Thursday, May 1, 2008

Thursday, 5/1 Newsletter Updates

Just a Reminder: No School Tomorrow

Mini Courses
An Immanuel tradition, Mini-Courses, will be held next week on Friday. Fourth graders will have the opportunity to participate in several activities and learn skills they normally don't at school. Some upper grade classes leave school, but the fourth graders will be in the building all day.

Battle of the Books is Tonight
Kids have been working hard and reading like crazy to prepare for tonight's competition. We begin right after school, testing your recall of the funny, sad, and exciting events of the books we've read as well as the characters and settings. Everyone is invited to come and watch. The first battles start at 4:00.

Physical Fitness Testing
Next week we do our physical fitness testing. Students should be dressed to participate or at least have their gym clothes here on Monday even though it's not a gym day.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q4W4 At School: Rock of Ages (Verses 1-3 for an A, add verse 4 for extra credit.
Religion - Acts of the Apostles
Reading - Finish Hatchet activities. Kids will want to remember this for their library and bookstore trips. The sequels are: The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt.
English - Writing
Math - Continue Lessons 92-95.
Science - Ecosystems. (Are students making their branch observations every Monday?)
Social Studies - Finish chapter 14. Start Wisconsin History.
Spelling - UNIT 29 lamb, often, castle, listen, comb, climbed, fasten, crumbs, soften, thumb, doubt, whistle Extra Words: honest, rhyme, answer, column

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Did You Get A Picture?

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!

Demonstration Picture for LEA Convention

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.

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

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

Friday, March 28, 2008

Friday, 3/28 Newsletter Updates

Celebration Auction and Fun Fest Weekend
I wanted to update you on the success of the Celebration Weekend. Altogether both events raised $44,000! Amazing! Our class basket brought $200 by itself. It went from a suggested donation of $3-$5 per family to $200 for the school. That's great! It's over double what we purchased it for.

Standardized Testing
Fourth graders take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. This will take place the week of April 7. These tests are your basic fill-in-the-bubble type test. Students at Immanuel take them in 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade we use the results to track progress of groups of children. What are we as a school teaching well? Where can improvement happen?

All students need to worry about is A. Get rest and B. Do your best and C. Don't worry about it and D. Enjoy the week with less homework!

Memory Assignments
Everyone is bringing home their 4th quarter memory assignments today. All our assignments come from hymns traditionally sung in Lutheran churches, although some are more familiar than others. There is a letter attached with all the details. We are starting next week with our first assignment (details below) even though it's not the fourth quarter yet.

Students also received a CD of all the songs. The CD is meant to be a tool to help them learn. Listening to the song while following along with the words definitely helps!

End of the Quarter
Next week is it! End of the third quarter! All assignments must be turned in by the end of the week.

The Upcoming Week

Religion - We are still working on our book organizing service project for the school and practicing or the Spring Program with Mrs. Ader.

Memory - At Home: None At School: Amazing Grace verses #1-5 as numbered on the handout. Students must say at least 3 verses. 3=B, 4=A, 5=A plus extra credit

Reading - One Grain of Rice, making judgments.

English - Possessive pronouns, adjectives, and articles.

Math - More division, graphing, angles.

Science - Flowers and plant reproduction.

Social Studies - The Pacific States.

Spelling - UNIT 25 doctor, dollar, power, sugar, corner, collar, danger, ladder, labor, cellar, other, motor Extra Words: hunger, calendar, horror, officer, explore, porch Bonus Words: examiner, firefighter

Friday, March 14, 2008

Friday, 3/14 Newsletter Updates

Spring Has Sprung...Or At Least Spring Break
No school next week. It's Spring Break! As I tell the kids, whether you travel across the hall, across the street, across town, or across the country, remember that God goes with you. Take a break from school, but don't take a break from Him. (After all, He's not!)

Choir Sings on Palm Sunday
The 3/4 grade choir is singing at Palm Sunday worship - that's this Sunday. You should have received two notes about it this week. Student should arrive at 10:10 to rehearse. The choir sings at the beginning of worship and then are welcome to sit with their parents. Students are also welcome to attend an earlier service, stay to sing, and then may leave when the choir is done.

