Dino Lab was AWESOME!!!!!

Hi there. Well, we made it through the Jurasic Period and back. The field trip was a success from the minute we left, got on the bus, went ALL the way around the heights (and I mean ALL the way around the heights), to the Dino Lab (so, so, beyond cool!) and then back to school. The kids were great, and they got to see everything that they learned in class come alive in front of them. I have a TON of pictures, but will not be able to post them until later tonight or tomorrow.

Remember, we have a half day tomorrow. Kids are dismissed at noon.

Tennis shoes tomorrow.

There was no homework tonight.

Report cards came home today. Please keep anything and everything inside, and then return just the SIGNED envelope tomorrow. Those that do, earn $100. We have at least three more field trips this quarter so kids need to earn, earn, earn and save, save, save! If you read your report card comment that I wrote to your child out loud and then discuss what I am asking or saying, then write COMMENT in the planner for $20 tomorrow.

Have a great night!

Dino Lab Tomorrow!!!

Hi! The grades are in and our BUG club and Terrific Kids were awarded today. Most of them are above. Congratulations to Evan, Natalie, Katherine, Olivia, Andrew, Alexis, Cameron and Elijah. Cameron was also our Bobcat for the quarter. He has demonstrated so many acts of kindness this quarter. Congratulations to all the kids for giving me their very best, and bringing up those grades. I also LOVE that Natalie got a bracelet that said BELIEVE on it!!!! Cool!

It is now 4th quarter. We are in the home stretch! Report cards come home tomorrow. If I have or had a concern I have already contacted you about it. I often bring up past events in the quarter just to document them on paper for future teachers and such. However, I had nothing negative to say on almost all of the report cards I typed. What a great group. Most, most, most of them are already future fifth graders. This is the last quarter to really prove that they are ready to move on. Here are my expectations of a future 5th grader:

1. Do your classwork and your homework every single day.
2. Turn in your work.
3. Have a positive attitude.
4. Be able to work cooperatively in a group setting.
5. Stay in your seat for a 15 minute time period.
6. Complete every problem on every assignment.
7. Ask for help if you need it.
8. Do not write I don't know on your paper.
9. Show your work rather than complete problems in your brain when they are multi-step.
10. Believe in yourself!

If your child can do all ten of these things, then they are good to go!

In CC Meeting, Rusty talked to us about making friends. Today, he described what a true friend was. He shared that some friends are just kind of friends that we see on and off in our daily lives, and others are daily people. Read the poster above. Have your child share who their 5 finger friends are right now and why. If they can do this, write 5 FRIENDS in the planner for $20.

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Dino Lab. I texted or wrote a note in planners parents today that still need permission slips or money. Students that don't have the needed materials will stay at school. Kids may bring money for the gift store. I have no idea what things cost or what they have. We will have only a short time to shop. It is totally up to you at home whether they bring money or not. Remember, we will arrive back a little later than 3:10. Please have kids dress warm and wear walking shoes.  Thanks.

I have noticed a lot of kids leaving early in the past few weeks. Please do everything in your power to allow kids to come and stay in school every day. When they miss, they don't make up assignments. That in return, gives me less grades to average at the end of the quarter. They may have had a better grade had they had a higher number of assignments to average. We learn, learn, learn from the first bell to the last. We also wrap up the day and give out homework at the very end. Again, please have kids here on time and in attendance all day everyday. Thanks!

Remember that this week is a short week. We have school tomorrow all day and Wednesday is a half day. Kids dismiss at noon on Wednesday. Then we are off until the following Tuesday. We will have all our regular language arts classes on Wednesday morning, so it is important to come. That will include the spelling test.

Lastly, I leave you with an explanation of the picture of the four boys with their hands on their heads. This picture is going in a frame and on my desk. These boys, at times, remind me that I am one crazy teacher. This is a HUGE COMPLIMENT. I love that they think I am fun and crazy!!! When I see them do this shake the head thing, I know that I am making it fun and exciting. What a great gift for me!!!!

Have a great night!

Hi there. I hope your weekend was great!

