The End...

This is the end of...

December;
2012;
Christmas vacation (well, in a few days);
And the end of the blog...

While I've enjoyed creating the blog, there are other places for me to spend my time.

This is probably where I'll post student SmileBox presentations. But at least for now the blog is kaput.

God bless.

A Prayer

After the tragic events in Connecticut I was struggling to find something to write for the blog. My heart is heavy, and I've spent time with the LORD in prayer. I went back and read Pastor Mark Jeske's prayer that he sent out on Friday. It comforts me each time I read it. I hope it does that same for you.

Dear heavenly Father,  

Your all-seeing eyes have witnessed much terrible human cruelty over the centuries, and today you and we had to witness all over again how deeply Satan has his hooks in the human race. How monstrous that an armed man should have forced innocent people in an elementary school to be part of his anger drama. How crushed are the hearts of parents who lost their children today in what was supposed to be a safe place. How long their grief will be. Our hearts are with them today and will be tomorrow too.

Lord Jesus, you came to this broken world to be broken yourself. You wept at the graves of people you loved. Your human heart resonates with human grief. You know our sadness because you too are sad today. What great hope your first coming and your physical resurrection give us. You came to bring forgiveness of sins and immortality to all, and all who believe it have it. For the Connecticut families, for all the responders, and for all people who are experiencing death right now, we pray that the hope of resurrection in Jesus brings comfort to broken hearts.

Holy Spirit, let your Word move at this time. Let Christians share hope and comfort, and may all those whose lives were invaded by death remember and believe the Scripture's bold promises that our Redeemer lives. We eagerly look forward to the time when death itself will have to die and we will never be separated again. In the meantime, bring comfort and hope to sad families, and somehow use this dreadful disaster to work some good and advance your saving agenda.

It is only through Jesus' name that we can bring such huge requests to your throne. Amen.

Beautiful Music and Other God-Given Gifts

As I sit at my desk, I'm listening to Saturday Morning Requests on Wisconsin Public radio. There's a rousing piano/choral fantasia that Beethoven wrote being performed right now. Music is a precious gift that the Lord has given each of us. No, we're not all Beethovens. But God has given us the ability to sing. This past week the fourth graders spent considerable time memorizing three songs for our Christmas service. These songs have been written specifically for this Christmas service written by Northwestern Publishing House, so the students were not familiar with them.

The children are putting their hearts into it...and they sound good. More importantly, the sweet message of the Gospel is being told in song. The students that take piano lessons are learning songs for their Christmas recitals. I hope that they will be able to play their songs for the class, too.

Another wonderful gift...creativity. The children cut symmetrical Christmas trees to decorate our classroom walls. They all started with the same supplies: A green piece of construction paper, scissors, and glue. If they followed the directions, they were able to produce two trees with little to no green paper wasted. The decorations they created are all very unique!

Teamwork is a another gift. The children have been working in groups to create bridges made with newspaper and two meters of masking tape. We've run two trials so far. There wasn't an opportunity to do any trials this past week because each day we had classmates out with sickness. I hope to get back to it this coming week. So far the strongest bridge supported 16 math books before it toppled.

Make your own slideshow design May God bless you this Advent season… Psalm 100:4-5 ========================= Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Preparation for Christmas

Each fall it seems that stores put out Christmas decor sooner and sooner. I was disappointed this year when stores opened up on Thanksgiving Day afternoon for "Black Friday" shopping.

My preparations have been...my house has been decorate, and a few Christmas presents have been purchased. 

But the true preparations are in my heart. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. The lights on the tree remind me that Jesus is the light of the world. The tree points toward heaven, my future home. Under the tree is a nativity scene. There are shepherds and farm animals along with Mary and Joseph surrounding Jesus. 

It just makes sense to me that Jesus is the focus of the season. There are plenty of seasonal decorations around my house, but may my heart always center on Jesus...the only reason for the season.

Advent sends me back to the first coming of Jesus...but Advent also points me forward to Jesus returning on Judgment Day. May the LORD keep me in His tender care until then..

2 Peter 3:10,11

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” 

God bless your Christmas preparations...

STACK UP! 2012

We had fun!!!