Spring Program
The annual Spring Program is coming, and the third and fourth graders have all of the main parts. Honestly, I don't know too much about it, but after break Mrs. Ader will be working with the class (and I get to teach second grade!) a couple times a week. The performance date is Friday, April 18.

Culver's Night
Tuesday, March 25 - the Tuesday after Spring Break - is Immanuel Culver's Night. We try to have guest servers at each Culver's Night, and on the 25th the servers will be the Speed Stacking after school group. A sign-up form will come home on Monday, March 24. Kids are invited to work for 30 minutes taking trays to people in the restaurant. Any attendees may also have to opportunity to demonstrate Speed Stacking to the guests that night. Watch for more information after break. (And all participation is optional.)

End of the Third Quarter
After break there will be 9 days left in the 3rd quarter. We made a pretty clean break today, ending chapters and such, and will start fresh when we come back. Keep that in mind - 9 days! - to improve grades or keep them from slipping.

The Upcoming Week

Memory - At Home: Q3W8 will be handed out on Monday. At School: Begin 4th quarter hymns. Will be assigned on Monday.

Religion - Miracles of Jesus. We also have a service project for school we will be working on.

Reading - Red Writing Hood, summarize and paraphrase, One Grain of Rice.

English - Pronouns, adjectives, articles.

Math - More long division, customary and metric weights, triangles, symmetry.

Science - Unit A, living things. We will start a looooong term project too.

Social Studies - Chapter 12, the Pacific States.

Spelling - None, review week.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Friday, 3/7 Newsletter Updates

I'm Back At School
I made it back to school today. When I woke up this morning my bedroom wasn't spinning so I figured the classroom wouldn't be spinning either. And it's not! With all the different Lutheran Schools Week activities that have been going on and with various teachers in the room, much of the morning has been spent figuring out what has and hasn't been done. Next week looks like a normal schedule week again so we'll get back on track.

I have a pile of papers to be graded. A number of students have been absent this week, so I'll have to figure out what I have and don't have from people. Hopefully on Monday we'll have everything all straightened out and back to normal.

Stay Healthy
Whatever you can do to stay healthy, make it happen. There have been numerous people absent from fourth grade, and we're not the only class. Hopefully whatever this is will run its course quickly and we'll all be healthy again.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q3W7 Slips At School: Prayer After Meals and Prayer at the Beginning of the School Day. Some students still need to get caught up. In some cases, the effort to get caught up with late work means that the current week's work isn't getting done.

Religion - More of Jesus's healings.

Reading - Main idea and details, The Case of Pablo's Nose, summarizing, In the Days of King Adobe.

English - Informative composition.

Math - Division, finding information, turn/flip/slide (rotation/reflection/translation), fraction of a set.

Science - Keeping the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems healthy.

Social Studies - Finish the Southwest Desert States.

Spelling - UNIT 23 addition, sadness, lovable, endless, handful, plentiful, breathless, happiness, solution, careful, function, stillness Extra Words: information, celebration, capable, available

Monday, March 3, 2008

Class ID Day

Today is Class ID Day. Our ID, selected to be unique and to guarantee we didn't match any other classes was orange hat, hooded sweatshirt, swimwear or shorts, sandals, and a blanky and/or stuffed animal. Don't they look good?

Friday, February 29, 2008

Where's George?

Erica's mom brought us a $1 bill with a red stamp on it reading http://www.wheresgeorge.com/. (It looked like the one pictured.) We went to the website, entered the dollar's serial number and year, and here's what we found:

1. We were the only people to enter information about this dollar since it was entered into the website, however...

2. This dollar was entered in the website and then spent in Wahpeton, North Dakota on December 16, 2006. Which means...

3. This bill has travelled 354 Miles in 1 year and 74 days. That's an average of 0.81 miles per day. And finally...
4. It's Erica's job to spend it. (Tough job!)

Friday, 2/29 Newsletter Updates

Happy LEAP Day!

Next Week is Lutheran Schools Week. Here's the Schedule:
The first week of March is always Lutheran Schools Week, and we're not waiting until Monday to get started. It starts tomorrow!

Saturday - Celebration Auction. Tickets are still available as I type this, but they are going fast. Last year was a great fun time. (Especially, in my opinion, watching the expressions on people's faces who hadn't heard a "real" auctioneer in action. And that includes myself.)

