Behind the Scenes - Week of January 2nd

Weekly Spotlight:
*No school on Monday.
*Return back to school on Tuesday.
*Math test on Thursday.
*Spelling test on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*MAP Reading Test on Tuesday, Jan. 10
*MAP Math Test on Friday, Jan. 13.
*No school on Monday, Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
*Early Dismissal on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
*Bingo Night on Friday, Jan. 27, 7:00-8:30.

Thank you!!!
I would like to thank all the families that donated to the wonderful Spa gift certificate. I am looking forward to using it!!! Also, thank you to all the families that sent in items for our winter celebration. We all had a wonderful time!

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will begin chapter 4 on the Human Body. This week, the children will learn about the digestive system and respiratory system. Students should review their notes each evening. We will finish this lesson next week. A quiz covering chapter 4, lesson 1 will be on Thursday, December 16.
Links for Human Body Survivor:
http://www.owen.k12.ky.us/trt/resources.htm
http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/body.php
http://www2.asd.wednet.edu/pioneer/barnard/sites/Science/bodsys/bodysys.htm

Social Studies - We will begin our study of the Midwest Region. Our first lesson focuses on how the Great Lakes were formed and their importance to the Midwest.

English - We will take this week off from normal English lessons. Instead, we will be working on extended response writing. Our writing follows this recipe:
*Turn the question around
*Text proof
*Interpretation (in my own words)
*Text proof
*Interpretation (in my own words)
*What I learned or general statement about the reading passage

Spelling - Our spelling procedure has changed. We will not be taking pretests. Our spelling lists will now include vocabulary. Our class is piloting a wonderful vocabulary program. Ten of the words will be from the regular 4th grade list. Eight of the words will be vocabulary words. Our spelling homework for this week will be:
Tuesday: Practice Sheet (due Friday)
Wednesday: Practice spelling all words (in cursive) and review meanings of vocabulary words.
Thursday: Practice spelling all words (in cursive) and review meanings of vocabulary words.
Friday: Test Day. The first ten words will be like a normal spelling test. The children will also need to know the spelling and definition of each vocabulary word.

Reading - This week we will be working on predicting outcomes. Readers can often guess ahead of time, or predict, what will happen in a story, based on information the author has given. Additionally, readers can change or adjust their predictions as they read.

Mrs. Sulima's Math:
Monday - No school
Tuesday - Fill out "how to study" sheet. Extended Response. HW: Study for Ch. 7 Test.
Wednesday - Review for Chapter 7 Test & Extended Response. HW: Study for Ch. 7 Test.

Thursday - Chapter 7 Test.
Friday - Begin unit on Geometry.



MAP Practice Games:http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/

http://www.belleplaine.k12.mn.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi?schoolname=school357&statusFlag=goGenie&geniesite=133&myButton=g5plugin&db=g133_b545

Behind the Scenes - Week of December 12

Weekly Spotlight:
*Creature & Planning Sheets due on Monday.
*Matilda test on Tuesday - 4 types of questions, character study, categorize & classify, making generalizations, and plot.
*Creature Feature on Wednesday, 1:30-2:00.
*Unit 5 - Capitalization & Punctuation Test on Friday.
*Winter Holiday Celebration on Friday.
*Winter break, Monday, Dec. 19-Monday, Jan. 2.

Coming Attractions:
*Return back to school on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
*No school on Monday, Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
*Early Dismissal on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
*Bingo Night on Friday, Jan. 27.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - Our Prairieview Creatures will arrive to school on Monday. We will be writing descriptions of our creatures on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, we invite you to come and view our Creature Feature from 1:30-2:00. The children will be doing informal presentations. We will begin our study of the Human Body when we return in January.

Social Studies - Table groups have been studying an aspect of the Cherokee life. They will present to the class this week. When we return from break, our study of the Midwest will begin.

Spelling - We are going to take the week off from spelling. This will give us time to write our creature descriptions. Spelling will continue after break.

English - We will finish Unit 5 this week. Our focus for the beginning of the week will be quotations. Proper use of quotations can be tricky. Please review this with your child. We will fill out our "how to study" sheet on Wednesday. Our Unit 5 test will be on Friday. Enrichment projects will be due the day of the test.

Reading - In reading this week the students will evaluate the text. They will think about the author's writing and decide if he/she did a good job of helping them to understand the story. They will also review the strategies used throughout the theme. On Monday, each child will receive a readers' theater script - A Christmas Carol. They will need to practice their part(s) all week. We will present our readers' theater on Friday before our winter holiday celebration. On Friday, we will be watching a few versions of A Christmas Carol. The children will compare and contrast the different versions.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
Monday - Stem-and-Leaf Plots
Tuesday - Working with Coordinates
Wednesday - Chance/Probability
Thursday - Chance/Probability
Friday - Chance/Probability
We will review and finish this unit when we return in January. Our next unit will be geometry.

MAP Practice Games:http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm
http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/
http://www.belleplaine.k12.mn.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi?schoolname=school357&statusFlag=goGenie&geniesite=133&myButton=g5plugin&db=g133_b545