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

Saying Goodbye

Miss Birr has been with us since mid-September. At the end of next week, we'll be saying "goodbye" to her. She came to us as a dedicated "student", but is leaving as a dedicated "teacher."

Her love is math, but she has taught all of the subjects with enthusiasm. The students have learned to trust Miss Birr, and they will miss her when she's gone.

I've enjoyed watching both Miss Birr and the 4th graders learn from one another. She has done a wonderful job helping individual students when they struggled. Many long hours have gone into creating lessons for the SmartBoard. She helped coach girls' volleyball and enjoyed it. In other words, she has been a very busy person.

Miss Birr will make a fantastic teacher. The school to which she is assigned will be blessed.

Praise and thank the LORD for His gifts of dedicated, Christian teachers.

Deuteronomy 32:3

 
I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

Coats and Forgiveness

The weather has gotten a bit chillier. The 4th graders have been good about wearing their coats...mittens are another story! Perhaps they like cold hands!

I had an extra winter coat. Actually, it was new last year...maybe the year before. But the arms were a little snug when I wore a sweater underneath. That made my arms cold while outside for recess duty. So, now I have a new winter coat...I look like a dark blue marshmallow. But the coat is warm and snugly! It's wind resistant, also. That really helped this past week with the edge of the hurricane winds.

The old coat went to "Coats for Kids." Giving a coat away to someone who needs it reminds me of what God did for us. We don't need coats...but we do need forgiveness. A gift that Jesus was willing to give, free of charge. Praise the LORD! He chose us to be His! Thank You, LORD!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

May God grant you and yours a blessed week.

October Blessings

Last Sunday when the 4th graders sang in church…their voices were beautiful and their words clear. What a blessing to be able to praise our Savior by spreading the Good News in song. "Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your name." 2 Samuel 22:50

The cool, crisp fall temperatures remind us all of God's blessings of warm coats, hats, mittens, etc. God is good, and He takes care of us. One of my favorite Bible verses says, "The LORD will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:7.8

Agility, balance, hand-eye coordination, and fun are all blessings provided by Sport Stacking. We've been having a blast…teachers, too.



Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.

May the LORD be with you this week.

Mid October and Hymns

Many Christians have favorite hymns...me, too.

This blog mixes some of my favorite hymns with another great part of a Christian's day...praying.

P - R - A - Y

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
Abide with Me
Yours Forever, God of Love

Leave a comment if you have any ideas for PRAY or LOVE or PRAISE???

God Bless...

Jeremiah 19:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

A little early…

Last weekend I forgot to write the blog. So this week I decided to write it a bit early. :)

It's Friday morning, Miss Birr is having reading class with the 4th graders. They are orally reading Supergrandpa. While they all "read", learning to read with expression does not come naturally. Oral reading is a skill that improves with time and practice. So when your child comes home with a story to read aloud, please help and encourage them.

Ideas for oral reading practice:
1. Have the adult read a paragraph (with expression) and then have the child read the same material. 2. Record the child's oral reading and then play it back.
3. Talk about the "said" words. Does it say, whispered? Does it say, shouted?
4. What's happening in the section? Is it a happy occasion? Are the people frightened?

The child needs to learn to follow the clues that the author has provided. In that way they can teach themselves to read with expression!

God bless you and yours.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

A bit late…

I usually do my blog over the weekend. There was time on Friday and time on Saturday. It didn't occur to me until Monday afternoon that I hadn't updated the blog.

I've seriously considered "canning" the whole blog, anyway. It's been written pretty much every school week for three years. There are so few readers that it hardly seems like the blog should continue. Mostly I suppose I write it for myself...with that in mind, I think I'll continue for a while.

The LORD gave us a beautiful day last Friday at Mosquito Hill. The sky was blue, the grass green, and the trees are the most gorgeous colors! Thank you, Lord, for each day You give us in Your creation.

This week finds the 4th graders finishing up with the Terra Nova standardized testing.

Miss Birr's college supervisor will be here this week. Miss Birr is "inheriting" more subjects all the time, while I'm cutting back. Her term with us in nearly half over... How time flies.

Art was fun. Ask your child their new name!

God's blessings.

The Week...

All of the days are important, because the LORD made them all. Each day has it's special "draw". 