Last Friday was our monthly Purple Hand Cookie Nominations. Sebastian was nominated for sitting next to Collin when he noticed that he was sitting alone. Then, others came over as well. He started a chain reaction!!! Andrew was nominated for his act of kindness. He had some extra red tickets that we use in the daily drawings so he put his friend's name on them and put them in. One of his friends actually one!!! Awesome act of kindness!!! Kenzi was nominated for giving Austin $50 for no reason except to be nice. Alexis was nominated twice for sticking up for a friend during an argument, and for coming in and putting everyone's chair down. It was noticed by another student and they joined in the act of kindness. Alexis started a chain reaction of kindness!!!!! All students were nominated for amazing reasons where they went above and beyond! I am so proud of them all! The votes were counted and Alexis took home the cookie by one vote! Awesome!!!! I also took a picture of all the kids that have one the Purple Hand Cookie. What a great group of kiddos!!!

Mrs. Hankin's class came back ALL sorts of excited from the Dino Lab field trip last Friday! They said it was AWESOME! Can't wait to go on Tuesday. They got back to school about 3:20. We will do the same schedule and take the same busses, so please plan to pick kids up then if you pick them up.

Other than that, it is going to be a normal week. Have a wonderful Sunday!

THANKS FOR COMING!!!!!

Slideshow created with Smilebox

Would you look at that! What a great time we had yesterday with our volcano fun! They were so creative and I can tell a lot of effort went into them. Students were given a grade in science for their volcano. If they had one completely done and effort was shown, they earned full credit. If it was partially done, they earned a C. A great job was done by everyone! 

Up top you will also notice Miss. Olivia's newest cake. She is becoming quite the decorator. Impressive. So impressive, I might just hire her to do my wedding cake come next October. :0) Way to go Olivia!!!

Today, I sent home a second permission slip for the upcoming Dino Lab field trip. Originally, the MET bus said they could drop us off right at Bitterroot at 3:10. Well, that has changed. The bus we are taking from downtown only goes as far as the Valley Federal Credit Union. So, we will be getting dropped off there. We will then take the back route and walk back to Bitterroot. That will put us here around 3:20 or 3:30. Please hold off on picking kids up or expecting them home until later. Those that ride the Club bus, as long as you mark permission on this form, I will gladly give them a ride to Castle Rock. Forms are due back tomorrow. Also, Cameron, Collin, Kenzi, and Austin are still missing either their permission slip, money $5, or both. Please get those in ASAP. Almost all kiddos have bought into the trip with their fake money. I really want everyone to be able to go. 

Report Cards come home next Tuesday. For most, there will be no surprises. For some, it shouldn't be a surprise as I have contacted you about issues already, but it might be a shock for students to see some lower grades than last quarter. These kids are almost 5th graders now. Expectations are higher than ever, and excuses have got to stop. Kids need to learn to go to solutions rather than excuses and just do the right thing. Those that continue to make excuses will see that their grades will reflect those same excuses. I don't just excuse work. It has to be done eventually. Being absent is different. As we all know, I don't require students to make up work that is missing due to being absent if they were not here when the lesson was delivered. Clear as mud? Please talk to your kiddos about finishing up strong in the 4th quarter. They need to give me their very best effort each and every day and learn, learn, learn as much as they possibly can! If you do so write: My Kid Is a Future 5th Grader in the planner for $50 tomorrow. 

Bug Club and Terrific Kid Assembly will be on Monday at 2:00 in the gym. I still am not sure who will get an award because I am still collecting grades. This was the only time the assembly could happen, so it will be before we even hand out report cards on Tuesday. It will be short notice, but I will text those that are getting an award this weekend sometime. It may be as late as Sunday night. I can't figure the figures until I have grades from myself and six other teachers. Sorry about this, but it is out of my control. 

Lastly, thanks to soooooooo many of you that attended the meeting last night. I hope you found it helpful for the upcoming levies. I surely will not tell you how to vote, but I do encourage you TO vote. Your voice counts and it is important to us. I believe that it is mail in vote, so watch those mailboxes. 

Have a wonderful night! 

Meeting Tonight...7:00 pm.

Volcanoes were a BLAST literally!!!! I will post pictures tomorrow in a slideshow. I have some parents emailling me some other photos and/or video. Thanks so much for helping with that. I know that I loved the show, and so many teachers came up to say how much they and their kiddos enjoyed it. Ask your child what their favorite part was. If they share their excitement write BOOM in the planner for $20 tomorrow.