Sunday - All students attending the 9:00 service at Immanuel are invited to sing at the beginning of worship. We have been practicing Good News at school. The FUNFEST is from 11:00-3:00 in the school gym. (I challenge anyone in the toilet paper toss!)

Monday - Class ID Day. We chose a unique identity so we wouldn't be confused with any other classes. Orange stocking caps (if anyone has an extra, please send it!), hooded sweatshirts, swimsuits (boys) or "over the swimsuit" shorts/skirt (girls), sandals, stuffed animal and/or blanky. Bruce VanNatta will also give a presentation at 2:00.

Tuesday - Classroom switch day. Students will get 4 different lessons from 4 different teachers. The fourth graders will be in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade classrooms in the morning.

Wednesday - Dress-Up Day. Talent Show at 2:15. School visitation all day long. Come and see Immanuel in action!

Thursday - The First Ever Great Student/Teacher Quiz Bowl. It's sort of a "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" sort of thing. It's at 10:00.

Friday - School color day - wear your Immanuel clothes or your maroon and gold. David Britton will give a concert at 2:00, and there will also be a pep rally for the basketball teams going to the Tri-State Tournament in Freeport, Illinois.

The Upcoming Week
With next week being Lutheran Schools Week, we may or may not get to all these things. We'll just have to "roll with it." Sometimes activities take longer than expected, sometimes less. But it's worth it to celebrate the great school we have and the great organization of Lutheran Schools we have and the awesome God that makes it all possible.

Memory - At Home: Q3W6 Slips At School: 1. The Lord's Prayer 2. Prayer Before Meals.

Religion - Jesus heals the paralyzed man. Thanks to the whole class for their efforts in leading chapel. Thanks to everyone who was able to attend. If you weren't able to join us, I hope your fourth grader gave you all the details. It was quite memorable.

Reading - Finish Riding Freedom activities. The Kids' Invention Book.

English - Paragraph that classifies, informative composition.

Math - Millimeters, stories about a fraction of a group, Test 13.

Science - Finish our tours of the circulatory and digestive system.

Social Studies - Chapter 11, the Pacific States.

Spelling - Changing y to i with various endings. Unit 22 families, worried, ugliest, funnier, happily, easily, heavier, earlier, tiniest, supplied, luckily, relied EXTRA WORDS: activities, countries, goodies, applied BONUS WORDS: enemies, hurriedly

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Chapel Tomorrow!

Everything is ready to go for chapel tomorrow, or at least all the stuff I remembered that needs to be ready! Come and worship with us at 9:00 if you can. Come see a day in the life of Joe Normal and see the loud (the volume kind) events in his day and the loud (the "make a joyful noise" kind) events in his day. Learn a new song. Sing an old one in a new way. See if the kindergarteners and first/second/third graders remember our singing lessons from today.

Everyone has a leading role during the service and in the message, and everyone should be practicing their speaking part for tomorrow. No, students don't need to memorize anything, but be able to read it clearly and fluently.

Maybe we'll see you tomorrow!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Friday, 2/22 Newsletter Updates

Midterms Next Tuesday
This weekend I'll be calculating midterm grades for the third quarter. Midterms will come home on Tuesday. Please sign and return the signature form as soon as possible. Any missing assignments (late and incomplete, not missing from absences) will be figured as zeros, and there are a number of items missing.

Missing Work
All students with missing work received a list today of all missing assignments. These need to be taken care of as soon as possible. What's happening, especially in memory, is that kids are working to get caught up on work but then their current work doesn't get completed causing even more late work. Students need to get caught up and stay caught up.

Parent Contacts
If I haven't spoken to you already, plan on hearing from me in the near future. I'm wondering if you have an questions or concerns about the year so far or where we're going from here or questions about re-enrollment and the upcoming year.

Parking on Monday
If you plan on being her Monday morning, 2/25, machinery will be here to take snow away from parking lots and side streets. Parking will only be permitted on streets farther away from school.

The Upcoming Week
Religion - Chapel planning.

Memory - 1. The 3rd Article Meaning from "In the same way" to "all believers" 2. "On the Last Day" to the end.