• Sunday - The day on which my Savior rose from the dead, assuring me that my sins are "taken care of"...permanently. Matthew 28:6, "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
• Monday - Each work week begins with a promise. It reminds me that when God makes a promise, He always keeps it. Genesis 9:16, "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
• Tuesday - Faculty meeting day. While meetings are not my favorite thing to do, the teacher discussions, the decision making, the collaborative curriculum work, and the Faculty Bible Study... these all make the entire staff better teachers. Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
• Wednesday - The half-way mark of the week. Also the evening when Public School Instruction takes place. I often wonder why those families don't take the opportunity to have their children attend ELS. Nevertheless, these children do hear the Word. Hearing the Word builds faith. Romans 10:17, " Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
  
• Thursday - Ding Dong Day...otherwise known as Adult Bell Choir night. I've been involved with the Emanuel handbell choir for 24 of its 25 years. That's right, this is our silver jubilee. Psalm 92:1, "For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to his name."
• Friday - Many people's thought...TGIF. I agree, almost. How about TGFF...That would be Thank GOD for Friday. There's only one reason for that. 2000 some years ago, my Jesus died for me. Take Friday off of the calendar, and there's no Good Friday, and I'm lost in my sin. So TGFF! John 19:30, "Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
• Saturday - God decreed that the Sabbath, our Saturday, was a day of rest. Not a day to sit around and do NOTHING. It was to be a day of worship. Genesis 24:26, "Then the man bowed down and worship the LORD.

May God Bless You and Yours.

A brief look at the first 13 days…

It feels like we've been in class for a long time, but it has only been 13 days! Actually, each day seems to go by pretty quickly! We're getting all of our classes in each day, but maybe not at the exact time that's on the schedule.

Miss Birr started presenting devotions to the 4th graders this past Tuesday. On Thursday she started teaching math. She enjoys teaching math and uses the SmartBoard™like a pro! Her college supervisor will be making her first visit to our classroom this coming Wednesday.

When school began we studied plants in science. We investigated flower parts by taking a close look at real gladiolas. We also studied plants by doing an internet activity called, The Great Plant Escape. We started the chapter on Animal Structure and Function by investigating worms. The students were to predict what they could do to the worm to get it to move. After they wrote down their predictions, they experimented with their ideas. Students wrote down their observations in their science journals. The 4th graders had a lot of fun with their worms. The worms were released near some outside plants by Miss Birr.

I usually take lots of photos the first few weeks of school. That didn't happen this year, but the SmileBox shows a bit of our first 13 days.

Make your own free picture slideshow May God bless your week. 1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

After 8 class days...

After 8 class days we are all getting used to each other. The classroom routines are getting more "routine". Some of the scary things about a new year aren't as scary as they were on the first day of school. But we still haven't put in a full week!

This will be our first 5-day week. That means we are getting into the "swing of things." We're learning the procedures and the daily schedule. We will have ALL of our subjects this week.

Miss Birr will we starting this Monday. She will be with us until mid November. She will begin slowly, picking up teacher tasks little by little. Before you know it, she'll be teaching everything!

We started "playing" with Speed Stacks and having a great deal of fun! We're learning new things in math and science (and the rest of the school subjects, too). Most of all, we're learning about our LORD. He loves us, no matter what!

Luke 12:6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

End of Week One!

The 4th graders have walked into a new environment! They were very excited about being upstairs and about having a locker. There are many new things for them to take in. A new teacher…what will she expect? Thicker textbooks…what will I learn this year? Different classroom procedures…will I remember what I'm supposed to do?

I am sure that the 4th graders had some anxiety this past week. My heart says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) I pray that I'm leading my students to that passage and many other passages as they grow in faith.

The scientific method is one of the concepts that the 4th graders will work with all year long. We began their "learning" of the scientific method this week. On the second day of school we filled a glass with water right up to the brim. There were ice cubes floating on the top. The question: When the ice melts, will the glass overflow? Most of the students hypothesized that the glass would indeed overflow. They were wrong: It does not overflow, The most important information that the children learned? When doing an investigation, it's OK that your original hypothesis was wrong.

The scientific method works for science, but not for faith. My prayer for my students…

God of power and mercy,
only with your help
can we offer you our service and praise.
May we live the faith we profess
and trust your promise of eternal life.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

God bless you and your family.

