FABULOUS PROGRAM

What an AWESOME JOB all the students did at the holiday Music Program. We are all so proud of them. If you missed it, a short clip follows.

Reminder that tomorrow is Polar Express Day. Bring your candy train treats, favorite hot chocolate mug, stuffed animal, and wear your p.j.'s. We will have a fun, busy day. We are reading the book and doing activities in the morning and then in the afternoon we are making our trains and watching the movie.

Wednesday is holiday shopping day in our classroom. The students are using their fake money to buy things for family members, friends, or themselves.

No spelling words this week and no writing prompt for the week. I am going to change the writing format after the holidays.

Have a great night.

Tomorrow-Tomorrow

Hi there-

First of all, Social Studies homework/nightly writing tonight is a spin-off from a game we played today in groups of 3. It was based on the tough life and survival in the Jamestown Colony back in the 1620's. Many things happened to them on their through the game. They are to write a letter telling about their life. Also for free $ tomorrow at check in have them tell you one thing that happened to them.

Santa's Workshop is tomorrow. We will be going at 9:30. Students may shop if they choose to. Everything is $1.00.

Also students will be able to shop at Hankins' Store tomorrow. I have purchased many things as my gift to them for the holidays and they are going to use their fake money to buy them. The student with the most money goes first and then down the line. They will want to spend all their money because after the New Year we will start over.

Also, they are to be practicing those states & capitals. I noticed today that many of the kids don't know them all too well. I can't stress enough the importance of this. It will be a big part of their Social Studies grade.

Have a great night.

OOVOO-with Jeff The Nature Guy

We had a treat today as we OOVOOED Jeff at the Nature Center in Red Lodge. He & Cheyenne(the barn owl) gave us TONS of information on owls as reinforcement/supplement to our study on owls during Owls in the Family.

We continued working on our Christmas Around the World research today. We will be presenting on Friday or Monday. We are using our reading time this week so hopefully we will be ready to present by the end of the week.

Had a special treat of attending the Bitterroot Band/Orchestra Concert today. We have lots of wonderful talent here at school. Our 4th graders can look forward to this next year.

Santa's Workshop-notes about that went home yesterday and students will get the chance to shop on Friday if they choose to. Remember this is optional.

Keep working on the SE states & capitals. I am hoping our test will be before the Christmas break. It is quite difficult to get everything in lately as there seem to be lots of interruptions this time of year.

Have a great night and keep enjoying this wonderful December weather.

Busy -Busy-Busy

Today proved to be another busy day. First of all, great job to Bitterroot School for raising $461 through the Rachel's Challenge giving. Wonderful way to help out others.

We started the tour of the SE today. We got to listen to birds in the Everglades, a rocket blast off from the Kennedy Space Center, and how difficult the life was for the first colonists. Tomorrow we will play a game to actually see how their life was back then when they first came to this land.

Santa's Workshop-once again the PTA is sponsoring Santa's Workshop where the kids can come and purchase things for family members at a very low cost.

Also, we will be having a stocking/gift buying day here too where students will be able to use their fake money to buy things for themselves and/or family members.

Math multiplication homework tonight.

We started Christmas Around the World research in our class today for students in the classroom for reading. We are paired up with Ms. Erickson's class. If your child can tell what their country is, write it down for free $ at check in tomorrow. If they are in Read 180, have them tell you what they are learning about bullies for free $ at check in tomorrow.

Once again a reminder about the Polar Express Day next Tuesday. Please make sure you have all the necessary supplies.

Have a great night.

Happy Monday!

Just a few quick notes for today. First of all, just a reminder that Polar Express Day is on Tuesday, December 21st. Please make sure you are getting the supplies you need for the trains.

Students paid in their $1000 for it today and everyone was eligible with money to spare for our holiday auction where they will be able to buy some great things for themselves or members of their families.

Christmas Program is Monday, December 20th. The performance will be at 9:30 & 1:00. Come to the time that fits best into your schedule.

New websites have been added to the Blog to practice those multiplication facts.

Tomorrow for Reading class, students will be starting Christmas Around the World. They will be partnered up with someone from Ms. Erickson's class to find out information about a country that they chose.

Have a great night.

Owl Pellets

Today we finished up the whole group book we were reading "Owls in the Family" by dissecting owl pellets. They were disinfected so no need to worry plus we were wearing gloves. We definitely found lots of bones from rodents that the owls ate just like Wol & Weeps.

Next week for our reading class since we are done with our book club groups too, we are going to be pairing up with Ms. Erickson's class and study how countries around the world celebrate Christmas.

Thank you to those that participated in the Rachel's Challenge giving. I am not sure how much we made yet, but I will let you know when I find out.

