Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yes, as most of you know, it was my birthday today and these kids made it extra special.  Thank you for all the fun notes, cards, book, treats, and hugs.  They are as special to me as each and every one of these kids.  They make coming to work everyday fun.
As you can see from the pictures, we had a great guest speaker in from Yellowstone National Park.  He talked about the history of the park, it features and some stories of the park and its' past.  We wrote thank you letters to Mr. Malloure and from reading them, the kids loved it and really learned a lot so ask your child 3 new things they learned and if they can tell you, write YNP in the planner.  As part of this, students and their families get a pass to enter any one of the National Parks free through August with the pass I am going to send home with them.  How cool is that-start planning your summer vacations!!!!
We did a fun scavenger hunt in Science yesterday & today learning some cool facts.  We are done with weather now and waiting for our guest speaker, a meteorologist, to come in and talk to us later next week.
Lead 21 kids will share their space topics reports on Monday.  There are 3 to finish this weekend and they know who they are.
Also, on Monday, Lead 21 kids will get their biography packets & books to start on that project.
Venture Theater is off and rolling and they will perform on Friday, February 5th.
Terrific Kids/BUG-remember if your child received a note with their report card they are eligible for an award and you are invited.
Fit Kids Club starts on Monday so if you are part of that, plan to stay after school from 3:15-4:00 on Mondays & Tuesdays.  Make arrangements to get picked up at 4:00.

Congratulations to Kylee, our student of the week.  She shared all about her fun trip to Disneyland.  Sounds & looked like a GREAT time.
Congratulations to Nolan, our Purple Hand Winner.  Great job-he was nominated and voted by his classmates for his outstanding character traits.

Happenings this week:
Go Math-Finishing up Chapter 5
Spelling-Unit 20 words
Language-persuasive writing
Reading-Benchmark Assessment
Social Studies-we will start our tour of the Midwest Region
We are going to spend our fake money for Quarter 2 on Monday afternoon.
Our 75th celebration points reward is on Tuesday from 9:15-10:00.  Students can bring in electronics and/or board games to enjoy the free time.
Have a great weekend

Report Cards Went Home Today

Yes, report cards went home and I am happy to say they were very good for the most part.  Please read the comments carefully and I hope you will give support from home to see that the things mentioned happen at home so that your child can be successful and can turn things around this next quarter.  We have 1/2 of the year left and lots of time to make GREAT things happen.  If your child is going to receive an award at our Terrific/BUG Club awards celebration, a note was placed in their report card.
Nova Theater-a representative came from the theater today and explained it to the students and if your child was interested they took a form that must be filled out and brought with them to tryouts on Monday, January 25th after school.
Fit Kids Club-students were chosen randomly by Mrs. Buss and once again your child received a letter if they were chosen.
Great job with the guest teacher yesterday.  Proud Mrs. Hankins here.
Today we took our test on division so now we are moving to Chapter 5-finally!!!!!  We didn't do all the pages of chapter 4 workbook and instead of sending it home this time, we will do the pages as review.
Happenings for the upcoming week:

Math-chapter 5-factorization/divisibility rules -composite/prime numbers
Language-continuing with adjectives
Spelling-Unit 19 word list
Science-clouds/weather unit
Reading-continuing with Space unit and working on our space topic research
Lead 21 students -Biography information will be coming home soon.

On Thursday, we have a guest speaker coming from Yellowstone National Park to share information about the history, geology, weather, and animals in the park.  Sounds very interesting.
No student of the week sharing this week as she forgot her things so will do on Monday.
Students will be spending their fake money this coming week via an auction.
 Blog question:  discuss something you are going to do to make 3rd quarter at school even more successful for you weather you have grades or behaviors to improve or even if you got straight A's what you are going to do.  Then write your idea down in the planner for free money.
Have a great weekend.