Gearing Up

Today marks one week until our Emanuel school year begins. My first thought is how fast the summertime went by! My next thoughts are about the upcoming first days of school.

As this moment, I'm pretty much ready for the year to begin. Oh, there are tasks yet to accomplish…like lesson plans for the first week. It's always hard to judge how the first few days are going to go! While the students are generally ready to get back to school, their brains are still on vacation. What if I plan too much and the students are overwhelmed? What if everything goes so well that we run out of things to do?

I worry too much. Worry is not a trait that I'm proud of. I need to pray about that…taking my worries to God and then trusting Him. I ask you to include the students and faculty in your daily prayers. There is nothing that God can't accomplish for His believers.

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

First "Teacher Day"

This morning the faculty is back at meetings. We have meetings most mornings of this week. We talk about schedules for lessons, supervision, cheese-n-sausage fest, etc. We actually have a list of over 30 things which need to be completed.

We talked about what the teachers did this past summer. There were teachers that traveled to far places, and some that stayed close to home.

There are LOTS of things for the teachers to accomplish over the next two weeks. People keep asking me if I'm ready for school. I tell them, "Not right now, but I will be!"

The theme for the year is Anchored in Christ. That's a goal for all of us!

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Google Education Summit

This week is being spent in "Summer School". Yes, I'm taking the course for credit towards the next time my state teacher license comes due... but mostly I'm taking the course to improve tech within my classroom.

The topic is: Everything Google! That includes...creating documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms, web pages, blogs... and it's all in the cloud. That means several things. One, it's all free. Two, there's no software to buy and/or update. A perfect solution for classroom projects.

Well, it's back to class.

God bless.

End of June

It's hard to imagine, but the school year has been over for a month already…wow! I've been busy enough: end of year teachers' meetings; working on projects for the upcoming school year; visiting family in the Milwaukee area; shopping; "spring cleaning" my house; taking walks; riding my bike…

The big projects that require other people: last December I had somewhat of a flood in my basement, right now there's a painter painting the basement floor and walls. Two windows that are original to my 1940's house are getting replaced, which meant that the window frames needed painting…that painting was finished yesterday.

I know that my Lord and Savior already lives in my future, and I trust Him to take care of me. But another project I've been working on: retirement planning. I figure retirement is 10-15 years away, but I need to know if there will be enough $$ when I finally decide to hang-up my whistle.

God's blessings!

Psalm 121:7-8

The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Last Post of the School Year

What a wonderfully, God-blessed school year we have had. The Lord has showered us with more blessings than I recount. The top of the list...His forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life with Him.

Have a great summer.

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make his face shine upon you
    and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

The year in pictures :)

Create your own free digital slideshow

Almost done!

I'm finding it hard to believe but the school year is nearly finished...WOW!

Being my first opportunity to teach 5th graders, I didn't know what to expect. In the lower grades they learn "bits and pieces". It was a pleasant surprise to see those "bits and pieces" gelling as the students put what they've learned through the years into practice. I hope it all made as much sense to the 5th graders as it did to me.

The class trip to the Maritime Museum was full of new things that they did not know before. Each child received a free ticket to return with his or her family. I hope that some of you get a chance to go. Many children did not get a good look at everything, so going back would be a wonderful family experience.

With that I need to close...and go cut my lawn.

God's blessings.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

The past 7 days --- The next 7 days

This will be relatively brief:

• We spent time refining what we wanted to perfect for the Showcase.

• Two presentations were given on Friday.
• They went REALLY well!
• We had a great time.

• The fifth graders have been working on a science webquest .
• They will present their Keynotes this coming Thursday.

•  Miss Opperman will be here for a visit on Wednesday morning.

• K-4 track meet at Hatten Park Wednesday - starting at 12:30.

• Class trip to the Maritime Museum in Manitowoc on Friday. 

God Bless you and yours.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Confirmation Day

Today was Confirmation Day for the 8th graders. It's a milestone worth noting for them and worth remembering for everyone that has been confirmed. I don't remember what my confirmation verse was although I remember that my sister's was John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Since I don't remember my original, I've replaced it with one of my favorite passages:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

We have spent part of each day rehearsing for Showcase Night this coming Friday. I'm sure we'll spend time during this week practicing, too. 

