Congratulations!!

Congratulations to all our award recipients.  You all worked very hard and are so deserving.  Those of you that didn't receive an award, I hope to see your name on the list next quarter.  Go Team Hankins.
 BUG winners are:  Keilah, Kailynne, Caiden, Carson, Izzy, Mathew, and Aaron.
Terrific Kids winners are:  Keilah, Kailynne, Cole, Jaiden, Mathew, Serenity, Kaylee, and Riley.
Our Bobcat Winner goes to Jenna for her kind, caring, and helpful ways.  She was also the winner of this month's Purple Hand Cookie.  Great job to all of you.
Remember the PTA Science Night tonight.  If you go, write it in the planner for free money.
Fit Kids Club is on Monday starting at 3:15-4:00.  These students are in:  Rylee, Megan, Aaron, Johnny, Jaiden, Riley, Mathew, and Chase.  Be ready to workout.
Have a great weekend.

BUG/Terrific Kids Tomorrow

Just a reminder that the BUG/Terrific Kids awards is tomorrow at 2:00.  Hope to see you there if your child is receiving an award.
PTA Science Night tomorrow from 6-7:30.  Free money and lots of fun science if you go.
Not a lot to report today as the kids had HE/PE and Library today.
We did have another birthday treat today-HMMM I wonder whose birthday it was?????  If they can tell you write it in the planner for free money.
Have a great night.

Happy Wednesday

Not a lot to post today so will be short & sweet.  All but one student in Lead 21 has finished their space report and they have been printed.  This takes us to the last Selection of this unit which we will start tomorrow.  Then next week we will be taking our 2nd Benchmark test before moving into Unit 5.  Our next writing assignment to go with this test is writing a persuasive paragraph so students will be given directions/guidelines for this early next week.
Also, they will beginning biography projects.  We will be choosing people at the end of this week.
Remember Library tomorrow.
No blog question today.
Have a great night.

This Group is Electrifying!!!!

Science was crazy today creating lots of static electricity.  We were sticking balloons to walls, standing hair up on end, and going around "shocking" each other around the room.  We decided that creating static electricity with our "low" pile carpet in the classroom is way different than when we do it at home on higher piled carpet.  Ask your child what 3 kinds of charges atoms can have, it they can tell you, write atoms in the planner.
In Math today we learned about volume and how to find volume with the formula -LxWxH.  Once again we were reminded of the importance of knowing those multiplication facts.  We continue to work on 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication and division with remainders.  Please Please take about 5 minutes each night and have your child do 1-2 problems of each skill.  This will so help them build their confidence.  Like I said before, we are not going to spend lots more time here at school practicing.  I am taking some of their computer time to give them some extra practice with my help, but then they are missing these important skill building opportunities.

Remember the Science Night on Friday from 6-7:30.  Free money to those that go and learn some fun, new exciting things.
Also, remember to join us for Terrific Kids/BUG on Friday at 2:00 if your child is receiving an award.
Have a great night and get out and enjoy this amazing weather.

Fit Kids Club

Congratulations to the students whose names were drawn for Fit Kids Club which begins on Monday, February 2nd from 3:15-4:00.  It will be every Monday & Tuesday until May.
These are in:  Rylee, Megan, Aaron, Johnny, Jaiden, Riley, Mathew, and Chase.  Alternates are:  Izzy & Keilah.  Participation and attendance is important.  If students miss more than 3 times and have behavior/participation issues, they will be asked to not participate.

Today in Science we introduced Electricity.  Ask your child about the experiment we did called "Charge".  If they can tell you what we used and how we conducted the experiment and the results, write Charged in the planner.
Today in Math we learned all about congruency, translations, reflections, and rotations.  If they can tell you or even better "draw" examples of each, write congruent in the planner.
Unit 20 spelling list went home today.
Pizza Lunch for lunchroom helpers on Wednesday, January 28th.  Students know who they are.
We will be having Library on Thursday this week due to the BUG/Terrific Kids awards on Friday during our Library time.
Have  a great night.

