MRS. BELISARIO'S UPDATES
Mrs. Belisario's Updates
Click on the twitter link to the left to see other exciting things happening in Mrs. Belisario's classroom. There are more photos on Mrs. Belisario's Twitter page that show all the cool things we are learning in the STEM 4 Humanities Classroom!
Click the link above to check out our class Symbaloo Page in order to see our collection of research websites and grammar/vocabulary study games.
Advice from Previous STEM Students
At the end of each year, I have my STEM 4 students write down any advice that they would give incoming STEM students next year. To the left is a word cloud of their advice! Great job fifth graders in helping out our incoming fourth graders.
Class Padlets
Throughout the year, we will be writing our thoughts and opinions about various readings and research on different class Padlets.
Typing Practice
In today's world of technology as well as with our fourth grade online tests and numerous STEM technology assignments, typing skills are very important. There are many free online typing programs that will help your child learn how to type using the home row keys. They will also teach typing strategies and help students practice in a timed format. Please have your child practice typing at home or the local library using a keyboard on a computer or laptop in order for them to gain the skills needed to help them type their assignments in a timely manner. Below is a link to "typing.com" that is a wonderful free website that can help your child with his or her typing skills. He or she can create a log-in and track his or her practice times as well. Happy Typing!
Spelling, Vocabulary, and Cursive
Throughout the year, students will be learning different words and how they are spelled. We will not have traditional spelling tests this year. Students will be taught mini-lessons about the rules of spelling and they will learn how to apply the spelling rule to other words. Words lists will be kept in their agenda book and writing journal. There are links below to spelling activities and apps for the children to use to become better spellers and practice their spelling at home.
Every other week, students will learn vocabulary words that have similar Greek and Latin roots that apply to what we are learning at that time in the STEM program. These words will be tested and students will have to use the words correctly and know the meaning of the words in context. Students will write the dates of the test in their agenda book.
In St. Mary's County Public Schools, all students are taught cursive in second grade. Students are then suppose to apply the skill of cursive in third and fourth grades. Therefore, I will not be teaching cursive in class. However, students will be given the opportunity to write in cursive if they can show that their cursive is legible and written properly. Each child has a cursive alphabet in the back of their agenda book to use as a reference to practice throughout the year at home and at school. Below are apps and websites for children to practice their cursive at home.
Our Class Created a Website!
Click on the summer newsletter below that Sotterley published this summer about our year long 2016-2017 project and website! There are pictures of our students and a quote too! I am so proud of all the hard work our students did this year in helping Sotterley build a kid friendly website! Great Job STEM students! Our website was linked to the front page of Sotterley's actual website! Click the link to their homepage to see our website! See our "Field Trip page" to look at our cool photos from our trip.
Sotterley Living on the Patuxent Webpage
Click on the link above to see the webpage we created for the Sotterley Plantation this year! We had fun learning what it was like to live on the Patuxent River during colonial times!