The Weekly Fourth Gradian

The First Newsletter!
This is the first edition, so to speak, of the Weekly Fourth Gradian, our class newsletter. It will come home on Friday, but there will occasionally be other updates during the week. Everyone will receive a print copy today (and a print copy of the school newsletter), so check your child's Take Home Folder. There are other things in there too. Any attachments or handouts that I mention in the newsletter will be in the folder. I have't quite made it to the level of sending everything home digitally yet. If anyone realizes that you didn't receive the emailed newsletter at an address you gave me or if you want to add another address, let me know.

Memory Assignments
Coming home today is a list of all the memory assignments for the year and all of the memory for the first quarter - three sheets total. Also coming home is a slip of paper listing verses #1-3 as the Quarter 1 Week 1 At Home memory assignment. Those verses are on the sheets. Have your fourth grader practice them at home and say them to you. When you are satisfied they know it, sign and date the form. Each verse may be done separately. These sheets are due by the next Friday. At the bottom of this newsletter is a list of next week's At School assignments as well. These may be said any morning next week. These also are included in today's handout. Keep these sheets in safe places - homework folders, on the fridge, a bulletin board, etc.

Magazine Sales Fund Raiser
Today is the kickoff of our annual magazine sales fund raiser. This is a BIG fund raiser for the school. Here are some key points.

• Don't go door to door.
• Talk to friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, etc.
• Encourage renewing subscriptions before purchasing new subscriptions.
• Yes, we have prizes. They are meant as part motivation and part thank you.
• There is a mail and email option as well.
• Check the packet. Most everything should be explained in there.

The packet is coming home with your child today with a catalog and order forms. The first turn-in day is next week on Thursday. Keep your orders and money until that turn-in day.

New Immanuel Church Worship Schedule
Remember, this weekend Immanuel starts their new worship schedule. Worship times are at 8:00 and 10:30. At 9:00 is our education hour with Sunday School and numerous Bible study opportunities.

School Computer Acceptable Use Policy
Another (yeah, there's a lot today) handout coming home today is the computer Acceptable Use Policy. This is a document of rules for our computer system. These rules not only protect our school's computer system, but they are meant to protect the students as well. Please return as soon as possible. New students also have a password handout for their personal login information.

The Upcoming Week

Memory - At Home: Quarter 1 Week 1 slips At School: 1. Morning Prayer, 1st half 2. Morning Prayer, All (Students may say one half first before saying the whole thing or may do it all in one shot.)

Religion - Continue S.T.E.P.S. and apology and forgiveness.

Reading - The Gardener, narrative elements, continue working in our reading notebooks.

English - Diamante Poems

Math - Addition, missing addends, sequences, digits, place value, ordinal numbers.

Science - Begin Unit B on matter.

Social Studies - Why social studies matters, parts of social studies.

Spelling - UNIT 1 played, escape, steak, subway, gray, safely, mistake, greatest, break, after, planting, scratch Extra Words: holiday, paragraph Bonus Words: Wilhorn, Immanuel

And One More Thing...
This week has been such a good one I've decided to give the students Monday off! Congratulations, Fourth Graders! See you Tuesday!

Message Number One

Welcome to fourth grade! Day one is in the books, and it was a great day. I wanted to send out a message to see if the email system is working correctly. I sent out message earlier to the fifth grade families, then deleted the email addresses from last year and added yours.

If you want to see the website, it's located at http://loudestclass.blogspot.com/. The address is from last year's class theme, The Loudest Class in the World, based on "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a LOUD noise." It was easier to just leave the address the same, even though our class theme - See Jesus - is different.

God's blessings!

Happy First Day of School, FIFTH Grade Parents

I was about to delete all of last year's email addresses and replace them with this year's, but then thought it would be great for this old fourth grade teacher to fill your inbox with some final words of wisdom.

But I couldn't think of any.

So I'll just say I hope your fifth grade year goes wonderfully and don't be scared to say, "Hi," even though your not in my class anymore.

God's blessings on the second half of your Immanuel career, and remember, always, always, always, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: Make a LOUD noise." (And no, that doesn't mean disrupt my class!)

Mr. Wilhorn

Oops! I forgot something!

Okay, actually I forgot more than one thing.