Happy Friday

We had a great week this week in Room 6.  I think we got to everything I wanted to get done!!!!  That is a reason to Celebrate and now we are all ready for the weekend!!!!!  I hope you had a great discussion about your child's report card with them and what they need to do to maintain their amazing grades and/or what they need to do to bring them up.  This doesn't only include the academics, but the social skills/organization, and study habits as well.
This next week we are going to be finishing up our Geometry unit in math and assess all the geometry terms by drawing and labeling them. We will also assess on area & perimeter with a fun project that also relates to our Space Unit in Lead 21!!!   We will continue to practice division & multiplication as well.
In Lead 21, we are going to finish up our informational text on space.  Students are also going to be finishing up their science reports of their topic of choice.  We are typing them in Microsoft Word which has been great keyboarding practice for us.  Then we will be going into Realistic Fiction in Selection 3 which will also be space related stories.  In whole group, we will be reading the biography/journals of Galileo.
In Language, we will continues with kinds of adjectives.
Spelling-Unit 20 word list
Science-we are moving from magnets to electricity where we will create static electricity as well as make an electrical circuit.
Reminders for the end of the week:  Science Night on Friday, January 30 as well as BUG/Terrific Kids awards.  If your child is receiving an award you are welcome to attend.
Have a FABULOUS weekend.

Report Cards Went Home Today

Yes, report cards went home today.  Please take time to go over the grades and the comments with your child.  I put a lot of time into writing the comments to help them have meaning for your child and what it is they are doing great and what needs to be worked on to help them become more successful.  Thank you.  If you do this, write report card in the planner for free money.

Today in Math we spent a lot of time working on 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication and dividing with remainders.  These are skills that your child should be working on at home a little bit each night to help with mastery.  Just write down a couple problems each night for them to do and then check them together.  What a difference this will make.  As they found out today when I showed them that we have to reduce/simplify fractions and how important it is to know their facts in order to do this.  Once again, this just proves how Math progresses.
We had fun doing Geometry today with Chinese Jump Ropes.  Ask your child what we did and enjoy the pictures.
We enjoyed learning all about Kailynne today as Student of the Week.  She loves the color Teal, football, pizza, art, music, and running.  She hopes to run in the Olympics someday.  She is off to a great start as she can run 3 miles without stopping.
Tomorrow is the last day to bring in recorder $ if you are using one of Mrs. McKennsey's and also last day to sign up for getting your name in the lottery to be in Fit Kids Club.
Remember Library books tomorrow.
Have a great night.

PTA Science Night

Yay!!!!!  How exciting-once again our wonderful PTA is sponsoring a Science Night on Friday, January 30 from 6-7:30.  Students will receive some extra fun $ if they attend and learn some cool science stuff.
Today for MLK studies, students had an opportunity to use some creativity to complete 2 pages about him and earn $100 for each page that was done with quality & neatness.  Some of the creative things on it were:  a new symbol for peace, illustrate what freedom looks like, questions you would ask MLK, etc.  Ask them 5 things they did with this activity and if they can tell you, write "peace" in the planner.
Lead 21-students are researching and writing a science report on a particular space topic.  Ask them what they chose to research and 4 things they have learned.
Terrific artists-they are celebrating the Chinese New Year in Art by drawing some Chinese symbols and drawing dragons.  Ask them why Mrs. Fischer chose the dragon.
Remember PE shoes tomorrow.
Have a great night.

Reminders!!

Happy Tuesday!
Just a couple quick reminders-students wishing to participate in the Fit Kids Club after school starting February 2nd is to get their forms in by Friday.  5 students + 1 alternate will be chosen to participate.
Also, report cards will be going home on Thursday.  Students who achieved BUG Club or Terrific Kids Club will have a little slip in their report card envelope inviting you to the celebration on Friday, January 30 at 2:00.  This should give you plenty of time to plan for it.    If you child didn't receive one, hopefully this next quarter they will work harder to bring up those grades.
New IXL cards-students have been given new IXL cards with skills they are to practice at home.  The cards are to stay here at school, but they are to write some of the skills in the assignment notebooks so they know what to work on at home.
Today for MLK Jr., we wrote about dreams we have just like he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.  Ask your child what their dream was and write it in the planner.
In Math today, we read a book about different polygons & triangles.  We found it amazing as to how many things in our real world are these shapes.  Look around your home tonight and see if you can find some triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, & decagons.  Have fun!!!!
Thank you to Mathew & Jaiden for the iron filings-we will use them tomorrow.
Have a great night.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday

People across the country will be celebrating MLK Day and so can your child as there is No School on Monday for them.  We teachers have workshop/inservice that day.  Enjoy the 3 day weekend.
Speaking of MLK, we great a great book about him today with lots of amazing facts (some of them sad) about him and all he did for ALL people in the world and not just the African Americans.  Ask your child about at least 2 great things he did and if they can tell you and have a good discussion, write MLK in the planner.
Free money-we all started over today with new money ($150) so let's see if the good choices can continue and keep earning that fun, hard-earned, well-deserved $ this next quarter.
In math today, we played a fun division game with the Royal Family.  Ask your child what their roles were and have them explain the game to you.  I think it is going to help EVERYONE be successful with dividing with remainders!!!!!
Today is the last day of this quarter and the first semester.  So all work had to be in by 3:00 today for credit.
Report Cards will be coming home on Thursday, January 22nd.
Fit Kids Club-Just a reminder that you have until January 23rd to get your forms in. Students will be drawn on the lottery system.   Participation days are on Mondays & Tuesdays from 3:15-4:00 starting February 2nd.  So check your schedule and plan to sign up for a chance is you don't have anything else on those days and at that time.  It is fun and a great way to get some exercise as well as participate with 5th & 6th graders.
Have a great 3 day weekend and cya on Tuesday.

Fun Had By All

Today was a fun day as we did our auction and spent that hard earned fake money.  Tomorrow we start over for the new quarter with fresh wallets and money.  Some kids purchased lots more than others, but as we have talked many times, it is all about making positive choices.
Fit Kids Club forms went home today.  They are due by January 23rd and then those students that are interested will have their names put into a lottery drawing.  Each classroom will pick 5 with 1 alternate.  Make sure if you sign up, you are committed to the times if you are going to get chosen and take up a spot.
Geometry today was full of lots of drawing & labeling.  Ask your child what kind of angle is 180 degrees and ask which kinds of lines make right angles.  If they can tell you them, write geometry in the planner.
Chase is our Student of the Week this week.  We learned so many cool things about him so here are a few:  He likes neon green, The Hobbit, football, pizza, math, sports, and wants to be in the NFL when he grows up.  As you can see by his medals, trophies, etc. he is on his way to being a great athlete.
Tomorrow is Library so get those books back.
Have a great night.

Quick Post Today

Due to a meeting, this is a quick post today.  Just a reminder to those of you that want to use a school recorder for Music to get the form filled out and send your $ and I will make sure Mrs. McKinnsey gets it.
In math today, we worked for a bit on division with remainders and also moved on to geometry.  We drew & discussed different kinds of polygons as well as solid figures.  Ask your child what a 5 sided figure is as well as an 8 sided one.  We discussed the 3 kinds of triangles.  See if they can tell the names of all 3 or at least 2/3 and if they can, write triangle in the planner.  Also we learned about faces, edges, and vertices.  Did you know that there is a formula that helps us to find the number of edges?  It is (F + V)-2 = E.
Tomorrow is the day we are spending our fake money for this quarter.  We are going to do it in the form of an auction.  Students will start over with new money on Tuesday.
Reminder:  No School for students on Monday, January 19th.
Please if anyone has any loose iron filings, please send them to school with your child for us to use with our magnets.
Thank you and have a great night.

Recorder Notes

Please take time to carefully look at the note from Mrs. McKinsey as it has very important information on it regarding recorders.  This is a fun, exciting time for 4th graders as they prepare for the 5th Greade opportunity of being in Band/Orchestra.
Today we worked real hard on division with remainders.  Students learned another strategy to help them today so I hope they make many efforts to practice at home and participate in class as well.  We will be doing practice problems daily, but have to move on as we can't spend all our math time just waiting for kids to master this skill.  We will also be doing Geometry at the same time.  Once again, practicing math at home via IXL is so so important because as you can see we have so much material to cover.  Skills to work on at home in IXL this week are:  P19-P20-E16 & E4.
In Lead 21, we started Unit 4 on Space.  Students came up with lots of good inquiry questions that we will be researching throughout this unit.  I must say lots of curiosity for this topic!!!!!
Mrs. Neese came in today and had a guest with her.  Ask your child who it was and what she is going to be doing here with Mrs. Neese.  If they can tell you, write her name in the planner. Also discuss with them what Mrs. Neese's topic was today.
Montana History notebooks were graded again today for Part 4.  This is an easy A if your child keeps up and participates in whole group activities.  I am sad to report that some students didn't finish and their grade reflects this.  I told them they have an opportunity until Friday morning to make their notebooks complete and bring their grade up.  They know who they are so ask your child if they are one and what their plan is-to either finish or take the grade they got.  HMMMMMM-I am not going to chase them down to finish.  They need to take the responsibility to do this on their own as I am starting to prepare them more & more for 5th grade.
In Science today, we explored with magnet seeing which items in our test bags had magnetism and which didn't.  Ask them how we got the paper clip to act as a magnet.  If they can tell you, write magnet in the planner.  Also, if you have any iron filings around and willing to share, please send them to school with your child by Thursday.  Thank you.
Have a great night.

