Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you.  May you have a blessed holiday.  We all have so much to be thankful for.  Please take some time this weekend to reflect on our blessings.  Enjoy.
Here are the fun Going Green Projects.

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Lead 21 Projects Due Tomorrow

Happy Monday-
Just a reminder to the students that are in Lead 21 that your projects are due tomorrow.  Big part of your reading grade so make sure they are here.
Finished Endangered Animal Inquiry projects today by taking all our information, getting it typed in Microsoft Word and printing off pictures.  Then mounting it all on poster board.   Great facts learned and we will share those tomorrow morning.
Cumulative Math tests for Chapters 1-3 that we took on Friday went home today.  We went over them today to see where we made our mistakes.  I am so happy to report that these students are retaining previously taught skills.  EXCITING!!!!
Reminder of Early Out tomorrow-12:00 dismissal.  No School on Wed.-Fri.
For free planner money, ask your child what IXL skill they worked on today.
Have a great night.

PHEW!!! CRAZY DAY!!!

Crazy, but FUN day today.  I wonder why??????  Well of course, there is some excitement around the school for the BIG game tomorrow and the fun rivalry attached to it.  I think our very own Mr. English had the most fun today.  He was full of jokes and playing the Bobcat fight song many a time on the PA system.  He did play the GRIZ fight song one time-well I guess it wasn't the fight song as it didn't sound like they had much fight in them.  Anyway, fun day, lots of fun jerseys, and let's just enjoy the game tomorrow and may the BEST team win!!!!  As you know, I am a huge Bobcat fan and I made a deal with Mrs. Neese (GRIZ) that if the Bobcats win, she has to wear my Bobcat jersey all day on Monday and if the Griz win, I need to wear her Griz jersey.  Just sayin-don't think I will look too good in it nor feel to great that day either so it could be a long day.  But I BELIEVE in my team so GO BOBCATS!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Megan, our Purple Hand winner.  She was nominated by her classmates for being a kind, helpful, caring friend, and always there when you need her.  Way to go, Megan.
Today in Montana History, we briefly discussed the 7 reservations and their tribe affiliation.  More on that next week.
Speaking of next week, Lead 21 projects are due on Tuesday.
Also, next week:  Tuesday is Early out and No School on Wed. -Friday.
Our Endangered animal reports are coming along great.  Some of the kids finished today and are ready to put them on poster board for display.  In Library, Mrs. Anderson helped them make a slide for 5 of their cool facts.  I will embed these into the blog when they are complete so you can enjoy them.
No Spelling List next week.
Tonight is Family Fun/Fitness night in the gym.  It is from 6:00-7:30.  If you come with your child, note that in the planner for free money.
Have a great weekend.

CAT/GRIZ DAY TOMORROW

Picture re-takes tomorrow.  So bring those "flashy" smiles if you are planning retakes.
Also, tomorrow is CAT/GRIZ Day so wear your favorite team attire for some free money.  GO CATS!!!!
Tomorrow is also Family Fitness Night in the gym sponsored by PTA.  It is from 6-7:30.  Free money if you attend with an adult.
Today in Math, we finished Chapter 3 so we will test out on it and then move on to time & measurement.
In Montana History, we learned about the hottest/coldest weather extremes in Montana that are record setters.  Ask your child what they are and write them in the planner for free money.  BRRRRR & WHEW!!!!
Congratulations to Mathew, our latest student of the week.  We learned that he likes pink, MT History, football, corn dogs and driving his car after school. (No not a real one-yet)!!!  When he grows up he wants to be an engineer and the amazing thing we learned about him today is that he drove a "quarter midget" race car when he was only 5.  Speaking of cars, look at his cool car and it goes extremely fast too.  Gotta love the snow chains on it!!!!
Have a great night.

Short Post

Staff Meeting tonight so a short post.
Lead 21 kids today started typing their endangered animal research projects in Microsoft Word and we got our Chrome Books hooked up to the wireless printer with Mr. English's help so now we will be ready to print them as we finish typing and then put them on display poster boards.  Then in Library, Mrs. Anderson is going to help them put it into a slide show presentation.
Lead 21 reminder:  Remember your Unit 2 Going Green Projects are due on Tuesday.
Montana History today-we learned the highest peak in MT.  If they can tell you what it is, write it in the planner for free money.
Have a great night.