The 5th graders are headed to FVL for the annual FVL School's 5-8 track meet. Mr. Aswege has been working with them so that they're prepared for the meet.

Grade 5 is also starting a webquest in science class on Monday. They will need to be "teachers" and be able to teach the class something about either the respiratory or excretory system at the end of the project.

While the school days are dwindling and our class subjects are winding down, there's still work to be done. It's hard to believe that there are just 15 class days left! WOW! Where has the time gone?!?

God's blessings to you and yours.

It was a busy week!

I figure when you're busy you have less time to get into trouble! We shouldn't have gotten into any trouble this past week because we had things to do ALL the time!

The 4th graders worked hard on a science webquest. Each group of students had either the nervous system, the circulatory system, or the digestive system to research. They then put together an oral presentation to defend their system. The reports were on Friday. I used the movie feature on my camera therefore some of the video is a little shaky…oops. Enjoy!

Mr. Payne, from FVL, came to present awards for the annual FVL poster competition. Each school gets a first place winner. Ours was Maddie. The 5th graders took part in New London's Arbor Day Ceremony. They walked to the Washington Center for a presentation where awards were given for the Arbor Day posters that they created. The three winners all came back to school with pine trees to plant at home. We spent part of each day practicing for Showcase Night. The juggling is improving everyday. I'll end with one of my favorite Bible passages… John 10:28-30 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” God's blessings to you this week and always.

God's Blessings

God's blessings come in many forms:

• Music
•  Last weekend Emanuel's bell choirs had the opportunity to play along with over 200 other ringers in the 33rd Annual WELS Handbell Festival. The blessing of being able to write the music, the blessing of playing the music, the blessing of hearing... All to bring praises to our resurrected Savior. 
• Thank You, Lord, for music.
•  Technology
• The past two week the 5th graders have been researching the Underground Railroad. They've heard about the Underground Railroad in the past, but this was an opportunity for them to dig much deeper into slavery in the US during the 1800's.
• I provided them with the web resources, and they "went to town". 
• After much hard work, each group presented their reports to the class on Keynote (Apple's presentation program - similar to PowerPoint...but really easy to use.)
• They did a REALLY GOOD job. I don't know of a practical way to post those reports so that others can see what they did. If I think of one, I'll post them.
• Thank you, Lord, for technology.
•  Performers
• Kindergarten through 4th graders went to FVL to see the Children's Theater production of Jack and the Magic Beans.
• We're busy practicing being performers, too.
• Please set aside Friday, May 11, for the K-5 Showcase Night.
• Everyone in class will be performing something that they have learned during our Enrichment time.
• Lord, thank You for the talents with which You have so richly blessed us.

•  The Earth
• This coming Friday, the 5th graders will take part in New London's Annual Arbor Day ceremony. 
• Earlier they created posters for Arbor Day.
• They will find out who won that contest.
• If the weather cooperates, all of the 5th graders from all of the schools in NL will plant a tree in Hatten Park.
• Each child is invited to bring a cup of clean soil from home to "help" plant the tree.
• Thank You, Jesus, for the intricately created world in which You allow us to live.

• The most precious blessings…
• Eternal life in heaven.
• Forgiveness for our sins.
• God's Word.
• One of my favorites:

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Easter

This quote is from the WELS devotion that I get in my email each morning:

"When Jesus died on the cross, he took the sting out of death. It is no longer something to dread.  We can die, knowing that we are not lost and condemned in the darkness of divine judgment.  Instead, because of Jesus we enjoy the light of God’s favor and forgiveness."

I consider it a privilege to be able to teach such wonderful news to my students.

This past week we started working, in more seriousness, on our Showcase Night presentation. If you find your child(ren) juggling, or Speed Stacking™, or working out moves for tinikling…that would be my fault. While we will be rehearsing what the class will do as a whole, if the students have something specific that they will present to the audience, it will probably need to get practiced at home. Thanks for understanding.

We also started working with Mrs. Gielow and handchimes. We've had one session so far. When these students were 3rd graders, Mrs. Gielow showed them how to ring. The current 5th graders played in church last school year; so this is their third year playing chimes.  They did quite well. The 4th graders have never played for a public performance, but I am sure that they will be fine.