Happy Monday

Today was a good, productive, busy day.
We started out the day with our HE test.  Ask them 3 things they learned in this unit.  If they can tell you, write HE in the planner.
Then we had a treat from the Billings Symphony in the gym.  They brought students with them and performed for 25 min.  They were amazing.  Definitely shows what hard work and practice does.
Lead 21 kids finished Unit 3 today by finishing their story maps.  Some kids have them for homework.  This is a big grade for the end of the quarter in Reading.  Tomorrow we are starting Unit 4 on Space.  Like I said in an earlier note, students will be working on biography projects.
Unit 17 spelling list went home today.
In Math today, we started division with remainders.  We learned the Royal Family to help us with remembering the steps for this process.  Tomorrow I am going to teach them another way and then they will use whichever strategy works for them.  Have them do 62 divided by 9 for you in the planner with all the steps.  If I see the work in the planner they will get free money.
We finished our section on Montana Indians today in Montana History.  This is their last grade for MT History for this quarter.  Then we are going to do some Martin Luther King Jr. activities before we begin Montana History again.
We introduced our Science unit today on Magnetism & Electricity.  Students will be testing some things tomorrow in the classroom in groups to see if a magnet will pick them up or not.  Goals for this unit are to learn about the poles, magnetic fields, & lines of force.
Have a great night.

End of the Quarter Approaching

Friday, January 16th is the end of the 2nd quarter.  Students have this week yet to work hard for those Terrific Kids and/or BUG Club Awards.  Terrific Kids club awards are given to students who get straight A's this quarter and BUG (Bring Up Grades)  Club awards go to students who have brought their grades up from the previous quarter.  Make note of the fact that no grades can go down from previous quarter either.  For example if they bring up the Math grade, but Reading drops-no BUG Award.  I hope to see lots of Team Hankins names on this list.
Tonight is PTA movie sponsored night from 6-8.  Free money ($300) if you go with an adult.  Just put it in the planner on Monday and they will get credit for it.
With the end of the quarter approaching, students will have a chance to spend their fake money on Friday, January 16th during the classroom auction.  Fun activity!!!!!
Today in buddies, we helped them with IXL since they don't get to do it very often.  Was so fun to listen to the 4th graders encourage their buddies. :)))))
Happenings for the upcoming week.

Lead 21-we will be finishing our Unit 3 posters and starting Unit 4 which is on Space and Science related.  Also with this students will be reading & completing biography projects.  More to come on this at a later date.
Math-we will be starting division with remainders and working hard on that.  Students need to have a good grasp of their multiplication/division facts so now is a GREAT time to pull out those flash cards again.
Language-Adjectives
Spelling-Unit 17 word list
Montana History-finishing up the section on Montana Indians and starting Lewis & Clark.
Science-Magnatism/Electricity
Enjoy your weekend and stay warm.

Electronics Day Tomorrow

Yes, we are having electronics day tomorrow to spend some of our fake money before we have our auction coming up the week of January 19th.  Students are able to use their electronics tomorrow to listen to music, play games, read, etc. for a $400 buy in.  The only restriction is they have to be school appropriate games & music so please go over that with your child.  Thank you.
Also, tomorrow is Library so get those books back.
Tomorrow is also PTA movie night from 6-8.  Great way to earn $300 fake money.
Spelling test tomorrow.
In Montana History today, we talked about how the Indians in the plains vs. the mountains  traded amongst each other for things they have for what they needed.  This started trading with our European networks.  Ask them what we call this trading where we send things out and get things in. If they can tell you, write the 2 words in the planner.
Have a great night.