End of the Quarter

Yes, can you believe it is already the end of 2nd quarter with the school year being half over!!!???  Where has the time gone???
Report cards will go home on Friday, January 22nd.  Then on Monday, January 25th we will have our BUG/Terrific Kids Assembly for students who have had straight A's or Brought Up Grades (BUG) from last quarter.  If your child will be part of this assembly, they will receive a note along with their report card.  Parents, you will be invited to attend if it fits your schedule.
Fit Kids Club-if your child is interested, the forms that went home are due on Wednesday.  Remember, there will be a drawing for 10 4th graders to participate.
Nova Theater-students are invited to try out for Nova theater.  Tryouts will be on Friday, January 22nd.  Usually anyone who tries out gets a part.  It is a 2 week commitment after school from 3:15-5:00ish.  Letters went home for that last week.
This past week, we had a docent from the YAM showing and talking about Art with the kids.  Ask your child what their favorite piece was and put it in the planner for free money.
Happenings for the upcoming week:
Math-we are continuing with division learning 4 different strategies to divide.  Students don't need to use all of them, but they are getting exposure to them and then they will choose which works best for them.
Reading-Unit 4-Space topics & technology
Language-Adjectives
Spelling-review unit with words from the past units for test on Friday
Science-weather
Social Studies-Dr. MLK Jr. activities
Continue to have daily discussions about our Read-A-Loud book titled Petey.  The kids are enjoying it and truly amazed at how times have changed as far a medical diagnosis & advancements.  Thank goodness.
Remember to bring RECORDERS ON TUESDAY!!!!!
GUEST TEACHER ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK AS I HAVE TRAINING!!!!!  Please discuss those expectations with your kiddos.  Thank you
Mia is our Student of the Week.  Some of her favorite things are:  pizza, reading, blue, Christmas.  Her idea of a perfect day is at a park in New York City with her family & friends.  Twenty years from now, she hopes to have a job, a home, and a car.  She is a hard worker and we know she will be successful achieving those things.
Have a great weekend and enjoy your Monday off.

Field Trip Permission Slips

Hi there-Field trip permission slips went home today for our trip down to Alberta Bair next Friday, January 15th.  Please get those back to school by Monday or Tuesday.  Thank you.
As you can see by the math papers that came home this week, we have been working hard on division with remainders.  It would greatly benefit your child if he/she practiced some of these at home as well as keep working on those multiplication/division facts.  Remember to use Xtra Math and WOWZERS at home.  We only have so much time in school to do so much so extra practice is imminent.
Student of the Week is James.  James enjoys pizza, math, football, blue, and Christmas.  He describes himself as funny and wants to learn more about MT History this year.  His idea of a perfect day is being in Florida and one of the best things about him is that he is a good football player.
Happenings for next week:
On Tuesday, we will be having a docent come in from the YAM to share some artwork with us and talk about different artists.  She does a great job and the kids can look forward to that.
Math-we are continuing to learn different strategies to solve division problems-distributive property, compatible numbers, and the traditional algorithm with & without remainders.  Again, extra practice at home would be great.
Reading-we are starting Unit 4 of Lead 21.  It is on Space and students will be learning about different astronomers in their differentiate readers and this will lead to an independent inquiry project on biography projects.  More on that to come.
Language-continuing with irregular verbs
Spelling-Unit 17 words
Science-Weather & Climate
Ask your child about the new READ-A-LOUD book we are writing and if they can tell you 3 things about it, write the name of it in the planner for free money.
End of the quarter is quickly approaching.  It is next Friday so that means that on Monday, January 18th there is NO SCHOOL as that is a PIR Day.  Report cards will be coming home on Friday, January 22nd.

Have a great weekend and as always, if questions, contact me.

Happy New Year!!!!

Hope your year is off to a great start!!!  It has been a wonderful holiday, but I am missing my kiddos!!! Also, it has been very busy so I need to get back to work to rest a little bit!!!  HaHa!!!!   I am sure you are all wondering how Hawaii was????  Well, just imagine being in 83 degree weather daily for 9 days with the sandy beaches, lots of marine life, beautiful sunsets, and great friends and there is your answer.   Got to visit Pearl Harbor and took a huge leap of faith zip-lining in the rain forest part of the island over waterfalls.   It was amazing and look forward to going back sometime in the near future.    Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday.
One quick note of interest for the week is that we are going to have our SE states & capitals test on Tuesday so hopefully you have been studying.
This week's blog question is to list your favorite part of the break for free money.
Have a great rest of the break and cya Monday.