Week of 10/30/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/30/2017
in Mr. Dunning's Class

Spelling -  Unit 10 - Suffixes -ment, -tion and -ly

This week's list contains words with the suffixes -ment, -tion and -ly.  Students will study the definitions of the suffixes and how they change the root words that they are attached to. We will also look at antonyms of the spelling and vocabulary words. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 11/3.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"

On Tuesday, students will independently complete the writing assessment that requires them to compare how Jackie Robinson and Malala Yousafzai showed courage.  Next week we will also begin working on "Time for Kids."  These articles engage students with the world through authentic, rigorous texts worth studying.  TFK also empowers students to read analytically and engage in rich discourse with supportive lessons and resources as well as inspires students to respond, act, and grow as global citizens.  

Social Studies - The Southeast - "Coastal Plains to Mountains"

We are currently exploring the Southeast region in Social Studies. Students will study how the geography of the southeast changes as you move inland from the coast. The Southeast map QUIZ is scheduled for 11/3.

  

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

Fraction story problems will be our focus as we near the end of Unit 2. Students will complete a CHECKPOINT on 11/3 that covers strategies for adding and subtracting fractions. Look for the Unit 2 TEST to be scheduled the week of 11/6.

FYI...

The Halloween celebration will be on Tuesday, 10/31. Students will change into their costumes at 12:45, and the parties will begin at 1:00. The traditional PV parade will begin at 1:55. 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!

Mr. Dunning

Week of 10/23/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/23/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 9 - Prefixes pre-, re- and mis-
Words on this week's list will include the prefixes pre-, re- and mis-. We will study the definitions of these prefixes and how they change the meaning of the root word that they are attached to. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/28.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
The Happy Birthday Dr. King / I Have a Dream Speech QUIZ is scheduled for Monday, 10/23. Students will also write a response to the question, "What lesson about courage is MLK trying to teach based on his I Have a Dream Speech?". On Friday, students will independently begin a writing assessment that requires them to compare how Jackie Robinson and Malala Yousafzai showed courage. 

Science - "How are Animals Classified?"
This past week, students worked with partners to create imaginary animals that met certain criteria within a classification. We provided a variety of craft materials and they provided their knowledge and creativity! Below are some photos of our scientists collaborating to create their animals...

Social Studies - The Narragansett
The Narragansett Village project is due on Tuesday, 10/24. Students will also take a QUIZ on the Narragansetts that day. Below are some photos of students working on their projects in school...

It's time to move on to the next region in Social Studies which is the Southeast. Students will create their own Southeast map at the beginning of the week, and we will study how the geography of the southeast changes as you move inland from the coast. The Southeast map QUIZ is scheduled for the week of 10/30.

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

We will begin learning how to "finding the better buy" on Monday. This strategy involves finding the unit cost for two products in order to determine which one has a lower price. A CHECKPOINT is scheduled for Thursday, 10/26. Students should review their spiral notes and homework sheets to prepare for the checkpoint.

FYI...

10/27 - No School - Conferences
10/30 - No School - Teachers' Institute

Earlier this week, Mr. Pagel sent an email to all Panther families regarding service opportunities for PV families. Below is some of the information that he shared:

As part of our Kindness Is Contagious campaign this year at Prairieview, we are currently offering several service opportunities to give back to those in need and brighten someone's day with a smile!

Our current opportunities include:

1) A new/gently used book collection to benefit Bernie's Book Bank is taking place now through October 30. We love the idea of getting books into the hands of children that so desperately need them in the Chicagoland area. Our school goal is to donate 1000 books and donation bins are located throughout our school! Again, our deadline is October 30...thank you for whatever you can donate! 

2) Our PTO is collecting new/gently used winter coats through One Warm Coat. What a great chance to organize and clean out those cluttered coat closets! This drive will continue throughout the winter months and a collection bin is located inside our main entrance.

3) An opportunity for all families to participate in an evening service commitment to Feed My Starving Childrenin Aurora. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 16, at 6:00 PM. More specific and detailed information will be coming home on this powerful event soon. We would love to have you join us!!!

Finally, we will once again be saying THANK YOU to the veterans of Prairieview family members at a very special all-school assembly on Friday, November 10, at 8:00 AM. Please reach out TODAY to family members and friends that have served in the armed forces to invite them to join us and to add this special event to their calendar. Just reflecting on the heartfelt comments from the veterans at last year's assembly brings tears to my eyes. So powerful... and so important. Mrs. Tannhauser will be sharing the details on how to sign up a veteran for this assembly later this week. Family members are welcome as well. 

HOMEROOM parents...Fall conferences are scheduled for October 24th & 25th. If you haven't scheduled a conference yet, please click on the link below to select a time.  Thanks!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4aa4af22a5f85-october13

Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/16/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/16/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 8 - Grade Appropriate & Domain-Specific Vocabulary
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include a variety of words that are appropriate for 4th-grade students. Instead of studying a spelling rule, we will focus on the definition of these words and how they might be used in reading and writing. Part of this week's lesson will also highlight how to use reference materials such as a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, and encyclopedia. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/20.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"
We will be digging into an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech". Students will use their close reading skills in the whole group and with partners to interpret the message, language, vocabulary, and perspective of the piece. A QUIZ on Happy Birthday Dr. King & the "I Have a Dream Speech" is scheduled for Friday, 10/20.

Social Studies - The Narragansett
We will complete our study of the Narragansett People with a small project titled "The Narragansett Village", which is due on 10/24. Students will draw a model of what a Narragansett village of the past would look like based on what we have studied about their culture. There is also a QUIZ on the Narragansett scheduled for 10/24.
Science - How Are Animals Classified?

Students will take an open note QUIZ on animal classification on Thursday, 10/19.

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

Students will complete a GRADED WORK SAMPLE on Monday in class. The work sample will consist of four problems that require adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. Students will be expected to use the strategies that we have studied in class to solve the problems. Problem-solving with fractions will be our focus for the rest of this week. Students will work with partners to create a poster of a hiking trail that is divided into sections based on fractions that they are given. They will then use their poster to problem solve. On Friday we will introduce the final strategy for adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators...the "Double Number Line".

Happy Friday!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 10/9/17

Highlights for the Week of 10/9/2017
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 7 - "Suffixes "-ness", "-less",  and "-en"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the suffixes -ness, -less, and-en.  We will study the definitions of these suffixes and how to determine the meaning of unknown words by breaking the words into base words and suffixes and by using context clues. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 10/13.

Reading - Unit 1 - "Courage"


We will be digging into an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech". Students will use their close reading skills in the whole group and with partners to interpret the message, language, vocabulary, and perspective of the piece.



During the week of 10/2, students participated in center activities that focused on  Cause and Effect. Each center presented a different opportunity to work with this text structure in a meaningful way. Below are photos of students participating in the center activities...

Independently playing a Cause/Effect Jeopardy game.

Working with a teacher.

Collaborating with small groups...

 

Read to Self

Social Studies  - The Northeast / The Narragansett
The "Northeast Feast" was a big hit!  Our classroom "chefs" /teachers served up a variety of tastes from the Northeast including maple syrup (on pancakes), cranberries & grapes. 

The final copy of the Northeast Descriptive Paragraph project is due on Monday 10/9. Students should submit their work through Google Classroom no later than 8:00 a.m. on the 9th.  On October 4th we held a "writer's workshop" (pictured below) during which students worked on turning their brainstorming organizers into paragraphs. 

We will complete our study of the NE region with a look at the Native Americans of the area, the Narragansetts. Our focus will be on the culture and traditions of the group and how they have changed over time.

Science - The Scientific Method / "How Are Animals Classified?"
The next unit in Science will be "How are Animals Classified?". We will begin with a look at invertebrates.

The photos below are from a STEM activity that challenged students to make the longest paper chain possible using one piece of construction paper, scissors, and glue. The conclusion that we reached was that the paper had to be cut into long thin strips in order to make the longest chain.

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

Using clocks as a reference for finding common denominators will be our focus this week. Then students will look at how to decide which model (money or clocks) works best for different denominators.

FYI...

Monday, 10/9: No School - Columbus Day 

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for October 24th & 25th. Look for an email from me next week to sign up for your conference.

Enjoy the Holiday Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell