If a goofy picture of Mr. Wilhorn smiling and waving suddenly shows up in your inbox, here's why. Mr. Betts and I presented to a small group of teachers this morning about using blogs in the classroom for classroom websites. I showed them the Loudest Class in the World site and how I took pictures of the CWES field trip. They wanted to see how I did it. So I showed them. Mr. Betts took my picture and I emailed it to the website. (But for some reason I don't see it yet, so maybe I don't know what I'm doing...)
Anyways, the convention is already rolling. We have sectionals in about an hour and worship after that. Enjoy the days at home, fourth graders!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, 4/23 Newsletter Updates
Pictures Coming Home
A few weeks ago we had pictures taken. Pictures are coming home today, but you do not have to purchase them. If you wish to keep the pictures, please send the correct payment. If you do not want the pictures, send the package back. No one is charged anything unless you keep the pictures.
In short, return the pictures or return the payment.
Short Week
Today is the end of the week. Teachers will be attending the Lutheran Education Association Convocation in Minneapolis. This conference happens every 3 years. Teachers from all 50 states and several countries will be in attendance.
Battle of the Books
One week from tomorrow, May 1, starting at 4:00 after school is our Battle of the Books tournament. Students participating have ONE WEEK to read read read and know their titles and authors.
Memory and Spelling and Reading Journals
There was no Q4W3 memory slip or spelling words this week. They are coming home today and are due next Thursday. We started reading journals this week but will roll this week into next week. Our At-School memory, "Crown Him With Many Crowns" is for this week and next week as well.
Hatchet?
Have any students mentioned Hatchet at home? We started last week on Friday and are now about halfway through. It's an incredible book, and everyone seems to be enjoying it. Take a look at your child's copy. You'll enjoy it too.
Time's short today, so the newsletter is short too. See you all on Monday! Enjoy the days off, and hopefully, the beautiful weather will continue.
A few weeks ago we had pictures taken. Pictures are coming home today, but you do not have to purchase them. If you wish to keep the pictures, please send the correct payment. If you do not want the pictures, send the package back. No one is charged anything unless you keep the pictures.
In short, return the pictures or return the payment.
Short Week
Today is the end of the week. Teachers will be attending the Lutheran Education Association Convocation in Minneapolis. This conference happens every 3 years. Teachers from all 50 states and several countries will be in attendance.
Battle of the Books
One week from tomorrow, May 1, starting at 4:00 after school is our Battle of the Books tournament. Students participating have ONE WEEK to read read read and know their titles and authors.
Memory and Spelling and Reading Journals
There was no Q4W3 memory slip or spelling words this week. They are coming home today and are due next Thursday. We started reading journals this week but will roll this week into next week. Our At-School memory, "Crown Him With Many Crowns" is for this week and next week as well.
Hatchet?
Have any students mentioned Hatchet at home? We started last week on Friday and are now about halfway through. It's an incredible book, and everyone seems to be enjoying it. Take a look at your child's copy. You'll enjoy it too.
Time's short today, so the newsletter is short too. See you all on Monday! Enjoy the days off, and hopefully, the beautiful weather will continue.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Friday, 4/11 Newsletter Updates
Report Cards Today
Report cards are coming home today, again in sealed envelopes. The grades are for you, your child, and me. I especailly dislike when kids are comparing at school - "What'd you get?" "I got four A's. How many did you get?" Ick.
Find where your child's strengths are and offer encouragement. Notice areas of improvement and encourage there too. Overall I think we slipped a bit in Quarter 3. Let's change that in Quarter 4.
Reading Journals and Reading Conferences
Students received a new checklist for their reading journals. Some topics are the same, some have changed slightly, and some new ones are added. One new thing students are doing is connecting characters, events, and settings in their books to real people, events, and places. It's interesting to see how they bring their personal knowledge into books and how that influences how they understand what they read.
The class has been broken into 3 groups. Each week one group will not write in their journal. Instead, their journal entry will be a reading confernece with Mr. Wilhorn. This week's have gone well. I'm able to ask specific questions immediately and see if students are understanding what they've read. Students also seem more willing to offer details if they are talking rather than writing. (Go figure! This class likes to talk! How about that?) :-)
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills - Nearly There...
We're still plugging away, but with rehearsals for Bugz! and Spanish class and all the other things we do on a daily basis, we're not as far as I had planned. Ah, well. No big deal for these tests. We may get them done this afternoon, or we'll finish them up early next week and be done with them. You've probably noticed the lack of daily assignments recently...students sure have.
Bugz!
We've been rehearsing, reciting, decorating wings, finding antennae, and getting all ready for the spring program, Bugz! All the fourth graders have spoken parts, the third graders have some songs and dances, and all the younger kids will be participating too. It's one week away! Friday, April 18 is the night at 6:30. (There's also a 1:00 performance on Thursday.) The choir and the bell choir will also perform, and the upper graders will have academic displays available in their rooms. Come for a great night!
Coins for Computers
Just like last year we are collecting Coins for Computers. All proceeds go towards the Technology Fund. This year the competition is between grades K-4 and grades 5-8. Here's the rules: Put pennies in our container. They count +1 point. Put silver coins and paper money in the upper grades' container. These count -5, -10, -25, -50, -100. -500, etc. The winner will be the team with the most points, not the most money. (Actually, the winner will be the Technology Fund.)
And One Personal Note ... It's Trivia Weekend
This weekend my family and relatives and many friends will be playing in the World's Largest Trivia Contest. You can listen too at 89.9 FM, WWSP, UW-SP's campus radio station. The contest starts tonight at 6:00 and lasts until 12:00 midnight Sunday night. I can't guarantee all the content obviously, but the music is basically oldies with some 80's and 90's stuck in sometimes and the questions are pretty fun. Our team name is "Special Rx Fossiloprin Fuelochloride." (We are always Fossil Fuel. It's a long story.) You won't hear us announced with any of the leaders, but we have fun. More information is located at www.90fmtrivia.org if you are interested. One warning, however...watch out for some of the team names. Yikes.
The Upcoming Week
Hopefully we'll get back into our normal schedule! Wow!
Religion - Back to the workbook.
Memory -At Home: Q4W2 Slip At School: Mr. Wilhorn's favorite hymn, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less verses #1-4. Students need to say the chorus only once. By the way, how is the CD? Are the kids using it to help with the memory?
English - Adjectives
Reading - We are starting a new novel.
Math - Continue in book...which I don't have in front of my right now.
Science - Remember your branch observations! Finish chapter 1 on plants.
Social Studies - Finish the Pacific States.
Spelling - Unit 27 woman, even, urban, seven, kitchen, reason, human, season, burden, wagon, oven, dragon Extra words: horizon, orphan, canyon, eleven, written, children Bonus words: transportation, education
Report cards are coming home today, again in sealed envelopes. The grades are for you, your child, and me. I especailly dislike when kids are comparing at school - "What'd you get?" "I got four A's. How many did you get?" Ick.
Find where your child's strengths are and offer encouragement. Notice areas of improvement and encourage there too. Overall I think we slipped a bit in Quarter 3. Let's change that in Quarter 4.
Reading Journals and Reading Conferences
Students received a new checklist for their reading journals. Some topics are the same, some have changed slightly, and some new ones are added. One new thing students are doing is connecting characters, events, and settings in their books to real people, events, and places. It's interesting to see how they bring their personal knowledge into books and how that influences how they understand what they read.
The class has been broken into 3 groups. Each week one group will not write in their journal. Instead, their journal entry will be a reading confernece with Mr. Wilhorn. This week's have gone well. I'm able to ask specific questions immediately and see if students are understanding what they've read. Students also seem more willing to offer details if they are talking rather than writing. (Go figure! This class likes to talk! How about that?) :-)
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills - Nearly There...
We're still plugging away, but with rehearsals for Bugz! and Spanish class and all the other things we do on a daily basis, we're not as far as I had planned. Ah, well. No big deal for these tests. We may get them done this afternoon, or we'll finish them up early next week and be done with them. You've probably noticed the lack of daily assignments recently...students sure have.
Bugz!
We've been rehearsing, reciting, decorating wings, finding antennae, and getting all ready for the spring program, Bugz! All the fourth graders have spoken parts, the third graders have some songs and dances, and all the younger kids will be participating too. It's one week away! Friday, April 18 is the night at 6:30. (There's also a 1:00 performance on Thursday.) The choir and the bell choir will also perform, and the upper graders will have academic displays available in their rooms. Come for a great night!
Coins for Computers
Just like last year we are collecting Coins for Computers. All proceeds go towards the Technology Fund. This year the competition is between grades K-4 and grades 5-8. Here's the rules: Put pennies in our container. They count +1 point. Put silver coins and paper money in the upper grades' container. These count -5, -10, -25, -50, -100. -500, etc. The winner will be the team with the most points, not the most money. (Actually, the winner will be the Technology Fund.)
And One Personal Note ... It's Trivia Weekend
This weekend my family and relatives and many friends will be playing in the World's Largest Trivia Contest. You can listen too at 89.9 FM, WWSP, UW-SP's campus radio station. The contest starts tonight at 6:00 and lasts until 12:00 midnight Sunday night. I can't guarantee all the content obviously, but the music is basically oldies with some 80's and 90's stuck in sometimes and the questions are pretty fun. Our team name is "Special Rx Fossiloprin Fuelochloride." (We are always Fossil Fuel. It's a long story.) You won't hear us announced with any of the leaders, but we have fun. More information is located at www.90fmtrivia.org if you are interested. One warning, however...watch out for some of the team names. Yikes.
The Upcoming Week
Hopefully we'll get back into our normal schedule! Wow!