Because we have 24 students, Mrs. Gielow and I decided to form two chimes choirs. The choirs will have a mixture of experience and not-so-experienced "chimers". Most of the students will be ringing two chimes…and every position is needed for the songs to sound complete. Therefore, we really need all of our classmates at the two performances (1:30pm & 6:30pm).

God bless your family this Easter!

What have we been up to???

This past week was busy…but then again, most weeks are!

The fourth graders gave oral presentations in science class about the moon. Presentations can be seen on our classroom website. There's a link along the left side of www.emanuelnl.org/grade4 that says, "moon" if you want to view their oral presentations.
The SmileBox shows most of the students' props that were used for the reports.

Earlier in March we created wood sculptures from scrap wood. I cannot believe that I let the children take home their creations without pictures of the final works of art!

Above is Ashley Jones. She works at Golden Sands. Through the county they provide these programs fee of charge. God Bless your Holy Week… Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Crown of Thorns

This past week, hanging from a clip on the whiteboard, there has been a branch with long, sharp thorns. Mrs. Platz teaches Sunday School in our classroom. She left it here for us to ponder. I have pondered it… It brings to mind a Bible passage that the students know - Romans 6:23.

"For the wages of sin is death."

The wages of sin may be death, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Someone had to die to so that we could be rescued from eternal punishment. Thank you to Jesus!
The branch of thorns has been twisted into a circle…a crown. Jesus suffered and died so that all of us will be able to spend eternity in heaven with our Redeemer King. Again, Thanks to Jesus!

God bless you and yours.

March Madness

March Madness usually applies to basketball tournaments. But my mind travels in a completely different path during "March Madness"… It's the madness of SIN, which leads me down the path we call LENT.

This coming Wednesday, March 21, our class sings for the 3:15 Lenten service. The song is simply called, The Purple Robe. It's just two verses. But what powerful verses! In a few simple words, the song tells of our Savior's path to the cross. I'm really happy that Jesus came to Earth to save mankind from the wickedness of sin; but, I'm even more ecstatic that Jesus came to save me!

God Bless you this Lenten season.

A purple robe, a crown of thorn, a reed in his right hand;
before the soldiers' spite and scorn I see my Savior stand.
He bears between the Roman guard the weight of all our woe;
a stumbling figure bowed and scarred I see my Savior go.

He hangs, by whom the world was made, beneath the darkened sky;
the everlasting ransom paid, I see my Savior die.
He shares on high his Father's throne, who once in mercy came;
for all his love to sinners shown I sing my Savior's Name. 

Really Short…

I actually had plans to put some pictures on here from our guest speaker, Ashley Jones. She works for the Golden Sands Environmental Center. She spoke with us on Thursday about groundwater. It is a free program for 5th graders.

No excuses, except I don't feel well...cold, sore throat, fever, cough...I lack the energy to do all of my normal weekend projects.

God's blessings.

Wow! February's Over??

Our Christ Light series comes in three sections. This past week we finished the second of the three books, which means we are two thirds of the way through our school year! That shouldn't amaze me, but it does.

The highlights of the week just finished:

• Many of the students thought we'd have a snow day on Wednesday. But alas, we're not in charge of the weather…thankfully, God is. 
• We spent some time in the computer lab practicing for WorldMathsDay and WorldSpellingDay. The official days are next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 6 & 7. They are thrilled each time that they come up in competition against one of their classmates. When the real days of competition come, and there are people all over the world participating, it will be somewhat of a miracle if they play against a classmate.

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

• Friday was National AR Day. The nationwide goal was to have more AR reading quizzes taken than last years 2.1 million. That was surpassed shortly after 12 noon today. The last time I checked the total was over 3.5 million…and still counting.
• Celia's parents, Jim and Jody Anderson, came in today (Friday) and gave us a tour of their 7-week adventure to Alaska. The photos showed the wonders of God's pristine creation. A big thank-you to them for sharing their summer vacation with us. It might inspire a few students, and me as well, to journey to that part of the US.