We are moving into 2 & 3 digit multiplication so make sure your child continues to practice those facts.

Also, study the SE states & capitals.

Have a great weekend.

Student Council Representatives Have Been Elected

Congratulations to Raegan Harper, Hayden Forster, and Jarret Becker for being elected as our Student Council Representatives. I know they will represent our classroom & school very well. The alternate is Tony Garza who will step in if one of them can not perform their duties. We had 13 students give speeches and run for our room reps. They did a GREAT JOB and I am so PROUD of each and every one of them for getting up in front of their peers. Even though they all weren't elected, they have the opportunity to be strong leaders in our classroom.

Rachel's Challenge tomorrow is wear a hat for $1.00 to help out those in need.

Tomorrow is Personal Safety with Mr. Ness & Ms. Butler.

Also, bring Library books for Library.

Make sure you are studying your SE states & capitals. If your child can name one of the states & capitals, put a note in their planner for $ at check in.

Have a great night.

Just a little note to inform you of when the Christmas Program is. It will be on Monday, December 20th. The same program will be performed 2 times. The times are 9:30 & 1:00. This should allow you enough time to make arrangements with your work schedule. If they can tell you the name of one of the songs they are singing, put it in planner for extra $ at check in.

Great day today-we almost got through Chapter 5 of Social Studies. Students have to complete the last part of it tonight for their nightly writing.

Also, the kids in the classroom for reading got to do origami owls thanks to Ms. Erickson. As they all know, I am definitely not too experienced in this art. My spatial sense is not so good. This was a great connection to the book "Owls in the Family" that we just finished.

Reminder that Student Council speeches are to be ready for Thursday if interested in being in Student Council.

Keep keep practicing your multiplication. Definitely can tell those that are working hard.

Also, keep up the nightly reading and keeping track on the calendar.

Have a great night.

Mid-terms Went Home Today

Hopefully, by the time you are reading this you have seen your child's mid-term report for 2nd quarter. They went home today and were quite good so keep up the great work Team Hankins!

Student Council Elections: Today we went and listened to many of our 6th graders give their student council speeches. Then we came back to our room and voted for whom we thought would represent Bitterroot the best.

We will be needing 3 Student Council Representatives from our classroom. Students who are interested in running for this election have to have a speech by Thursday, December 9th. This must be about how they will help our class & school become a better place and how they will listen to and help others. Then we will vote within our classroom for our 3. Meetings are once/month on Fridays so students will have to attend at least 3-4 if not all of them.

Remember the Rachel's Challenge Days are on Thursday & Friday. Students can buy in for a $1.00 each day to help raise money for our families in need here at Bitterroot. Thursday is gum chewing day and Friday is hat day.

Book Clubs: We are completed with our latest book club books and are now working on our book club wheels which will be their final assessment of the book.

Letters to Military Families: Students have the option of writing a letter to a family that has someone in the military. These will be collected on Friday and delivered to the families. $500 in extra money can be earned.

Have a great night.

Helping Our Bitterroot Community

Next Thursday & Friday, we as a Bitterroot Family, are going to be helping others less fortunate this holiday season. As part of Rachel's Challenge and doing Random Acts of Kindness, we are carrying out her wishes by helping others. Students in grades K-6 will have an opportunity to bring $1.00 on Thursday and chew gum and on Friday another $1.00 to wear a hat. The money collected will be to help families on the angel tree. Everyone is encouraged to participate, but this is optional, but again what a good way to "pay it forward" like our 4th grade classes did during the Flakesgiving Challenge.

Great stories-the Rudolph stories are coming along and are so fun & creative. Great job Team Hankins.

Speaking of Team Hankins, we had a very serious talk this morning in our morning meeting about working together as a team helping out and caring for others. We have had some issues as of late so we made a new class promise and had a sincere circular handshake. If your child can tell you one thing about the meeting, write it in their planner for extra $ at check in.

Congratulations to Tony, our new student of the week. We sure learned a lot about Tony and that he LOVES to write.

Have a great weekend and I hope you are cheering for the BOBCATS!!

Rudolph-What Happened to Your Nose?

Today we had some fun with creative writing. We are writing stories titled Rudolph the _____-Nosed Reindeer. They had to choose a new color other than red and write about how Rudolph got his newly colored nose. Some pretty cool writings that will be on display in the hall. For extra money at check in write down the color your child chose for his/her story.

Some of us are finished with our multiplication timings 1-11 and now we are ready to put those facts to use doing 2 digit multiplication. Please make sure they continue to practice nightly on the boards or computer to keep these facts memorized forever. All this hard work will pay off believe me!!

Have a great night.