Reading - Finish Riding Freedom activities. (Did you read any of the book? If not, you're missing out on a great (short) book and a great opportunity to share your child's excitement for a a great book.

English -Paragraphs that classify.

Math - Similar and congruent figures, Multiplying by multiples of 10, more long division, millimeters.

Science - Tours of the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.

Social Studies - Chapter 10, The West, Mountain States.

Spelling - Lesson 21 nonstop, replaced, inactive, refill, incorrect, rethink, nonfat, reread, retell, return, incomplete, repay Extra Words: nonfiction, nonsense, indirect, independent

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Look Outside and Look Up

If you happen to get your email soon, look outside at the moon. The eclipse is starting at 7:43 pm Central Time. That's now! And you can totally see it. It should be a glowing red ball by 9:00.

And did anyone get the Christopher Columbus question yet?

This Afternoon and Tonight

Choir at Lenten Worship
This is a just a reminder. A note was sent home last week. Church starts tonight at 4:00. The 3/4 grade choir is singing at the beginning of worship. Students may then go sit with their parents or stay and sit up front. I will be there and so will another teacher. If you are unable to be here to get your child after school, we will be walking over to church directly after school. You can meet us there.

Lunar Eclipse Tonight
Tonight there will be a total lunar eclipse. As best as I can find, the eclipse will start at for us around 9:00. The moon will be completely in the Earth's shadow, but still not completely dark. The first fourth grader to come and tell me how an eclipse just like this one saved Christopher Columbus will receive an engraved plaque and honor and praise above all other fourth graders...or maybe just a few extra credit points in Science.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Friday, 2/15 Newsletter Updates

No School Next Monday
Just a reminder that next Monday is a professional day. Teachers will have a large group meeting, grade level meetings with the principal, and time for collaboration with one another. Enjoy the long weekend!

Classroom Celebration Auction Basket Update
If anyone is still planning on sending in a donation for the basket, that's great. If you're planning on donating in other way, that's fine too. Here's what is in our basket (and a lot of kids said, "I'm telling Mom I want that basket." Just warning you.)
1. Slinky
2. Tiddly Winks
3. Marbles
4. Jacks
5. Pick-Up Sticks
6. A big tub of Lincoln Logs
7. Wooden ABC/123 Blocks (Is this what all the 4th graders wanted?)
8. WWII Spotter Cards (these are a deck of cards that show friendly and enemy aircraft from World War II)

Lutheran Schools Week is Coming
The first week of March is always Lutheran Schools Week. Here at Immanuel we start out with the Celebration Auction and the Spring Fun Fest on Saturday (March 1) and Sunday (March 2). All students are invited to sing at Immanuel worship on Sunday morning, and the rest of the week is filled with fun activities. Keep an eye on the newsletter for more details.

February 27 Chapel Service
Yes, you read the last note correctly. We, the fourth graders of Immanuel Lutheran School, will be leading the school in worship on Wednesday, February 27.

The Upcoming Week
Religion - Chapel planning and preparation.

Memory - At Home: Q3W4 Slips At School: 1. The Third Article 2. The Third Article's Meaning up to "...the true faith" (the first paragraph)

Reading - Riding Freedom. Have you seen your child's book? Did you read any of it? (Caution: Reading two chapters may cause an uncontrollable urge to complete the book.) Have you seen the post-it notes they are working on?

English - Complete Theme 3 - Proper, common, singular, plural, and possessive nouns and pronouns.

Math - Polygons, long division, similar and congruent shapes.

Science - Digestive, Circulatory, and Nervous System. We will be changing our roles in science class next week from "student" to "tour guide." It ought to be interesting.

Social Studies - Finish the Great Plains States. Begin the West.

Spelling - UNIT 20 unused, dislike, unclean, unheard, disagree, disabled, unkind, unfriendly, unable, unhappy, unsafe, disobey Extra Words: uncertain, disappear, undecided, unload Bonus Words: unwittingly, dishonest

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Tuesday, 2/12 Newsletter Updates

Riding Freedom
We just started a novel in Reading class called Riding Freedom. We have two main focusses. First, there are 5 different groups, each concentrating on a different topic. The topics are 1. girl stuff 2. boy stuff 3. laws and beliefs 4. grown-up stuff 5. setting. Each group will be able to offer details to the discussion on their area of "expertise."