Upcoming events:

• Tuesday and Wednesday we'll spend some time in the computer lab for Math Day and Spelling Day. I know that the students just think it's fun…but they're building their math and spelling skills at the same time.
• On Thursday we have a guest speaker coming from Golden Sands Environmental Center. She'll be speaking with us about groundwater; how we use it and why we need to conserve it. It is a free program to 5th grade classrooms in Waupaca County.

 God bless your week.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Weekend After Spirit Week

Spirit Week Hightlights:

1. Check the photos on the SmileBoxes™ below.
2. Our class collected over 9000 pennies! That's over $90 towards this quarter's mission project: The Central African Medical Mission. A sincere thanks to parents for going out-of-their-way to provide pennies! 
3. The next highest group had somewhere in the 3000's.
4. We went into the last Pep Rally event tied for 1st place with the 8th graders. They won. But that's fitting, since it's their last year in grade school.

This week:

1. We're getting ready for the worldwide "Maths Day" and "Spelling Day." The actual competition isn't until the first full week of March, but we've been to the computer lab a few times already for "practice." 
2. If they know their passwords and user names, they may play at home also.
3. The 4th graders have a science test on Tuesday.
4. The 5th graders have a math test on Wednesday.
5. Everyone has a spelling test on Friday.
6. As I write this they're predicting a snow storm Tuesday night. If there's no class on Wednesday, the math test would be on Thursday. The spelling test will remain on Friday.

God bless.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Black & Gold Day

Photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Class Color Day

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

Character Day

Personalize your own slideshow

Spirit Week - Pajama Day

Scrapbook created with Smilebox

Spirit Week

Each week has its own ups and downs. After 5 days of class last week I think everyone was a bit worn out! That was probably a down. One of the ups was singing praises to our LORD in worship on Saturday night. Another up: The students built bridges using one sheet of standard line paper and 5 paper clips. It was supposed to hold up 100 pennies. Some of them figured it out! Some...well :)

This picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

This coming week may only be 4 days, but with the excitement of dressing up for Spirit Week, I'm pretty sure we'll all be worn out again come Friday. Being tired might be a down; Dressing up, bringing pennies... those will be ups.

God bless you and yours.

Romans 8:35,37

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

News/Notes

This past Thursday and Friday when the students were home, the faculty was busy at the Northern Wisconsin District Teachers' Convention. The opening service is always a highlight for me. The voices praising God, hearing the Word, receiving the Lord's Supper…it doesn't get any better than that!

Most years I am a "listener" as teachers from around our district present various topics. This year I was a presenter. The topic: enrichment...the educational and fun things we do in our classroom that may or may not have ties to core subjects. The teachers that came to my sectional took home many URLs as resources for:

• Our worm investigation
• Bucket Buddies
• Paper bridges
• Speed Stacks
• Juggling
• Chopsticks
• Origami
• Stamps Teach
• Balloon Animals
• Tinikling
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Others that at this moment I can't remember :)

If you are interested in any of the URLs that I use in class for our enrichment activities, it's on the front page of the classroom website. It's called February Convention Document.

This week we'll be watching When Freedom Comes. It is the monthly electronic field trip from Colonial Williamsburg. Anyone can watch the hour-long presentation. It is on WPNE at 9am on Thursday, February 16. The EFT deals with slavery, the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

But as we head closer to Ash Wednesday, the title of that presentation takes on a different meaning: Our freedom comes from and through our Lord Jesus. Praise and thanks to the Father for sending His one and only Son to rescue me from the slavery of sin.

God Bless your week.

Psalm 103:1-2

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Happy February

Noteworthy details from the past week:

• 4th graders finished writing a tall tale. Most of the students then "relearned" how to log-in to their accounts on the computers. They then typed their stories and added a picture.
• 5th graders gave their inventor presentations. They picked out some very cool inventors and some very useful inventions. While all of the reports were good; the one that made us all appreciative: Kate's report on toilet paper. I never thought of the camera, which sits on my desk, until after the presentations were over!
• On Thursday a group of FVL students lead by Mr. Dave Payne came to Emanuel and gave a presentation to the 3-5 graders on "A day at FVL". It gives the grade school students a peak at high school life.

Notes for the upcoming week:

• On Wednesday we will have part 1 of our AR reward from 2nd quarter.
• The movie will be Jumanji.
• We get part 2, the second movie, because the students let me pick the movies. The second movie day will be sometime in the future. That movie will be From the Mix-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
• It's a short week: Teachers' Convention in GB on Thursday and Friday.

