Week of 2.27.17

Highlights for the Weeks of 2/27/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 23 - Words with "oi" and "oy" & Proverbs

 This week's list includes words with the letters "oi" and "oy". Students will learn that these letter combinations make the same sound and are both diphthongs. "Oy" is usually found at the end of a syllable and "oi" is usually found in the middle of a syllable. We will also study proverbs - what they are and what some of them mean. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 3/3.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys" - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

We have had many interesting conversations about vocabulary and use of language within the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Our "Executive Archeologists" will continue to dig into chapters 1-5 of the novel during the week of 2/27.  Look for a QUIZ on using context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary from chapters 1-2 to be scheduled for the week of 3/6. 

This photo is a copy of the Edward Tulane excerpt that we worked on this week in school. I wanted you to see an example of how students annotate text when we close read.  

English- Explanatory Writing 

We will be adding Key Ideas to our explanatory essays. 

Social Studies - The Midwest - "A Route to the Sea"
The Midwest Map QUIZ is scheduled for 2/28. We will also study how the waterways of the midwest sustain the region.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions
The Fraction Multiplication CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Monday, 2/27. We will finish out the week by studying how to divide a whole number by a fraction. The Unit 5 TEST is TENTATIVELY scheduled for the week of 3/6.

FYI...

March 3 - Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:35

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 2.20.17

Highlights for the Weeks of 2/20/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 22 - Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. This week's lesson consists of a collection of adjectives and a review of similes and metaphors. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 2/24.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys" - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Our "Executive Archeologists" will begin digging into chapters 1-2 of the novel. Vocabulary and text dependent questions will be introduced as well as a written response. We will be pairing the poems Words as Free as Confetti and I Love the Look of Words with the novel to study the use of figurative language and common themes.

English- Explanatory Writing 

Writing hooks and personification will be our focus in English this week. 

Social Studies - The Midwest - "A Route to the Sea"
We begin our study of the Midwest with a look at the Great Lakes and how they impact the region. Students will create their own Midwest map. Look for a QUIZ on the map to be scheduled the week of 2/27. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions
Modeling fraction multiplication with area models and fraction multiplication story problems are the topics for the week.

Using Geoboards to represent area models with fractional dimensions helps us to understand multiplication of fractions.

FYI...

The Valentine's Day party was a BLAST! Thank you to all of the parents who worked so hard to make the afternoon special...

Handing out cards is a big job!

February 17 & 20 - No school

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 2.13.17

Highlights for the Weeks of 2/13/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 21 - Relative Adverbs, Relative Pronouns, Reading content words

This week's lesson will include the spelling and use of relative adverbs, relative pronouns, and content words. A relative adverb relates back to a time, place or reason to provide more details about a noun. A relative pronoun relates back to something or someone else. The reading content words are familiar to students, and they should be able to spell them and to apply them (Example: identify a simile or a metaphor.)The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 2/17.

Reading- Unit 2 - "Journeys"

We will begin reading the novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. This story tells the tale of a china rabbit who goes on an adventure and learns how to love. We will begin by close reading an excerpt from the first chapter. This novel is rich in vocabulary and underlying themes, and I look forward to sharing Edward's journey in our classroom.

English- Explanatory Writing 

We will begin the explanatory writing unit with a look at how to identify and write key ideas.

Science - "Life Cycles of Animals"
The Chapter 2 / Lesson 2 & 3 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 2/15. A study guide was sent home last week.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals & Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions
The Whole Number times a Fraction Checkpoint is scheduled for 2/15. We will look at using perimeter as a resource for modeling multiplication of two fractions. 

FYI...

February 17 & 20 - No school

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 2.6.17

Highlights for the Weeks of 2/6/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 20 - Homographs

This week's list includes homographs, which are sets of words that are spelled the same but have multiple meanings (Examples: bank or ring). The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 2/10.

ELA / Reading - Journeys - Grandfather's Journey

We will finish our study of the story Grandfather's Journey. Students will independently write a paragraph that compares the author to his grandfather. They will use that information to conclude how their similarities helped the author to feel close to his grandfather. We will also spend some time close reading the words to Garth Brooks' song, The River. Students will identify the theme and examine the use of figurative language in the lyrics. Finally, students will read a Time for Kids magazine that looks at how salt impacts your health. The QUIZ for the TFK is scheduled for 2/13.

Correct use of "there, their and they're" and "to, too and two" will be our topic in English this week.

Science - "Life Cycles of Animals"
The Plant Life Cycle Diagram project in Google Classroom is due on 2/6. Please make sure that your child submits his/her diagram by 8:00 a.m. on that day. Students will take an open book/note QUIZ on Chapter 2 / Lesson 2 in science on Tuesday, 2/7. Then we will focus on life cycles of animals. Look for the chapter 2 TEST to be scheduled the week of 2/13. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 4 Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals & Unit 5 - Multiplying & Dividing Fractions

The Unit 4 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 2/6. On Tuesday we will move on to Unit 5 with a look at strategies for multiplying a whole number by a fraction. If you have not signed up for a conference and have a specific concern about your child's progress in math, please click on the link below to choose a time. I am happy to schedule a phone conference if it is not convenient for you to come to school.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4aa4af22a5f85-february22

FYI...

It is every student's responsibility to come to school daily with a fully charged Chromebook. Lately, we have had a lot of issues with students having "dead" devices which results in lost learning time for them and their peers.  Beginning on Monday, 2/6, if your child's Chromebook is not fully charged, he or she will receive a late slip. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Mrs. Karen Bell