I forgot #1 - I was supposed to write on everyone's report card whether or not students are promoted to fifth grade. So to eliminate all your fears, YES, you all passed fourth grade!

I forgot #2 - I had a letter from Mr. Betts that was supposed to get handed out yesterday with report cards, but they mysteriously remained in my bag. I did catch some of you before you left, but for everyone else, here's the informtion. There's the letter, information on a new student referral program, and a reminder of an upcoming volunteer opportunity. It won't look the same below, but all the text is the same.


6-5-2008

Dear Parents,

What a blessing it has been to have your family part of Immanuel Lutheran School this year. I hope that you have seen how your child and family has been transformed through the year. God has been at work in many areas at Immanuel and my prayer is that Jesus will continue to be the center of your family.

Next year Immanuel will celebrate 125 years of education with the theme “He is the Vine We are the Branches” which is from John 15. Here is where you become a very important part of this theme for next year. I am sure that you are all aware of the closing of Biron Christian Academy. I have talked to the principal Cheryl Ver Hulst about the situation and she has shared with the families at Biron Christian Academy that Immanuel Lutheran School is one option for their families to receive a Christian education.

As parents of the school you are a great resource to the school by being an advocate to promote to families in our community the benefits of attending Immanuel. Please encourage them to consider sending their child to our school this fall. You are all branches in this community and have the ability to inform families first hand of how they can benefit academically, physically, and spiritually through attending Immanuel. One challenge that has limited families from considering attending Immanuel has been the cost. Please encourage them to talk to me about how they can receive a scholarship to attend Immanuel.

I would also encourage you to refer any names of prospective families to the school in which I can contact to provide more information about the benefits of attending Immanuel Lutheran School. There is also an incentive program for you that is on the back of this letter.

Thanks again for a wonderful year and may God bless you this summer as you continue to transform lives around you.

In His Service,

Brian Betts


Immanuel Lutheran School Referral Program

Get FREE SCRIP for referring NEW Families to Immanuel Lutheran School

Did you know that talking about products and services that you have benefited from is the MOST EFFECTIVE form of advertising?

By talking with area families convincingly and positively about Immanuel, You can earn FREE MONEY!

Here’s what you could talk about . . .
A.) The High Academic Achievements of the Students
B.) The freedom to talk about Jesus, All Day, Every Day
C.) The Extra-curricular Activities
D.) The Teachers

After attending Immanuel Lutheran School for six months, the “New Family” will be given a $25 SCRIP Gift Certificate! The “Referring Family” will also be given a $25 SCRIP Gift Certificate!

What REALLY happens?
1.) A new family is blessed (eternally!) by Immanuel
2.) Existing Immanuel families are blessed by the talents and the gifts of the new family
3.) FREE money goes to the Families PLUS the School!


SPECIAL PROJECT: We are looking for painters to do some inside and outside paint jobs at our school. The plan is to work on this the week of June 23 – 27th. Please contact Greg Johnson or the school office if you are able to help with this project.

Thursday, 6/5 Picnic Newsletter Updates

It's 2:00 on Thursday Afternoon. That means the 2007-2008 school year is officially over...

What's in an Envelope?
All sorts of things, but what's in this envelope? You can get the newsletter digitally, but the rest is in the envelope.

1. This Newsletter
2. Report Card
3. Iowa Test of Basic Skills Results
4. A letter from Pastor Grohs (for most people)
5. Next year's (next year!) school supply list
6. Recommended books for summer reading
7. A little card that goes with the recommended books list

Thank You!
On Monday I was surprised with a new carrying case for my computer as a birthday gift from the class. Thanks! (And I’ll be discussing all this secrecy with Mrs. Wilhorn, to be sure!) It was exactly what I wanted and I already have put it to use. I can carry the computer and a lot of books, let me tell you. Again, thank you!

Thank You! Part Two
Thanks as well for a wonderful school year. Another year has gone by and I don’t know where it went honestly. It’s more amazing when I look back at this class as first graders – Mrs. Wilhorn’s last class here at Immanuel. Didn’t fourth grade look a long way off back then? Don’t look now, but…there it goes...

Fourth grade…

As I look back I hope that the students leave with more of a lot of things: More knowledge, more desire to read, more success in school, and more reassurance of the love of Jesus in their lives. I know I am taking with me many lessons too, ways I can improve as a teacher, and another 20 students (and their families) that have impacted my life. (As I look at the class list, however, I see over half of the class has younger siblings, and some coming next year!) Thank you.