Other info:

• We sing with the 3rd graders on Saturday, February 18.
• I know that's the day of 2 different basketball tourneys.
• As long as everyone shows up, we'll be fine.

God's blessings, today and always.

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

A few stray thoughts…

• The days seem to pass so quickly. I think it's because we stay busy, or at least I do.
• Last summer, when I realized I'd be teaching 5th graders, I wasn't so sure that I wanted to. But I really like the 5th grade material. Preparation takes a bit longer, since I need to know what they're learning before they learn it. I'm trying hard to remember that they're a bit older than the children I'm accustomed to teaching; therefore, they don't need everything explained in detail. It's fun watching them develop their God-given talents and abilities.
• This week the 4th graders will finish writing a tall tale. The parts of the tales that I've heard during class have been quite entertaining. I'm sure the finished projects will be, also.
• The 5th graders are in the midst of an "inventor" webquest. In each of their presentations they will "become" an inventor and show us their invention. Some children are becoming someone famous, like Einstein. Others are finding products like tape and tape dispensers. I think the presentations will be interesting.
• Tommy, Kate, and Jared represented the 5th graders in the school spelling bee. The bee was won by an 8th grader.
• Jared and Blake represented the 5th graders in the school geography bee. The geo bee was also won by an 8th grader.
• While none of the 5th graders got very far, I'm proud of them.

God bless you and yours.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Semester's End

I know that the calendar says that the first semester of the school year is complete…but, it seems to have flown by quite quickly.

A brief summary of the first half of the year:

• We discovered Speed Stacks. Besides being fun, they help educate the mind.
• Our student teacher, Miss Opperman, has come and gone.
• 4th & 5th graders have learned to live and work together.
• Science and social studies projects have been completed.
• The students, specifically the 5th graders, have benefited from my week-long immersion into Colonial Williamsburg.
• We've learned how to "tinikle" (although we had some bruised fingers...ask your child).
• Juggling has been successful (well, more for some students than for others).

Second semester will hold more adventures.

God bless you.

Psalm 42:8

 By day the LORD directs his love,
 at night his song is with me—
 a prayer to the God of my life.

News

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

As I write this weekly blog, I'm listening to Koine. The song is about the eternal God, and how He found me when I wasn't seeking Him. Thanks be to God!

I know my job is to teach, but I pray that each day the students see God's connection to them in all of our subjects and activities.

This past week's activities included three enrichment days looking at and playing with stamps. Last fall, Miss Schmidt showed me an email about joining, Stamps Teach. Both she and I are part of a pilot program for introducing students to stamps and possibly stamp collecting. Their mission is to provide educators with lesson plans, activities, and worksheets that use postage stamps as hands-on learning tools. Educators can use these tools to add some fun and interest to their current curriculum while exposing students to postage stamps. 

One day we found people, place, and things on the stamps. Another day we made math equations and used the world map to find the countries from which the stamps came. The third day we looked for uses of simple machines. They were all very excited. I heard my name over and over again as they wanted to share with me what they had found.

The American Philatelic Society, the nation’s largest stamp collecting organization, will provide free youth memberships to all children who send in an application for the Young Stamp Collectors of America (YSCA) program. I have this information and will get it to the students in the near future.

God Bless you and yours.

Happy New Year

Watching the students get more tired as the week went on, I'm glad that Emanuel only had four days of class this past week. The tired part goes for the teacher, too!

After student teachers leave, the students always need a reaffirmation of the classroom rules, behaviors, etc. We spent a bit of time on that each day. I did have at least one student call me Miss Opperman this week. That's pretty normal…they didn't see too much of me the last few weeks before Christmas.


We once again tried juggling for enrichment. Some of them are getting very good. Over Christmas break I watched a man juggle and ice skate at the same time. We're not quite ready for that yet!

We also tried making balloon butterflies. Several 4th & 5th graders stayed in at recess time to blow up the balloons. Our ears were ringing with the sound of popping balloons! Many of the students were able to follow the YouTube video directions and create a butterfly. Good Job!
Thanks to Becky Schewe for the idea.

God bless your week.
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 
John 4:24