Week of 10/2/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/2/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 6 - "Suffixes "-ed" and "-ing"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the suffixes -ed and -ing.  We will study how adding these suffixes to base words changes their spelling. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/6.

Below are pictures of students participating in a game of "Headbands" to practice their spelling and vocabulary words...

Mr. D. demonstrates how to play!

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 

We will spend time looking at the text structure of cause and effect. Text structured as cause and effect explains reasons why something happened or the effects of something. An effect is what happens. To determine the effect, students should ask “What happened?”. A cause is why something happens. To determine the cause, students should ask “Why did it happen?”   Ask your child how we used the picture book on the left to discuss this type of text structure. At the end of the week, we will write our first reading response as a group. 

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
We will begin a descriptive writing project in which students will describe an imaginary trip to the Northeast region. As they describe their journey they will write about the geography, resources and fishing industry of the region. The rough draft of the Northeast Trip descriptive paragraph is due on Friday, 10/6. The final copy will be typed in Google Classroom and is due on 10/9. 

Science - The Scientific Method
We will continue looking at the components of the Scientific Method. Below is a video of Mr. D. working with students on an investigation that explores the question, "What happens if you poke pencils through a bag filled with water?". Students formed hypotheses, wrote a procedure and then carried out the investigation. Watch the video to see the results...

Next week, students will work in small groups to complete a STEM activity while practicing the steps of the Scientific Method. Their challenge will be to create the longest paper chain possible using one piece of construction paper, scissors, and glue. They will form a hypothesis, write a plan, carry out their plan and record conclusions.  A QUIZ on the Scientific Method is tentatively scheduled for Friday, 10/6. Students should review their notes and textbook pages 18-35 to prepare for the quiz.

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 2 - Adding & Subtracting Fractions

The Unit 1 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 10/2. Then we will begin Unit 2, which is one of my favorite units of the year! In Unit 2, students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators. They will learn a number of strategies for finding common denominators in order to perform the operations. Look for an overview letter to come home with your child on Tuesday. The unit begins with a look at simplifying fractions. Once we have studied this concept, it is my expectation that all answers on homework, checkpoints and assessments will be given in the simplest form. We will also look at using a "money model" to find common denominators for fractions.

"Work Places" has become an essential part of learning in math. During Work Places, students work with partners to play a variety of games that support skills such as multiplying and dividing. Below are some photos of a Work Place session this past week...

FYI...

10/9 - Columbus Day  - No School

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/25/17

Highlights for the Week of 9/25/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 5 - "Greek Roots"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the Greek roots "graph", "auto", "photo", "tele", and "rupt".  We will study the meanings of these roots and how to use them correctly. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/29.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
Students will independently complete a baseline common assessment in reading this week. The assessment is designed to give teachers data to guide instruction - it's not for a grade.

The Happy Birthday Dr. King vocabulary QUIZ is scheduled for Tuesday, 9/26. Students should review the word work that they completed in Google Classroom or on paper.

Close reading is the thoughtful, critical analysis of a text that focuses on significant details or patterns in order to develop a deep, precise understanding of the text's form, craft, meanings, etc. It is a skill that we will work on and develop throughout the year...we call it "digging into the text". Below are some photos of our junior archaeologists digging deeper into the text to took for meaning.

"I am a lean, mean close reading machine..."

"TDQ...I'll show you! TQA...I'm not afraid!" 

"The text is my TREASURE, the evidence is my GOLD!"

"I'm ready to DIG, DIG, DIG, DIG, DIG !!!"

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
The chapter 4 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 9/27. Students should review the textbook, review pages, and workbook pages to prepare for the test.The rest of the week will be spent creating the Northeast portion of a United States Map. This is a year-long activity that is completed region by region. It is a favorite activity of mine...I hope the children enjoy it as much as I do!

Science - The Scientific Method
Students will be put the steps of the Scientific Method into play when Mr. D. leads the group in an investigation. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume
We will conclude this unit with a look at interpreting remainders. On Monday, 10/2, students will take the Unit 1 TEST. They should use their math spirals, Student Book and Home Connections pages as tools to review for the test.

The video below shows my mathematicians playing a game designed to improve computational fluency. As the student leader points to her classmates, they count from 1-100. When it is his/her turn, if the number is a multiple of 6, he/she states it in a "regular" voice. If the number is not a multiple of 6, he/she states it in a whisper voice. If you listen carefully you can hear them counting...

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9/18/17

Highlights for the Week of 9/18/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 4 - "Frequently Confused Words"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include homophones such as to, too and two & their, there and they're. We will study the meanings of these words and how to use them correctly. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/22.

English - What is a Sentence?
The chapter 1 TEST is scheduled for Wednesday, 9/20. Students should prepare for the test by reviewing the textbook, practice pages, and workbook pages for the chapter. There is also a chapter review section in the textbook (p. 56-62) that covers all of the topics we have studied.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage" 

Next week's task in reading will be to close read the fiction piece titled, Happy Birthday Dr. King. Students will work in small groups to answer text-dependent questions and to use context clues to find meanings of unknown words. They will also be creating a digital notebook of vocabulary words for the story. 

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
Our focus this week will be the resources of the Northeast and how the Atlantic Ocean contributes to the economy of the region. Students will learn about crab pots and overfishing. The chapter 4 TEST is scheduled for the week of 9/25. Look for a study guide to come home on Tuesday. 

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume

The multiplication and volume CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Monday, 9/18. Students should review the notes in their "textbooks" (spirals) and their SB & HC pages to prepare for the quiz. The rest of the week will focus on using area models with division and interpreting remainders.

FYI...

We had a fabulous time on our Brookfield Zoo field trip! We had fun touring the exhibits and learning about how scientists make and record observations. THANK  YOU to the parent chaperones who helped out with the field trip. Learning together is FUN!!!

Enjoy your Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell