Week of 9.30.19

Highlights for the Week of 9/30/2019
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, 10/4.

Reading - "Casey at the Bat"
Our study of this poem has moved more slowly than I expected, but I hope that we will wrap it up this week by completing the text to text comparison and the PARCC based TDQ activity.

English - What is a Sentence?
The chapter 1 TEST is scheduled for Monday, 9/30. 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. 56-59 & 62) that covers all of the topics we have studied. 

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
We will finish our study of the Northeast this week. Look for the Chapter 4 TEST to be scheduled for the week of 10/7

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume
We will conclude this unit with a final look at interpreting remainders. On Wednesday, 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. 

After the test, we will take a break from Bridges to have a quick refresher course on long division. Students have requested that we review this concept. I am going to flip our classroom by assigning a video about the process of long division on Google Classroom and then we will practice the concept in class. Once that is complete, we will move on to Unit 2 which will focus on adding and subtracting fractions.

We will also begin the use of Khan Academy as an online learning tool. Students will complete leveled math activities based on their Fall MAP scores. The concepts become more and more challenging as they complete lessons. 20 minutes of Khan Academy will be a weekly homework assignment until the end of the year. 

Students began leading homework and Number Corner discussions this week. Below is a photo of Jack leading a discussion about the calendar grid patterns...

FYI...

10/2 - Early dismissal - Students dismissed at 11:00

10/14 - Columbus Day - no school

10/24 - Picture retakes (NEW DATE)

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9.23.19

Highlights for the Week of 9/23/2019
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, 9/27.

English - What is a Sentence?
We will finish our study of the sentence with a look at run-on sentences. The chapter 1 TEST is scheduled for the week of 9/30. Students should prepare for the test by reviewing the textbook (Chapter 1, Lessons 1-4 & 7), 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 - "Casey at the Bat"

Our study of this famous poem will conclude with a "practice run" of a comprehension assessment.  I will model techniques for answering text-dependent questions, and students will practice digging into the text to find proof to support their responses. Future reading assessments will follow the same format as this one.

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 how the problems of overfishing and pollution impact the area.

Just wanted to remind you about a study tool for the regional map quizzes. Last year, a parent recommended an APP called "U.S. Map Quiz". I have not tried it myself but I know that several students from last year's class found this to be a helpful way to study.

Science - Energy Conversions

Building a simple electrical system and examining its parts will be the focus of Science this week.

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

Using area models with dividing, division with remainders, and how to interpret those remainders. and interpreting remainders are the concepts that we will study this week. 

Look for the Unit 1 test to be scheduled for the week of 9/30. Students should review their math spirals, Student Book and Home Connections pages as tools to review for the test.

FYI...

9/24 - Final magazine turn in day

10/1 - Picture retakes

10/14 - Columbus Day - no school

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9.16.19

Highlights for the Week of 9/16/19
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom

Spelling -  Unit 3 
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the sounds "ou", "aw", "au" and "ow". We will study the word pattern and review antonyms as they are related to the vocabulary words.  The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/20.

English - What is a Sentence?
Mr. Morton has come to town! Types of sentences and subjects and predicates will be our focus this week. The Tale of Mr. Morton is a Schoolhouse Rock song that helps students to understand the concept of subject and predicate. Looks like it's time to warm up our opera voices! 

Students will also independently complete a graded review of lessons 1-3 on 9/18. They will be asked to identify types of sentences and to correctly add the end marks that match each sentence type.  To prepare for the review, students should look over their practice pages and textbook pages 36-39.

Reading - "Casey at the Bat"

Our close read of Casey at the Bat continues with a look at using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words, author's perspective and text to text comparison. 

Social Studies  - The Beautiful Northeast
Students have created their own maps of the region in preparation for the map QUIZ on 9/16. The quiz will be identical to the map sheet in their binder. Students will be given a word bank with the names of states and water areas and will have to label the map correctly. We will also take a look at the geography of the NE this week. 

If you're looking for a study tool to help your child prepare for the map quiz, check out an APP called "U.S. Map Quiz". It is an engaging way to learn the states of each region!

Science - Energy Conversions
We will kick off our science unit with students sharing what they know about energy conversions on a pre-assessment. Then we will lay the foundation for the unit by taking a look at a simple system.

Our first exposure to science this year was an activity in which students used their observation skills while examining a common item, in this case, their hands. Below are photos of students drawing their hands and sharing their observations with partners...

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Unit 1 - Expressions, Equations & Volume
Finding surface area, unit pricing and multiples are this week's topics. The Multiplication and Volume CHECKPOINT is scheduled for 9/19.

Be sure to ask your mathematician about how he or she collaborated with a partner to find all the possible dimensions for a box with a volume of 24 cubic units. They were surprised to learn that there are 30 different combinations. The photo shows posters that were created by each duo to illustrate strategies for finding the different combinations.

FYI... 

On Monday, 9/16, Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) testing will take place for all fourth-grade students. The test measures students' reading fluency and comprehension. Your child will work one on one with Mrs. Nino or me reading aloud and answering text related question. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know your child as a reader and also provides us with another tool for measuring his/her reading skill. 

During the week of 9/16, all fourth students will take two reading common assessments and one math common assessment. The purpose of these tests is to provide data for the teachers that will help to drive instruction. The results will not be entered into the grade book. Students are encouraged to do their best and do NOT stress!

Mr. Pagel paid us a visit and led a conversation about kindness. 

Group hug!

These pictures are from one team-building activity in which students had to work in a team to build a pyramid from cups without using their hands. Ask your child how they accomplished this task...

The record for the number of cups stacked was 15 !!!

Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell

Week of 9.9.19

Highlights for the Week of 9/9/2019
in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling -  Words that End in Suffixes "-ible" and "-able"
This week's spelling/vocabulary list will include words with the suffixes -ible & -able. We will study the word pattern and how the suffix impacts the meaning of the base word. We will also study at synonyms for many of the words on the list. The final TEST is scheduled for Friday, 9/13.

English - What is a Sentence?
The first lesson in this chapter looks at the difference between sentences and fragments. Students will recognize that a complete sentence contains a subject and an action. We will also review punctuation and capitalization as it relates to writing sentences.

Reading - Close Reading- "Casey at the Bat"

Our close read of Casey at the Bat continues with a look at using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words, author's perspective and text to text comparison. 

Students' first exposure to close reading in fourth grade involved "close reading" an Oreo cookie. For their "first read" they were given a cookie and were told to eat it quickly. This simulated reading text for the "gist". Then we shared words to describe the cookie. For their "second read" they took their time eating another cookie. They ate it with their eyes closed, thinking about the texture, ingredients, taste, uniqueness and other attributes of the yummy treat. This simulated what a close read of text is like. Students then listed words to describe their second read. Below is a picture of the poster we created during the activity. Please note the difference between what was observed in the first and second "read". Also included are some pictures of students close reading their Oreos (Thank you to our photographer, Gavin, for doing such a fabulous job! ). I think they enjoyed the activity!

Social Studies - The Beautiful Northeast 
We have begun our journey across the United States...first stop is the Northeast! Students will label and color their own maps of the region in preparation for a map quiz scheduled for the week of 9/16. The Northeast region is tricky with a lot of small states. I highly encourage students to be well prepared for the quiz. They will each receive a blank copy of the map that they should use to practice with. We will also take a look at the geography of the Northeast. 

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

The first  CHECKPOINT is scheduled for 9/9. The checkpoint will review lessons 1-5 of Unit 1. Students should review their "textbooks" to review for the quiz.

PDF copies of the Bridges workbooks are always available via Google Classroom. Copies of the pages may be printed using a desktop or laptop computer.

Collaboration is key in math class and below are some photos with partners playing a workplaces game that reinforces multiplication concepts. 

FYI...
9/10 - Picture Day
9/10 - Reading MAP test
9/11 - Math MAP test

We worked on collaboration and problem solving during one of our morning meetings this week. Students formed a "human knot" in small groups and had to work together to "untie" themselves. See how they accomplished this in the following photos...

Enjoy Your Weekend!

Mrs. Karen Bell