Happy Wednesday

Not a lot to report today, but do have some pictures to post.
Great day in Math today as we practiced 5 skills in one lesson.   Students were paired up with another student and they had to measure the length & width of objects in the room as well as out in the hall.  Then they had to find the perimeter & area of these objects.  To find the perimeter & area, they had to use their multiplication & addition skills.  So as you can see, we got a lot out of the lesson.
In Reading today, we took our SRI test.  This is the one that goes along with the ReadAbout reading program that we do on computers.  Students each had a goal to reach which was to go about 50 Lexile points above their Fall score.  Many students achieved way above their goal, while a few fell below their goal as well as their fall score.  I visited with your child about this and what they can do to help their reading such as spending time nightly reading as well as taking advantage of any extra we get here at school.  We will take it again in the spring so they will have a chance to bring it up.  Visit with your child about their score and if you do write SRI in the planner.
Today in Montana History, we learned about some fun games that Indian children played back in the early days.  We have an amazing person here in the district that is going to come in this spring with some of these outdoor games and teach them to the kids.  Needs to be spring due to the snow.
As you can see from the pictures, students just finished up a fun art project.
Have a great night.

Become a Part of History

Ideas for the new Middle School name, mascot, and colors have been narrowed down to 4 by students here in the Heights.  Today students got to vote for their favorite.  We went online and ranked our favorites of each of the 3 categories.  Ask them what their favorite was and then write MS in the planner.  Parents are encouraged to vote also.  Go on the the Billings Public School website and go to the electronic voting portion and let your ideas be heard.
In math today, we continued with finding the area of polygons and some irregular polygons.  Ask your child how to find the area of an irregular polygon.  Draw one out with measurements on it and have them find it for you.  If you do this, write area in the planner.
Today they had some fun in Music by playing the "What I Got for Christmas" game with Ms. McKinnsey.  Lots of fun was had by all this Christmas-I can tell.  Mrs. McKinnsey also talked about students starting their recorders.  BUT PLEASE DON'T GO OUT AND BUY ONE YET AS SHE WANTS STUDENTS TO USE ONES THAT SHE HAS OR ONE FROM A SIBLING THAT HAS ALREADY PLAYED THEM.  What she is trying to get away from is family's going out & buying the cheaper ones that don't have good sound.
Lead 21 students read a great story today about Henry and the Kite Dragons.  The skill for this week is Problem/Solution.  Discuss with them the great solution to the problem in this story.  Oh, it would be so nice if all problems had such a positive solution as this.  Now students are reading a selection independently and going to make story maps to go with it showing characters, setting, problem/solution, and plot(summarizing) as well as cause/effect.
Indoor Recess today.  Yes, we were in all day today due to the cold wind chill.  Make sure they are dressed for the weather tomorrow as it is supposed to warm up so a good day to go out and play in all the snow.
IXL Math-remember to have your child do some practicing of these skills here at home.  This is such a great program which moves them along a learning path for skill practice and retention.
Have a great night.

Happy 2015

Happy 2015 to all of you!!!  I hope you had a great, restful holiday season with friends & family.  I had a great break with lots of family/friendship/little kid time.  Got to do many fun things.
I would like to once again commend these kids for doing a great job on the Monday & Tuesday before the holiday with the substitute teacher.  Had a good report and they did very well considering the seasonal craziness.
Today was a good day-a little bit of tiredness by all of us was detected in here.  But considering we had to get back into the groove, it was a productive day.
New January reading calendars went home with my kids today.  Make sure to get your December ones back tomorrow for credit.
New Unit 16 spelling words went home today.
In math this week, we are reviewing perimeter, learning area, and starting to dive into long division with remainders.  You will be able to ask your child about the Royal Family soon.
We started Montana History today with the Montana peoples from 1700-1820's with the Indians.  We also learned about a very important animal to them and it many uses.  Ask your child what animal it is and 3 different ways/parts they used the animal.  If they can tell you, write the name of the animal in the planner.
Just a reminder that PTA will be sponsoring a movie this Friday, January 9th from 6-8.
Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather.  With all this snow, boots are a must to be able to run, play, and enjoy it.
Have a great night.