Hi! I hope you had a good restful weekend. It was nice having a couple days to catch up and take a break from the heat after our scorcher last week. This week we are in full swing (yes, it is going to be hot M-W)but we can "do it"! We will begin Reading, Spelling, Language, Math, Social Studies, and Science. This may mean that there may be some homework coming home if they don't finish their assignments in school. They also will have spelling words to study for the test on Friday. Speaking of HOMEWORK, I hope you did your homework this weekend. It is the name activity that went with the book "Chrysanthemum" that we read on Friday. It was about how a little mouse was teased about her name. As the book concluded, everyone wanted a name just like hers. We talked about how our parents named us and we want you to complete the neon card that went home with the assignment on the back. Can't wait to hear the stories. Also, the textbook sheet and emergency information sheets went home on Friday so please get those back Monday also. $50/sheet if they come back completed. Please make sure your child has a water bottle as there will be no more getting drinks. They have opportunities to fill their bottles in the a.m. and p.m. Ms. Erickson and I visited and we have decided to tweak the money system a little bit. The coupon/money distribution took too long and also didn't quite seem consistent enough with behaviors as any student with over $500 whether it be $10 or $300 over were able to buy a coupon. (These coupons that they bought last week will still be honored as they each purchased one.) We want something that will allow students to save their money for options to buy fun things from our classroom store. So here is the new plan: Each student will have $500 start up money tomorrow. They will now have opportunities to earn more money by making positive choices. The money they earn will be for Team Building on Fridays, field trips, and the classroom store at the end of each quarter. They can earn at least $250/week for planners signed, jobs, desks, and positive behavior. They will get $20/day for signed planners,$50/week for not losing a ticket, $50/week for jobs, and $50/week for a clean desk. Also, they can earn $20/day for blog questions so that really is at least $350/week and then sometimes little bonuses are thrown in. Team Building will cost $100/week. Field trips are $500/each and we have 2 coming up in October, but there is no reason that your child will not have enough for all this and still some left for purchasing fun stuff if they make positive choices. I am excited for this change and think it will be more fair for making good choices. If you discussed this with your child, write money in the planner for free money tomorrow at check in. If you attended the Bitterroot Movie Night, write movie in the planner for free money. Thank you again for a great first week. Hankins' Team is off to a fabulous start and I look forward to all the awesome things that are going to happen this year. Have a great rest of your Sunday.