Second, the students' daily assignments are "What are you thinking?" Post-it notes. As students read, I want them to pay more attention to their conversation with the author, so to speak. As they think about what they read, students are to write what thoughts come to their head and jot it down. Suggestions are listed on their bookmark. All the notes are stuck in the book, used for class discussion, and turned in the next day.

Celebration Auction Fourth Grade Basket
If you haven't sent in a donation for our class Classic Toys basket, and still wish to do so, please do so this week. A donation of $3-5 is requested. If you are donating in other ways, thank you!

Memory
Memory slips are coming home (Q3W3) today. Sorry for the delay. Also, this week's at-school assignments are the meaning of the second article, split in two parts. There are many students with missing memory assignments, and the hole is getting deeper for some, unfortunately. Kids, do you best to stay caught up.

Spelling
This week's spelling list is coming home today as well. Again, sorry for the delay.

The Reading Conference
The reading conference was fantastic. One highlight included meeting John Archambault, the author of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (A told B and B told C I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree!) Other highlights included many of the speakers, but I won't bore you with reading details. One thing I learned is included in how we are doing the Riding Freedom unit.

Valentine's Day
Yes, we are having a Valentine's Day party on Thursday, and yes, we will exchange valentines. The party will be from 1:45-2:45 so Mr. Altis will still have an opportunity for choir at the end of the day.

Chapel Service on February 27
Our class's opportunity to lead chapel is in two weeks! We will lead our school's worhip on Wednesday, February 27. We'll begin planning and practicing shortly. Mark your calendars.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Basketball Schedule

This weather is something! Tonight's basketball games have been cancelled. This affects parents who were scheduled to work the concession stand. No basketball tonight, Monday, 2/4.

Also on Wednesday, 2/6, there will be both girls AND boys practice from 3:45 - 5:00. It is my understanding that the boys' games were to be completed by now, but because games have been rescheduled at later dates, they will continue to practice. (Is this right?)

Have a safe, snowy afternoon! Right now it looks like the U.P. and this is some of that two-inches-per-hour lake effect snow. Wow!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Friday, February 1 Newsletter Updates

Report Cards Today
Envelopes are coming home today, sealed as usual, with report cards. Also included are signature forms to sign and return as soon as possible, the newsletter, memory slips, and a note about the upcoming Celebration Auction. There's tons of information. Thanks for taking the time this weekend to wade through it.

We just got a basketball tournament note from Mr. Voelker too. That should be in everyone's take-home folders.

The Celebration Auction
It's only one month away! Today's note talks about our classroom basket donation. I'll let the note give the details, but in a nutshell, our basket is "Classic Toys" and the suggested donation is $3-5 per fourth grader. Thanks to everyone for your support of this great event.

Planet 10!
We spent some time today creating planets on the computer and launching them into the solar system to survive or meet some grisly end. (Including aliens!) The goal of the lesson was to create a planet with the correct combination of elements to support life. Some were very successful. Others...well...let's just say when the oceans begin to boil life is not headed down the happy yellow brick road, if you know what I mean.

Here's the link if you'd like to see it: http://www.solarsystem.org.uk/planet10/

I'll Be Gone Friday
I will be attending the Wisconsin State Reading Association annual convention next week on Thursday and Friday. Each year is a great opportunity to learn more about teaching reading. This year Mrs. Betts and I will be presenting a sectional to teachers from around that state about the Newbery Committee and the 5 Mile Book Club we've done in past years. It's an honor to be invited, and we are looking forward to it.

I don't think the substitute will be Mr. Kinderschmacker. (Ask the kids about him!)

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q3W2 Slips At School: 1. First Article and meaning, "He defends..." to the end. 2. The Second Article of the Apoltle's Creen (no meaning). Some students need to finish the second paragraph of the 1st article's meaning. Due to the snow day and late start I said that could carry over to next week, but that means 3 assignment next week for them.

Religion - Miracles of Jesus

Reading - Finish Theme 3. We will be starting another class novel unit.

English - Nouns. Singular and plural and possessive.

Math - Rate word problems, multiplying 3-digit numbers, estimating.

Science - Finish the solar system.

Social Studies - The Great Plains states.

Spelling - No list. Review lesson.