Missing Items
If you have lunch money that is owed or Mr. Wilhorn's books to turn in or any other items that need to be squared away now that the year is done, please do so as soon as possible. If your report card has been withheld because of these items, it is available in the office. Thanks for your promt attention.

Needtobreathe in Concert FOR FREE in Wausau!
On Friday, June 21 at 8:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau the band Needtobreathe will be in concert. (Trinity has a Lutheran School about the same size as ours.) This is the band that sings "Shine On," a song on the Loudest Class in the World CD from the beginning of the year. The cost is free. They'll be loud. It'll be crazy. But it will all be in the name of the Lord! It is a part of the Rainbow Valley Music Festival. For more information check here: http://www.yat.org/Index.asp.

The Upcoming Week...I mean...The Upcoming SUMMER!

Memory – Remember, Jesus loves you. Religion – Take time to worship Jesus this summer. After all, he loves you.

Reading – Read the Bible and find 5 places where it says Jesus loves you.

English – Write 10 sentences, all stating that Jesus loves someone.

Math – Calculate how many months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds in a year Jesus loves you.

Science – Read books on ecosystems. List 10 ecosystems you could go where Jesus would love you.

Social Studies – Geography: List 10 landforms upon which Jesus loves you. History: For how long has Jesus loved you? Civics: Can any government make any law that would restrict the love of Jesus? (Trick question!)

Spelling – Word list: 1. Jesus 2. Loves 3. You *4. Unconditionally (bonus word)

Nicholas

Today we did a character activity with a book called Nicholas. It's the first in a series originally written in France in the 1960s that are now being translated and published in English. They're pretty funny. We looked at the official Nicholas website today, and I thought the kids might like to have the address.

Here it is: www.phaidon.com/nicholas

Friday, 5/30 Newsletter Updates

Last Friday's Field Trip
Coming home with today's newsletter are copies of the old photographs we used on our Wisconsin Rapids field trip last Friday with the new photographs we took along the way. Also coming home is your child's original assignment with his/her observations. Can you notice things your child didn't? Some photographs are very different! The key is trying to find a landmark that is the same in both pictures. Then compare all the differences around that one landmark. Also, a digital copy of all the photographs is availabe in a Word document. I can email it to anyone who requests it.

This Monday's Field Trip
Monday is the walking trip to the library and Dairy Queen. Today we requested books to be placed on hold at the library, so hopefully some will be available on Monday. You can check what your child placed on hold by visiting www.mcmillanlibrary.org and entering the barcode and pin number of the library card that was used.

The Upcoming Week
Next week is a week of tying up loose ends. We will do some wrap-up activities in all the subjects, collect textbooks, pick up and clean up, and do the largest alphabetizing assignment ever known to man, woman, or beast! Bwaah-ha-ha-haaaaa! (Scared?)

The Picnic and THE Kickball Game
The end of the year picnic is on Thursday at Robinson Park. The picnic starts at 11:00. When you arrive, head to the baseball diamond in the back of the park. The kickball game will start at 11:30. (Any parents who are able to attend the picnic are encouraged to come. Of course everyone can't make it, but the parents will need all the he... Well, maybe we'll see you there.) We'll eat around 12:00. Chapel will start around 1:00. And home we go at 2:00. Report cards will be handed out after chapel.

Have a great weekend! It looks like the rain will be past for Saturday and Sunday!

Library Clarification

Sorry if the newsletter was confusing concerning the Thursday/Monday Library field trip. Here's a (hopefully) better version:

Thursday - We will do a lesson in the computer lab about reserving books (placing a hold) at the public library. Library cards are needed for this lesson.

Monday - We will go to the library and pick up the books that we reserved. Library cards will be needed this day as well.

Sorry for any confusion!

Tuesday, 5/27 Newsletter Updates

Final Branch Observation and Final Branch Assignment
Yesterday was the day of the last branch observation, but if you forgot, make that last observation today. Students also received their final assignment for the branch observations today. These are due on Thursday. At that time this 2-page assignment will be turned in with all 9 branch observations.

