves. Fourth grade will have designated classrooms for girls to change in and for boys. They will NOT be allowed to change in the bathroom. No props that resemble a weapon should be brought to school. THANK YOU to all the parents who are helping to make this a special afternoon for our classroom!

Have a "Spook-tacular" Halloween!
Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/21/13 - 10/25/13

Highlights for the Week of 10/21/13

 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, 10/25, 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. Students will take a QUIZ on this story on Friday. The quiz will include vocabulary and comprehension questions. We will also be reading an issue of Time for Kids that highlights the use of chimpanzees for medical testing.  Students will take the TFK QUIZ independently on Thursday.

English - Capitalization & Punctuation

This week's topic in English will be how to write names of places and things. Students will be taking a graded review on Wednesday, which will review capitalization of people, pets, places, and things.

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 Tomato Life Cycle drawing is due on Monday, 10/21. Students will make their last observation for our "Sprouting Seeds" investigate on Wednesday. The lab report for that activity will be collected on Thursday, 10/24. The open note/book QUIZ on lesson 2 of chapter 2 is scheduled for Thursday, 10/24.

Math - Mrs. Bell's Math Class
We will finish our study of multiplication and division with a problem solving strategy called "Check for Reasonableness". On Tuesday, we will review for the Unit 3 TEST, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 10/23. At the end of the week we will revisit T-Charts using multiple step problem solving with multiplication and division.

Don't Forget...

10/24 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00
10/29 - PTO Coupon Book deadline - Please return the Coupon Book or payment

Mrs. Karen Bell