Sounding Great

Wow-the preparations for the Christmas Program are underway and these kids are sounding fabulous already and it is not even Thanksgiving yet!!!!!  Can you imagine what they will sound like on Friday, December 19th????!!!!   Yes, that is the date for the program.  We will be performing it twice-once at 10:15 and again at 2:00 to help alleviate with the overcrowding of the gym and different grade levels are performing at different times.  Mrs. McKinnsey is sending a note home soon about the grade level times, but these are our times for sure.  So make your plans to attend one of the 2 times.
Today in Math, we learned about in/out boxes.  Have your child make one in the planner to show you their understanding of it.  It can be multiplication or division.
In Montana History, we learned how the Ecological regions of MT.  Ask them how many there are and what they are called.  Write them in the planner.  Also ask them what region Billings is located in.
Lead 21 -we are taking our First Quarter Benchmark test which is given after every 2 units in Lead 21.  The writing project to go with it is on procedural text-ask your child what they are writing about.
Remember Lead 21 projects are due on Tuesday, November 25th.
Picture retake information went home today.
Have a great night.

Happy Monday

Whew!!!  Busy -busy day once again.  Today just flew by even though we were in for recess today at lunch, but we managed to get out this afternoon for some fresh air.
Today in Math, we were working so hard on Pre-algebraic expressions as Mr. English popped in and he could see "smoke" coming out of their brains they were thinking and working so hard.  We had fun solving these  multiplication/division expressions with variables.  Have your child show you how to solve 6x if x=7  and 56/n  if n=8   5 x (6 + e)  for e=2  Write the 3 answers in the planner for free money.
Montana History fun with a rivers/mountains map.  We located many different rivers and mountain ranges in the state.  Ask them the 3 rivers that come together to join the Missouri (the headwaters) in Three Forks, MT.  Write them in the planner.
Reminder for Lead 21 students that your "Going Green"  helping protect the earth is due next Tuesday, November 25th.  I can't wait to see the awesome projects that they have been talking about.
Unit 11 spelling words went home today.  Make sure you study.  65% or higher is expected on the Friday test.
Remember picture retakes are on Friday.
Reminder:  Next Tuesday the 25th is an Early out (12:00 dismissal) and then No School on Wed.-Friday for the Thanksgiving Break.
Have a great night.

Happy Friday

Old Man Winter let up on its' grip today and we were able to go outside for Morning Walk as well as recesses today which was a blessing as we were all tired of being "cooped" up for the week.   Students had lots of fun playing in the snow as well as getting some fresh air.  We didn't go out for Fun Friday today though as we ran short on time so instead of getting all our snow gear on for a short time, we played 4 corners instead which they enjoyed very much.  Ask your child how to play it and if they can tell you, write 4 corners in the planner.
Today in Montana History we learned something cool about Montana's Headwaters.  Ask your child why we are so special in that sense.  If they can tell you, write 3 river systems in the planner.
Buddies today was a great review/practice of our writing/science skills.  They are studying the water cycle so we had to help them with paragraph writing to go along with their model representations.  I was  proud of the 4th graders as they are putting all they have learned about the Stoplight writing process to good work.
Next week the happenings are as follows:  Math-we are getting into multiplication/division algebraic expressions as well as in/out boxes.  IXL skills to work on this week are:  D5, D6, F4.  Please make sure you do them in that order as they build on each other.
Lead 21-we are at the completion of Unit 2 so it is time to take a  Benchmark test which we will take 2 days to do it.  The rest of the week will be working on our Endangered animal research project.  Speaking of project, I am glad that students in Lead 21 have chosen the project they are going to work on for the homework part of this unit.  Remember these are due to share on Tuesday, November 25 right before our Thanksgiving Break.
Language:  We are going to do our 3rd type of writing and that is Procedural Writing-students will write the "how" to do something.  It can be as simple as making a PBJ sandwich.
Spelling -Unit 11 words.
Montana History-map work locating rivers and mountain ranges along with the 3 regions of Montana.
Have a great weekend and we can look forward to some warmer temperatures next week.

Great Job Yesterday

Once again these kids did a great job with the guest teacher.  I actually knew that yesterday as I texted Mrs. Stott at about 2:00 and she said they were doing great.  Then when I came in this morning, there was a great sub note.  I am very proud of these kids.  For those good choices they made, they earned 3 celebration points.  A couple students made a few poor choices, but they admitted it today and that was cool too so the consequence was 1/2 of what it was going to be.  I am proud of them too.  I think our character counts meetings are paying off and we are learning how be responsible members of Team Hankins.
Great day in PE/HE today too earning another compliment from Mrs. Buss.
Today we started writing and solving multiplication story problems along with some fun number talks.  I just love to see how students use different strategies to come up with the same answer.  We are also working on multiplication computation.  So this week's IXL math concepts to work on are:  D5, D6, and F4 so please see that they practice a bit tonight.
We started Montana History once again today and of course the kids love it.  This next section is going to be about the rivers, mountains, and regions of the state.  Ask them what fraction of MT is covered by mountains and what huge mountain range divides the continent and how this divide is significant in terms of the flow of the rivers.  If they can tell you all this, write what that dividing mtn. range is called for free money.
Lead 21-my reading kids today discussed in whole group all the ways to help/protect the earth.  Then we came up with a long list of project ideas.  Students' job tonight is to discuss with you what idea they would like to do and then discuss together if it is doable and then write in their assignment notebook what the idea for the project is and that way I know you are ready to get started.  We came up with ideas such as:  creating an animal habitat and having in it what the animal needs to survive.  Making an art project using recycled materials, making a poster or using a tri-board to display 4 ways to help the earth, making a model of a solar house, a wind farm model, building a model car and explaining how it runs on biofuel, drawing out a map of where you would plant trees, bushes, and plants in the spring, make plastic clothing, invite a guest speaker to the classroom to talk about this topic.  Build a model of a recycling center, make a poster on the topic of "a green camping trip".  As you can see, we came up with lots of ideas and if you think of anything different and it fits the theme/topic then go for it.  I am looking a due date of Tuesday, November 25th right before Thanksgiving Break.  This gives ample time.
Congratulations to Riley as our student of the week.  Riley likes football, Trumpet of the Swans, black, chicken, math and he hopes to be a game developer some day.  He said he is really good at doing front flips on the trampoline.
Outdoor clothing-let's hope we can go outside tomorrow finally so dress appropriately and be prepared.
Have a great night.

Substitute Tomorrow

Yes, I will be gone tomorrow at a Math Number Talks training so Mrs. Stott will be here as the guest teacher.  Please once again remind your child about "expected" behavior.  They have been so good when I have been and I so hope this pattern continues.
Today we took time to honor and celebrate our Veterans.  Students started the day by writing a thank you letter to Mr. English for his service.  They hand delivered them to him with a BIG verbal thank you.
Then we read a book titled:  America's White Table.  This was a touching story how a family always set a place setting at the table for the Veteran that would never return to their family dinner because he lost his life fighting our freedom and our country.  Ask your child to tell you a bit about the book.  If they can, write Veteran's Day in the planner.
Later we watched a You Tube video of the "Changing of the Guard" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Once again we learned a lot about this ritual.  Ask your child some facts they learned like how many steps are taken, can both men & women guard, how often it changes, etc.  If they can tell you some facts, write 21 steps in the planner.
We worked hard today on Multiplication Computation in Math.  They will practice that more tomorrow with the sub.
Lead 21 kids will finish their Selection 4 reading and web of "ways to help/protect the earth.
Then they will have time to go on the Chrome Books and start researching the endangered animal they choose for the report we are going to do here at school.
Have a great night and again thank you for discussing substitute behavior for tomorrow.

