Testing Encouragement Note

Yes, as students arrived today, they were welcomed on their desk by an encouraging note about testing.  Ask them what it said and if they can tell you, write testing in the planner.  HMMMM-I wonder what the treat will be????  Day 1 of testing is down with 2 to go.  Yes, there are three parts to this Science test so we will be doing one each day, Wed.-Fri.  So far they are looking good.
In Montana History, we are getting ready for the Lewis & Clark Expedition to begin.  As a review, ask your child who was president at this time, along with reasons he wanted this area explored now that it was purchased from France for $15 million.  Also, ask them another name this group of people go by.  If they can tell you all this, write L&C in the planner.
Remember PE shoes tomorrow.
PTA movie note went home today as well as Spring picture envelopes.  Also, going home was the slip about NOVA which is a group that comes and works with students in theater and then they will perform on March 20th.  Please read this note carefully and be aware of the time commitment that it is.  Hope to see lots of kids participate.
Also, Yearbook orders are being accepted until March 20th.
Lastly, I would like to Welcome our new student, Camden.  He is coming to us from Washington State.  He came yesterday and was so excited to come back today as his first day was Awesome according to him!!!  He is a great addition to Hankins' Team.
Have a great night.

Whoot-Whoot!!!

Congratulations to Team Hankins for winning the Read-A-Thon for the 3-4th grade level.  I am not sure of our total minutes yet, but we will find out at the Awards Assembly on Friday afternoon.  Way to go.  Make sure you keep up the nightly reading even though the read-a-thon is over.  Students that had received prizes in their envelopes were given them today so ask them for them so you can go out and enjoy them.
YAM presentation-Jane, a docent from the Yellowstone Art Museum was here this afternoon sharing many different artists' work talking about brush strokes, color, technique, mood, etc.  Ask your child which was their favorite and write it in the planner for free money.
Biographies are complete-yes, we finished sharing &  presenting today and I have to say they were awesome.  They are on display in the hallway so if you get a chance to come and check them out, do so.
Tomorrow we begin our Science Mont-Cas testing.  We will test on Thursday as well.  Students are able to bring gum if they choose.  Also make sure they bring a healthy snack, have a healthy breakfast, and also a good night's rest.  They are going to have a fun little note on their desk tomorrow that will be followed by a fun treat on Thursday when we are done.   "HMMMM-I wonder what it will be?"
Have a great night.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Yes, today is his birthday so everyone in the school engaged in DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) for about 15 min. this morning.  What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book as a parent?  Write it in the planner for free money.  :).
We shared about 6 biographies today and they were AWESOME!!!  Great job-I can't wait to see & hear the rest tomorrow.  Pics of each will be attached tomorrow.
Read-A-Thon-It is complete and I think we finished strong.  Didn't get the results of the weekend minutes yet, but I am sure we will tomorrow.
We started Montana History again today with the idea of Manifest Destiny & Thomas Jefferson being instrumental in purchasing some land from France.  Ask your child what that was called and why we wanted it.  If they can tell you, write it in the planner for free money.
Weather change tomorrow-please dress for the weather.
Also, tomorrow is Music so get those recorders here.
Have a great night.

Happy TGIF Day

Whew!!!  Today was a busy, crazy, but FUN day.  We started with Character Building meeting and reading our great Read-A-Loud, Petey.  Has your child shared about this book with you yet?  If not, I say you should ask.  Then we had Purple Hand Cookie nominations.  Many students were nominated for kind, caring, helpful behaviors.  This month's recipient is Caiden Hanson.  Congratulations-we are so proud of you!!!!
Then Lead 21 students wrote some awesome summaries of Selection 2 in their small readers.  Great job!!!  They have definitely learned a lot about the midwest.  Speaking of Midwest, states & capitals tests went home corrected today.  Students received 2 grades once again.  One for the correct match of the state & its' capital and the other for location.  These were once again very good overall.
Then we went to buddies and got to see the awesome slideshows they put together on weather.  They should be so proud of themselves.  Lastly, we got to enjoy our Root Beer Floats and we watched a video on 3 different endangered animals.  Ask your child, what 3 they were and if they can tell you, write the names of them in the planner for free money.  I think they were surprised that it was an educational movie.
Biographies are due on Monday!!!  Can't wait to see and hear all about these famous people.
Testing season is approaching.  Yes, we will be taking the MontCas Science test on Wednesday & Thursday, March 4 & 5.  More on that in Monday's Blog.
We will be starting Montana History again this next week.  We are all excited for that.
This weekend is the end of the Read-A-Thon -so everyone finish strong.  If you do, you will get a bonus from Mrs. Hankins. :))))))
Have a great weekend.