Library Cards
Next week on Monday we are taking a short field trip to the McMillan Library. Part of the trip is teaching students how to place books on hold using the Internet and then pick them up at the library. This lesson will be on Thursday.

1. If your child has a library card, please send it on Thursday.
2. If your child does not have their own, consider sending yours if you have one.
3. If students don't have a card, is it okay for me to help them get one? As soon as I talk to the library, I'll let you know more details on this.
4. I think we'll also include a side-stop at Dairy Queen for a small goodie. Just so you're aware.

Last Friday's Field Trip - Photos Available
Friday's field trip was a great success. Many students threw themselves right into comparing the past to what they saw before them in the present. If you would like to see all the original photographs compared to the pictures we took on Friday, I can send them to you as a Word document. Email me and I'll send it right back to you.

Old Books for Mrs. Wilhorn
The following is from Mrs. Wilhorn: "I'm collecting gently used books to distribute to students at Mead Elementary School for summer reading. It is so important that kids continue to read over the summer and many students do not have easy access to books to read. If you have any books that are collecting dust at your house I'd be glad to get them into the hands of kids. We are looking for books for ages 4-12. Please let me know by Friday, May 30 if you have books and we can find a way to get them from you."

You can contact her via email at our home address or her school address. At school her address is Jennifer [dot] Wilhorn [at] wrps [dot] org. (Hope that makes sense. I'm just trying to keep the computers out there from adding her address to their spam email lists.)

School Picnic - THE Kickball Game
Apparently there is a tradition with this class that the students take on the parents in a kickball game at the school picnic. I'm told it's "GAME ON" for this year. I'm also told that a number of parents are worried that this may be the last year where the grown-ups have an advantage. The kids are getting older/stronger/faster/smarter and the parents are getting older...well, we'll just let that sentence dangle there. Anyway, Parents, if you haven't started your training regiment yet, get after it! There's a trophy on the line!

This Week's Memory and Spelling
Memory - At Home: Q4W7 Slips. At School: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God verse 1 and The Doxology.
Spelling - UNIT 33 practice, members, dinner, suppose, except, problem, shallow, stubborn, silver, cotton, object, shelter Extra Words: distance, pattern, captive, publish, tractor, narrow Bonus Words: brilliant, suddenly

Last Minute Field Trip Request

It's looking like tomorrow is going to be a bee-youtiful day for our field trip. I am bringing some bottles of water to have on the walk, and I'm hoping our local businesses might let us use restrooms as we make our way through town. Remember those walking shoes! Also, anyone who gets this message tonight, if you have some sunscreen, maybe leftover from last summer sitting in the back of the closet, please consider sending it along with your child. After less than an hour at the mini-golf course today, my face feels like it spent the day at the beach. Better safe than fried to a crisp.

Thanks! And have a great night.

Field Trip Updates

THURSDAY - We do not need parent chaperones to go with us on this field trip. Mrs. Dykstra and I have everything covered.

FRIDAY - Parents who volunteered to drive, thank you. We have enough so that we'll be able to take the class downtown in vans and save some walking time. All parents are invited to come with us. Personally, I'm excited to see the changes in Wisconsin Rapids over time, and I thought that some of you might want to see them as well.

We are leaving school at noon. Any parents who wish to attend, but especially drivers, be here by noon so we can leave. If you can't make it by noon but still wish to see what we're doing, head downtown and join up with us anytime in the afternoon. It shouldn't be too hard to find us!

And everyone - parents, students, the teacher - wear your walking shoes.

Friday, 5/16 Newsletter Updates

The Upcoming Week: Part 1

Monday, 5/19 - The last Speed Stacks after school meeting and branch observation #8. Other than that, a pretty normal day.

Tuesday, 5/20 - A normally scheduled day. (As of now!)

Wednesday, 5/21 - I will be gone at Camp LuWiSoMo with the fifth grade helping teach outdoor education classes. I will be there all day and overnight and will leave early Thursday morning to be back in time for school...bright eyed and bushy tailed, I'm sure.

Thursday, 5/22 - We will take a field trip with the third graders to the planetarium at UW-Stevens Point for a presentation about the changing skies, both daily and yearly. Then we will go mini-golfing as our reward from magazine sales. This will be followed up with pizza, our reward for winning a Domino's night! Wow! Final details are still being ironed out.

