May 17, 2011

Sorry this is late, but at least it is still Tuesday. Just a couple quick notes.

Spelling test this week will be on Friday instead of Thursday to give the AHA group an extra day.

The note about Old World Wisconsin that came home today was for parents who have signed up to go, or who intend to sign up to go. Information for the students will be posted this weekend. Most of the info is the same: wear comfortable shoes, bring a lunch.

The cars for science were very interesting and creative. Thanks to all the parents who helped.

I can't believe that we are so close to the end of 4th grade. Only 11 more days. We are so thankful for the sunshine today.

Tuesday, May 11, 2011

Thank you to all the parents who helped us sing on Sunday. Everyone did a great job of using their talents to sing praises to our Lord.

Don't forget to build a "car" and bring it to school on Monday, May 16. Check the previous blog for details.

This week Thursday is track and field day for grades 6-8. Grades 4-5 will be using part of that day as an arbor day for the city of Greenfield. Since we have never been involved in this before, I do not have many details, other than they will be working outside for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Don't be surprised if they come home a little muddy. Mr. Hackmann is in charge of this event. Depending on how long this takes, we MIGHT have our spelling tests on Friday this week instead of Thursday.

We are reading a book in class called "Little House in Brookfield." One of the chapters tells about how the families back in 1840 washed their clothes. Your child needs to read this chapter with the adult in your house who does the most laundry. It should be a humbling experience for both of you, as well as educational. There is a sheet with a few questions to fill in. This needs to be done by Friday, May 13.

Finally, we should have a blog word, since we haven't had one for a while. The blog word is the name of the youngest child in the book we are reading. Joseph is the oldest. I will ask for this on Friday at lunch.

May 6, 2011

Surprise, it's a Friday note!

The oral reports yesterday were amazing and fun to watch. The kids did a great job, and some of them even asked to do it again.

We sing this Sunday in the 10:45 service. If you have not yet been to a practice, please come to the classroom at 10:15 so that we can go through it a few times before Mrs. Bloomquist leaves to play for church. The kids, and those who have already practiced, should be here no later than 10:30 in the classroom. We reserve the entire balcony for fourth grade and their families. If you are an early church family, you are free to leave during the first hymn after we sing. It is our prayer that this helps to make your Mother's Day more special as we share our faith in Jesus and help the children to "Pass It On."

Your child needs to build a "car" for science. This vehicle is due Monday, May 16, and needs to be made out of "junk" you have around the house. No actual wheels will be allowed, no kits, no Legos, etc. The kids have the details. This car needs to be able to roll down an incline; it does not need to move on its own. If you have any questions, ask Mrs. Johnson or Mr. Albrecht.

Finally, there is now a sign up sheet for Old World Wisconsin. It is in the parent tray. It is
May 24, it is an all day field trip, and the cost for chaperones is $20, which you do not have to pay when you sign up. Because our class is small and we take a bus, we can take as many parents and/or grandparents as would like to come. Just be aware that this field trip involves a lot of walking, and much of it is outdoors on uneven paths.

May 1, 2011

What did we learn on Family Tree Day?

1. We are very blessed with many modern conveniences, such as indoor toilets, running water, and comfortable shoes.

2. We are thankful that we do not have to walk 2 miles to school each day.

3. Our ancestors came from many different countries and from 4 of the 7 continents.

4. If is fun to look at old things.

5. We liked playing games, but we missed our playground balls.

6. People in the 1800's worked very hard and did not throw away as much as we do.

7. Some of us enjoyed it more than others.

COMING SOON!

Science fair projects due tomorrow morning. The fair is Thursday.

We are singing in church on Sunday. If you have not yet done so, please return your slip indicating when you are able to practice with us. Your child should have brought home the song to start teaching you.

Ocean animal oral reports are due Thursday, May 5. Your child has a list of requirements. If not, tell him or her to ask for another one.

Old World Wisconsin field trip is May 24. More information will be coming soon.

One more very special science activity will be explained in school this week. Ask your child about it on Tuesday. It will be due on Monday, May 16.

Can you believe it's almost the end of the school year?