Celebration Tomorrow

Yes, students have been working so hard studying states & capitals, learning fractions, completing biographies, reading LOTS of minutes for the READ-A-THON along with having good work/study skills as well as positive behavior making good choices earning them their next 50 celebration points.  YAYYYYYY!!! So tomorrow afternoon during our Social Studies & Fun Friday time (60 min.) we will have root beer floats & watch a movie.  Students may bring in pillows, blankets, and a small-med. sized stuffed animal if they choose.  (No pajamas or slippers-too cold)!!!  I know it is cold for root beer floats too, but that is the treat they want me to bring.
Congratulations to Megan, our Student of the Week.  We loved her stuffed bear and doll with the orange hair.  We also found out that she likes pink, math, The Secret Garden, hockey, pizza, and cleaning.  I think I will take her home with me!!!!  The thing she told us that we probably didn't know about her is that she can jump out of windows.  HMMMM-We hope she got that out of her system!!!
Two more nights for the Read-A-Thon-students received their fun treat today.  Now they are ready to travel anywhere without getting lost.
No outside recesses today due to the cold.  Make sure you dress for it tomorrow as if it is above 0 we will be going out.
Remember Library books.
Also Hats Day tomorrow for 50 cents.
Have a great night.

States & Capitals Test Tomorrow

Yes, tomorrow is the Midwest States & capitals test.  Make sure you know the locations as well.  Today, we started the first part of testing our CD tour by making travel brochures.  Ask your child at least 3 places their travel brochure traveled to and if they can tell you, write brochure in the planner.
Wear Pink tomorrow in honor of Mrs. Neese and her mother-in-law.  Not sure how many of you know this, but her mother-in-law has cancer and got a trip of a lifetime yesterday which was on her bucket list to travel to and be on the Ellen Dejeneras(sp).  The show is airing today at 4:00 so maybe you will see Mrs. Neese if you watch it.  Anyway, to welcome Mrs. Neese back tomorrow we are going to show support by wearing pink if you have it!!!!  She will be so surprised!!
Friday is Hat Day.  The student council is sponsoring hat day on Friday and for 50 cents you may wear a hat all day in the building.
READ-A-THON- 3 days left.  I know our class has achieved our goal of receiving all the boarding passes and traveling "around the world", but that doesn't mean that we stop reading.  Today we had at least 5 kids that didn't have any minutes read last night.  So we talked in morning meeting today to finish strong and not be The Tortoise & the Hare.  We can do it!!!!  Finish strong and receive one of the cool compasses that you see in the photo below.
Remember PE shoes tomorrow.
Have a great night.

Travel Adventures Completed!!

Great job to Team Hankins as we have completed all our book adventures.  We ended with a fun uplifting one titled:  "Ramona Quimby-Age 8.  This is one of my all time favorite books.  Very light & fun.  As a class we are at 11,123 minutes with just a few days left.  How AWESOME is that!!!!!
As I type this post, I am listening to them in Music playing/practicing their recorders.  They are doing quite well.  I think they are even amazing themselves!!!  Pretty soon they will be in concert.
Today in math, we continued with putting fractions in order from least to greatest.  We are now ready to move on to mixed & improper fractions.
Today, we were treated to the Girls' Heights Honor Choir Concert in the gym.  They were very good and it was so fun to see many Bitterroot students.
Students had a great lesson today with Mrs. West (Mrs. Neese's intern).  Ask them what they did and if they can tell you one thing about their lesson, write what it was in the planner.
Today in Social Studies, students got to pretend they worked for Ford Motor Company and got to design a new Model T Ford.  Pretty creative automobiles. :)
Lead 21 kids-remember you can bring your Biography posters anytime you have them completed.  Mathew's arrived today and it looks awesome!!!
The weather looks like it is changing for tomorrow so make sure you dress for the weather.
Have a great night.