Thank You, Mr. English

Yes, Mr. English came to our classroom today to talk about and show a slide presentation about his tour of duty in Iraq.  We learned a lot of interesting things.  Ask your child 3 new things they learned and if they tell you, write Mr. English in the planner for free money.  Tomorrow we are going to be doing a couple of things here in our classroom to honor veteran's and to celebrate Veteran's Day.
My Lead 21 kids started their selection 4 today in their small readers which is all about "ways to help, care for, and protect our Earth.  Then after we are done reading it, they will decide on a project they want to do at home.  They will be bringing their books home sometime this week so you can look at it together and come up with a feasible plan.
In Math today we learned all the different properties that we are going to be using to solve multiplication problems.  Ask them what the commutative & associative properties are.  If they can tell you, write math in the planner.  Tomorrow we are going to start computation.
Weather attire: Yes, it is definitely much COLDER than it has been so please make sure they come with lots of warm clothing for outdoor recess/play.
Have a great night.

Great Conferences

Thank you so much for taking the time this week to attend your child's Parent/Teacher Conference.  It was so nice to visit about all the great things your child is doing as well as giving ideas/suggestions of how they can work to make things better whether it be academic/behaviorally, or emotionally.  It is important for them to realize how we care about them and want to help them "mold" into great citizens/students with positive character.
Also a thank you to all who participated in the "All for Books" program.  Our class alone brought in $46.50 to spend on books.  Great job!!!!  I will make some great classroom book purchases.
This coming week is now back to normal with regularly scheduled days.  The only thing different this week is I will be gone on Wednesday for a professional day to attend a math training.  More on that to come.
Academically this week the happenings are:
Montana History-yes, we are finally back into that again.  This section is on the rivers, mountains, and the 3 regions of Montana.
Science-we are going to finish up our Matter unit
Math-we are moving ahead into computation of 4 digit x 1 digit and 2 digit x 2 digit numbers along with x and division algebraic equations.  Our problem solving strategy this week is:  Making a Table.
Language:  verb tenses
Spelling-Unit 10 words
Lead 21 Reading-we are finishing selection 4 of the Unit 2-Ways to help/protect Earth.  This will give them ideas of how they can help the earth and they will be doing a mini project at home for this.  In school, we are going to be starting a project where students will be picking an endangered animal to research and make a presentation on.
Writing:  Writing a Procedural paragraph-this means writing in steps "how to do/make something" like making a PBJ sandwich.
Have a great week.

Report Cards Went Home Today

Yes, report cards went home today.  Overall, they were good, but for some students there is room for improvement which we will be talking about at conference time this week.  Please come with questions you may have.  If you saw your child's report card, write a comment about it in the planner for free money.
Agent Dunlap today-yes we were very lucky to have him pay a visit to our classroom today as a culminating activity to Red Ribbon Week.  He had lots of good information for 9-10 year olds, but his most powerful message is the same as what we have been talking about all year long so far in morning/character counts meetings.  Ask your child what his message was and write it in the planner for free money.
All for books-tomorrow is the collection of dimes.
Book Fair is set up in the library.  Students are allowed to purchase books Wed.-Fri at 12:00.
Reminder:  Early Dismissal Wed.-Fri.  (12:00)
Cya some of you tomorrow at conferences.
Have a great night.

Second Quarter is Underway

Happy Monday!  Today was the beginning of our new quarter so we took time at the end of the day to spend our free money.  Now we are starting over tomorrow with new money.  We had a great discussion as we were done on the importance of making good, positive choices as that means there is more money to spend on the fun things that were available for purchase.  I hope this life like experience is a good learning tool for them.
Lots of pennies came in today for "All For Books".  Tomorrow is nickels so let's see our collection can continue to fill & grow.  Thank you for helping this great cause.
Reminder that we have Early Outs (12:00 dismissal Wednesday-Friday) this week to allow for conference times.  I am looking forward to visiting with you about your child and his/her progress.
Today in math we worked on Algebraic Equations.  If your child can solve this problem, put it in the planner for free money.  14 + x= 29   x= __________.
Unit 9 spelling words went home today.
Also new lunch menu went home today.
Remember to get your October Reading calendars back tomorrow if you are in my reading.
Have a great night.