Friday, 5/23 - We will take another field trip, but this one closer to home. We are headed to beautiful, downtown Wisconsin Rapids for a look at our past. In Social Studies we are looking at Wisconsin history, and in Reading we read a story called House, House. In the story the author found old photos of her hometown and compared them to new photos of the same items today to show changes over time. We are going to do the same thing with old photos of places in Wisconsin Rapids, but we are going to visit the actual places and take the new photos ourselves! This will take the whole afternoon. Any parents that would like to join us are welcome, and if we have enough drivers we will ride from here to there and back to save some time. We'll be walking most of downtown, from the post office to the river, south of the Grand Ave. bridge and north of the Jackson St. Bridge to the corner of West Grand Ave. and Third Ave.

The Weekend
Have a great weekend, whether it be soccer games or baseball games or dance recitals or relaxing or working around the house. Hopefully the weather holds out and we all have a wonderful weekend.

A Reminder...A Warning?...Or Simply Some Friendly Advice
Try as we might, sometimes it's hard to remember that the school year isn't over yet. Fourth graders, don't relax too much. There's still work to be done, work that will be graded, work that will count on your fourth quarter report cards. Stay responsible.

The Upcoming Week: Part 2

Memory - At Home: Q4W6 Slips At School: God of Grace and God of Glory, 3 verses, +1 for Extra Credit

Religion - Continue in the book of Acts.

Reading - Author's purpose and perspective, skimming and scanning to find information, generalizations.

English - Contractions and negatives, adverbs.

Math - Lessons 100-103

Science - Food chains and food webs

Social Studies - Wisconsin History projects. We are making posters highlighting many different places and areas of Wisconsin. Then we will try to persuade others to visit our place - sort of an English writing tie-in. We will present our information to other classes.

Spelling - UNIT 32: some, sum, tale, plains, close, blew, piece, clothes, tail, planes, blue, peace Extra Words: night, knight, petal, pedal, wait, threw Bonus Words: weight, through

Thursday, 5/8 Newsletter Updates

Some Reminders

• Mr. Wilhorn is gone tomorrow, but turn in any journals or memory slips and I'll get them.
• Mini-courses are tomorrow. Fourth graders will not leave school.
• For those interested in Hatchet sequels, they are: Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. Another Brian story that doesn't follow the order of those four is The River.

Thank You
Wow! What a great Teacher Appreciation week. There were cards and chocolates and lunches and kind words and goodies and, well, more that I forgot probably. Thank you.

Planning Ahead - The Year End Picnic
Just a little something we discussed at our last teacher meetings. For the end of the year picnic, please keep water toys (balloons, guns, squirty things, etc.), hair dye, and silly string at home. Last year these items ended up causing frustration, disagreement, and mess. A big mess. One that needed to be cleaned by people who didn't create the mess. Thanks for understanding.

The Upcoming Week
Memory - At Home: Q4W5 At School: "Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" verses 1-4 (5 & 6 Extra Credit)

Religion - Stories from the book of Acts.

Reading - Reading nonfiction, theme, author's purpose.

English - Finish various types of verbs.

Math - Lessons 95-100.

Science - Ecosystems

Social Studies - Wisconsin

Spelling - UNIT 31: hasn’t, I’ve, I’d, we’ve, wouldn’t, you’d, haven’t, wasn’t, they’ve, you’ve, she’d, didn’t Extra Words: won’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, weren’t

Some Monday News

Midterms Tuesday
Midterms are coming home on Tuesday. There are two copies. Please sign and return one with any comments or questions and keep one. Please send these back on Wednesday.

2 Things About Friday
First of all, Friday is mini-course day! It promises to be a very fun day for all involved, fourth through eighth grade.

Second of all, I will be in Madison attending the spring meeting of the Cooperative Children's Book Center advisory board. I attended one of these meetings back in November as well. I am serving a three-year term. The Book Center is run by the education department of the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Since I'll be gone, all memory should be said by Thursday. I told students this last week, but the majority of students chose not to say memory today, which leaves 3 verses in 3 days. Our spelling test will also be on Thursday.

Band Update
Mrs. Chips has sent a note home today with all band students. Here's what I know: There will be lessons this Thursday. The band tour (which I believe does NOT involved 4th graders) is on May 15. The band concert is scheduled for May 22.

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

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, 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.

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

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