April 19

Yes, I realize that this is late this week, and yes, I realize that it has also been a long time. Since no one has been complaining or asking questions because they don't know what's going on, I figure all is well.

As your child has probably already told you, there is no spelling this week, or next week. We are taking some time off to practice penmanship, which seems to have deteriorated. But you and the kids need to know that the penmanship grade is not based solely on penmanship papers. It also includes everything they do every day. That means working hard on penmanship papers will help, but if daily work is sloppy, the grade will reflect that.

English reports were very good. They are coming home today. However, we are not done with them. The next step is an oral report, but I will hold off on that until after science fair projects are done. Just so you know what is coming, they will be required to give an oral report of the information they learned, and present it to the class IN THE COSTUME OF THE ANIMAL THEY CHOSE. However, this is not as tricky as it sounds. A costume can be as simple as putting on a tail, or wearing a mask, or making some flippers, or even just being dressed in all one color.
More information will be coming home soon, but this is so you can start thinking about it.

Look for our lunch journals in your Tuesday folder. Most of the kids are doing a great job of finishing their lunches. Now that they are bringing snacks, sometimes they are less hungry at lunch time. You might want to consider adjusting amounts if you see a lot being thrown away. These journals are being done for your benefit and also as part of research in connection with the PEP grant.

Reminders
Family Tree Day is next Thursday, April 28.
Science Fair projects are due Monday, May 2.
Fourth graders and their parents are scheduled to sing in church on Mother's Day, May 8. We will begin learning the song this week so the kids can start teaching it to you.

Look for a Tuesday note in next week's folder with more information on all these upcoming events.

Sorry, kids, no blog word this week.

Home stretch!

Monday is the beginning of the fourth quarter. It is a chance for a fresh start one more time. You get one more chance to do the very best you can in fourth grade.

It is also a time when some kids tend to lose ground. The weather gets nice, and other things seem to be more fun. But think of it in terms of baseball. You need to get to home plate if you want to score. If you stop now, at third base, you get no points. But if you keep pushing all the way to home, you score a run. That's what we need to do now--keep pushing for one more quarter, so that we can finish fourth grade with a home run!

Speaking of baseball, the blog word (phrase) for this week is "Keep your eye on the ball." Put it in your assignment notebook on the page for Friday. Remind me during lunch to check it.

One final note for this week. The date for family tree day is Thursday, April 28. I will get more information out to you soon, but if you want a sneak peak, you can check the blog for it from last year. I believe it is still up. You can also check out photos from the St. Jacobi photo section. Not only do you get to share information from your family tree, and bring heirlooms, if you have them, but we all get to dress as your grandparents might have dressed 100 years ago! Stay tuned for more information.

Hope you enjoyed your break.

Oh, yeah. And remember that science fair projects are due in 30 days!

March 6, 2011

Science News

Most of the kids told me last week what they are planning to do for the science fair. Monday is the deadline for taking care of this. Yes, the fair is 8 weeks away, but it is important to plan ahead, especially if you are doing an experiment, and especially if you have plans to be gone for spring break and/or Easter break.
Remember, you can't just say, "I'm doing something with electricity." I want to know exactly what you plan to do with it. Are you doing a demonstration, which requires a report, or an experiment, which requires a display of your procedures and data? If you choose an experiment, you can ask me for one of the forms I showed you at the meeting.

Family Trees

I finished looking at these, and it is fun and interesting to learn where families come from and what stories they have to tell. Our family tree day will be in April, but before then, some of the forms need to be finished. If yours is one of them, it will be coming home in this week's Tuesday folder. It will tell you what you are missing. Two of the most common sections that people forgot are:
1. Middle names. I need middle names for everyone you can.
2. Country of origin. Yes, your family came from the United States, but what country did your ancestors come from?

If your family tree is not coming home this week, it is fine.

We have not had a blog word for awhile, so the one for this week is ancestor. Be sure that it is spelled correctly and in your assignment notebook on Friday.

Finally, we are scheduled to sing in church on Sunday, March 20 at 10:45. Please mark this on your calendars and plan to be there to sing for our loving Savior.