Dear Mom and Dad,

Hello and Happy Friday!
My group’s presentation was OK,  because my computer was really sketchy, so our TV commercial was pretty bad. Otherwise, our presentation was really good.

The Grand Rapids Symphony was awesome. I loved the first song, (I forgot what is was called). I couldn’t see the flutes, (I play the flutes), so that was a little upsetting.

My favorite part of the week was writing in my informational writing. I love writing about Soccer because I love to play soccer.

From,

Cora

It’s been a pretty busy week here for the “Kids of Keyser’s Klassroom”! We seemed to have packed in quite a bit into 4 days. The kids worked diligently preparing for their social studies marketing presentations during their free time this week. They were very relieved when they finished them yesterday. From all reports, it seems that most of them went extremely well(at least that is what they told me). I wasn’t able to sit in on any of them, but I did get the chance to talk to most of the groups as they prepared for their presentations, and they were very interesting! I am sure Mr. Hutt breathed a sigh of relief when they finished them yesterday! In our Bible class, we are finished with the Return to Judah, and are going to delve into the early life of Christ starting Monday. After looking over the curriculum, I feel it should be very interesting for the kids, and will lead to some in-depth discussions!  In Science we are completing the Ch-Changes unit on matter and its properties, and will be starting a unit about our solar system, aptly entitled “To Infinity and Beyond”. This should also prove to be an interesting unit, that truly illustrates the incredible universe that our Lord created. We are continuing on with the many applications of long division in my class, and Mr. Hutt is in the midst of the unit on multiplication. Mrs. Keyser and I have been helping the class put their finishing touches on their informational writing pieces. Most of them are coming along extremely well. If they hesitate to show you, it may be because they are not as far along as they should be. I know they are not able to bring their laptops home, but you can have them email it to you, or they can log in to their Google account from home and you can view it from there.

The 5th grade were all treated to the incredible abilities of the Grand Rapids Symphony on Tuesday. It was an interactive experience for them as the conductor involved the audience(5th graders from the greater Holland area) throughout. They played about a half dozen pieces that ranged from Rossini’s William Tell Overture, to Beethoven’s 5th! That was one the kids all recognized.

Yesterday, the class spent some time with their preschool buddies. Once again, a thank you to Lisa Klamer for allowing us to come down and spend some time with her precious little ones! Our kids helped them put together something from various materials that might normally end up in the garbage(cereal boxes, toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, etc). They pooled their creative juices to make robots, cars, fire trucks, butterflies, animals, and houses to name just a few. The time flew by, and the kids are already looking forward to their next opportunity to go visit their little buddies!

All in all, a busy, but very enjoyable week here for your sons and daughters! Have a incredible weekend! Paul Keyser

Dear Mom and Dad,

I can see matter through air leaving a balloon.

-Recite the first 7 verses of the 2nd Philippians for your parents when you get home.

In my SS, my group is doing a TV commercial and a brochure for our presentation.

From,

Cora

Hello and Happy Blustery Friday!

Wow, what a week of weather we have experienced! Yesterday afternoon, with the upper 40’s and relatively snowless ground, it seemed like a tease for Spring, and then this morning, back to the deep freeze! The 4 days we have been here, it has been a good, and educational week. In Social Studies, the kids are putting their finishing touches on their marketing presentations for next week. They are listening to Mr. Jenkins as I write this to get more information to help them with their presentations. In Math, Mr. Hutt is in the multiplication unit, and I have the group that is in the unit on division and its applications in the real world. I am sure I speak for Mr. Hutt as well, that many of our students could benefit from spending more time on their times tables. Either with old fashioned flash cards, or one of the many free game-like programs that can be found on the internet. Their efficiency in solving both multiplication and division problems is greatly enhanced by their mastery of the basic times facts. In Bible class, we are finishing up with the unit on the return to Judah, and the rebuilding of the temple. I am noticing that with a few students in the class, they aren’t showing command of their Bible memory verses as well as they were before Christmas. Today, they should be showing mastery of 2nd Philippians, verses 1-7. In language arts, they are working on their informational writing pieces. If they haven’t told you what their topic is, please have them go over it with you. In science class, we are continuing with our unit on matter, specifically how we can make deductions about the matter we can’t see, based on what we can see.

My wife Kathy is enjoying her time with the kids two mornings a week, helping them with their writing pieces. She is also setting up the Valentine’s Day activities. Thanks to you all for being willing to send in the requested item for next Thursday! I hope and pray this note finds you and your families well!