I was really hoping to attend the parent meeting tonight at Bitterroot, but I will be unable to. I have already attended the staff one, and at the staff meeting tonight Mr. English shared all the data he will be sharing with you. As a parent, I know that you will want to hear this. I have to listen as a teacher and a parent both, which is doubly WOW! Please remember to sign in there and also shoot me a note in the planner or a text that you attended. $500 will be awarded tomorrow. :0) Go TEAM Erickson!

That is all I can think to share tonight. Thanks for coming out today! It was great to see all of you!

Bitterroot Overcrowding Meeting Tomorrow Night!!!

This free greeting customized with Smilebox

Hi there. Well, above you will find the fun video and picture of yesterday's fiasco. :0) Enjoy!

I am hoping that all of you got my text this morning about the volcanoes being delayed. We will erupt tomorrow instead at 2:15 outside on the playground. Please meet us there to watch! :0) The ones that came in today look mighty creative! The rest need to be brought in tomorrow morning. It is not too late to bring in those mento packs either. We have quite a few, but can always use more. Remember, it is only the mint kind and I pay $100 for each pack. Thanks!!!

Today in CC meeting, we talked about bullying in the classroom. I gave the kids a scenario that I have seen happen in our 4 walls. It was about a student that got an F on a spelling paper. Some other kids got a 100% and were bragging extensively. They then went over to see what this kid had gotten, and ended up grabbing his paper and announcing it to the class. Now, by definition we were unable to determine if this was repeated behavior over time or if this student asked them to stop, but we agreed that the behavior was inappropriate. In here, one of the helper jobs is to pass back graded papers. I have seen kids comment on grades in here, sometimes loud enough for other students to hear. So, as a class we decided the best thing to do from now on, was to just look at the name and place it flat down on their desk. We ended the meeting by reading some solutions that the student could have done. We then had to determine if they were positive or negative responses. Things that included threats, hands on, or anger went under negative. Things like saying how you feel, asking them not to do that again, and telling an adult were positive responses. It was a great lesson. 

Mrs. Neese came in today for our weekly counseling session. Today, she talked to the kids about Spring cleaning...of themselves. This is the ripe ole age of the first stages of puberty. Kids are growing taller and taller these days. They are also experiencing mood changes and experiencing emotions for no apparent reason. This is all because of hormones. Mrs. Neese spoke in depth about the need to shower daily at this age, and not just stand in the shower and let water run over you. Actually, they need to soap up and scrub...especially their hair and pits! They can't skip showering anymore, and she explained to them that colognes and perfumes do NOT remove oder, they just cover it up temporarily. She talked about how it may be hard for others to focus when the person next to them has bad body odor. She also shared how to apply deodorant and that kids may want to buy an extra stick for their backpacks for after recess or gym class. People don't smell their own body odor. They get used to it. But, other people do (including me). I have noticed a few smelly pits lately. The weather is getting warmer and the classroom is getting warmer. Please help us make sure that all kids shower every single day and wear deodorant to class. Clean clothes (especially underwear and shirts) are also imperative. Great lesson that we can all win from!!! 

I would like to close by reminding you to attend the Bitterroot Community meeting tomorrow night here at Bitterroot in the gym. Mr. English will share data about the upcoming future of Bitterroot School. It starts at 7:00. Please arrive early to get a good seat. Please keep kiddos at home. You will really want to focus in on this one. WOW!!! Remember, those that attend will earn their child $500. That is a whole field trip! I plan to be there, so come say hi! :0) 

Have a great, great night! 

OMG!!!!!

Oh My Goodness!!!! The Leprechauns were beyond naughty. Traps were hung from the ceiling, from the front board, even from the flagpole, turned over, and even demolished!!!! All the gold in the room was stolen, including the shiny pennies for our science experiment! NAUGHTY!!!!!!! Some kids were able to save their traps, but others decided to throw them away. I caught it all on tape, but will not get that up till tonight. I did post the note that was left for us though! Ask your kiddo about the rest. If they share, write NAUGHTY in the planner for $20 tomorrow.

Volcanoes are due tomorrow. Kids may bring them in tomorrow before school and place them on the tables in the hallway. We will erupt them at 2:15 tomorrow outside as long as it is not too cold, windy, or rainy. Can't wait to see them!!!!

In art, the kids are working on a project out of Australia. Pretty cool. Take a look above.

Well, gotta run. Have a great night!