Religion - Back to the workbook.
Memory -At Home: Q4W2 Slip At School: Mr. Wilhorn's favorite hymn, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less verses #1-4. Students need to say the chorus only once. By the way, how is the CD? Are the kids using it to help with the memory?
English - Adjectives
Reading - We are starting a new novel.
Math - Continue in book...which I don't have in front of my right now.
Science - Remember your branch observations! Finish chapter 1 on plants.
Social Studies - Finish the Pacific States.
Spelling - Unit 27 woman, even, urban, seven, kitchen, reason, human, season, burden, wagon, oven, dragon Extra words: horizon, orphan, canyon, eleven, written, children Bonus words: transportation, education
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Friday (Thursday), 4/3 Newsletter Update
Standardized Tests Next Week
Next week we begin taking the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. There's nothing really to be done to prepare, but students can be ready. Get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, do your best to not be absent, and don't worry. We will take 2 or 3 tests a day spread throughout the day. We should be finished by Friday.
Spanish Class
Today is our first Spanish lesson. Mrs. Isabelle Goetz is working her way up from kindergarten and has made it to us. Today we are looking at numbers, colors, and friendly greetings. We will have a total of 4 exploratory lessons. Nobody will become fluent in that time, but they will get an introduction to Spanish.
**Science Branch Observations**
Now that spring is here...we think...we have started a long project. You should have seen a letter on Monday describing the branch observation project. Each Monday students are to observe their branch and record certain details. After 9 weeks we'll see how trees go through their growth process - buds, growth, flowers, seeds, leaves, etc. Students must make these observations. This is a big science grade, and there will be a final assignment based on the observations.
No School Tomorrow
Tomorrow is a professional day for teachers. Enjoy the day off. If you get bored, stop by and see me at school! I'll find some extra work for you!
Speed Stacks After School on Monday
Just a reminder for those speed stackers, we meet after school on Monday until 4:30 in the Learning Center.
The Upcoming Week
Standardized tests will take up a chunk of time, so we may or may not get all of these things done.
Memory - At Home: Q4W1 Slips At School: All Creatures of Our God and King, Verses #1-3 Students did a good job with Amazing Grace. Students did better when they didn't wait until the end of the week.
Religion - The Sower and the Seed. We will also continue practicing for the musical on April 18.
Reading - Theme 3 assessment and begin a new novel. My favorite novel for fourth graders!
English - Adjectives
Math - Angles, tessellations, calculating sales tax and change.
Science - Parts of plants and the plant cycle. Possible test late in the week.
Social Studies - Finish the Pacific States. We soon will be starting our unit on Wisconsin History.
Spelling - Unit 26: table, final, handle, personal, animal, usual, jungle, actual, example, bottle, possible, single Extra words: several, national, trouble, people, finally, middle Bonus Words: principal, hospital
Next week we begin taking the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. There's nothing really to be done to prepare, but students can be ready. Get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, do your best to not be absent, and don't worry. We will take 2 or 3 tests a day spread throughout the day. We should be finished by Friday.
Spanish Class
Today is our first Spanish lesson. Mrs. Isabelle Goetz is working her way up from kindergarten and has made it to us. Today we are looking at numbers, colors, and friendly greetings. We will have a total of 4 exploratory lessons. Nobody will become fluent in that time, but they will get an introduction to Spanish.
**Science Branch Observations**
Now that spring is here...we think...we have started a long project. You should have seen a letter on Monday describing the branch observation project. Each Monday students are to observe their branch and record certain details. After 9 weeks we'll see how trees go through their growth process - buds, growth, flowers, seeds, leaves, etc. Students must make these observations. This is a big science grade, and there will be a final assignment based on the observations.
No School Tomorrow
Tomorrow is a professional day for teachers. Enjoy the day off. If you get bored, stop by and see me at school! I'll find some extra work for you!
Speed Stacks After School on Monday
Just a reminder for those speed stackers, we meet after school on Monday until 4:30 in the Learning Center.
The Upcoming Week
Standardized tests will take up a chunk of time, so we may or may not get all of these things done.
Memory - At Home: Q4W1 Slips At School: All Creatures of Our God and King, Verses #1-3 Students did a good job with Amazing Grace. Students did better when they didn't wait until the end of the week.
Religion - The Sower and the Seed. We will also continue practicing for the musical on April 18.
Reading - Theme 3 assessment and begin a new novel. My favorite novel for fourth graders!
English - Adjectives
Math - Angles, tessellations, calculating sales tax and change.
Science - Parts of plants and the plant cycle. Possible test late in the week.
Social Studies - Finish the Pacific States. We soon will be starting our unit on Wisconsin History.
Spelling - Unit 26: table, final, handle, personal, animal, usual, jungle, actual, example, bottle, possible, single Extra words: several, national, trouble, people, finally, middle Bonus Words: principal, hospital
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