Ever Heard of National Pirate Day??

Me neither, but our music teacher, Mr. Goodheart is gung-ho matey about it! So, he has challenged the kids to dig out all their pirate attire and bring it to music class this coming Monday. Students will put it on, celebrate the day (which is actually this Saturday), and then put it back in their bags. What would a pirate day be without a treasure? So, students that participate in the fun will earn a $100 reward. Get creative!!!

Grade reports also went home today. They are up-to-date through today. Looking great for the most part! Yep, they are getting serious about their educations and figuring out that intermediate is a million times different than primary. It is a lot more responsibility and accountability. Thanks parents for helping them understand this transition! I couldn't do it without you and your support!

Permission slips for the Nile also went home today. We will be going on October 12th. Their buy in $1000.00 will be collected the Friday before that. Students also wrote one rule that they felt they needed to work on between now and then. I am very proud of this group! They are so well mannered and the talking out is getting so, so much better.

Students will be participating in a Native Indian project next Friday. We will be joining up with Mrs. Hankin's class to do a very fun and creative art project. Students were asked to start collecting all different types/shapes/colored leaves this weekend. They need to press them in between pages of books (in wax paper works best) and then keep them fresh in a ziplock bag. They need to bring them in this coming Friday. The more the better!!! Wanna help parents? Let me know!!!

We will be taking our last NWEA Map test on Monday. It will test the content of language. Students need to be in bed as close to 8 as possible, eat a good breakfast with high protein, bring a hard boiled egg for snack, and be here on time. BELIEVE and hugs out the door!! :0)

Lastly, have a super weekend and stay cool! Crazy weather we are having! Cool weather next week though. WooHoo!! Peace!

What are you going to do today to make the world a more beautiful place?

Today is National Citizenship Day. I asked the class to write down one thing they were going to do to volunteer their time to make someone's life better or their community more beautiful today. This is what they have promised to do sometime TODAY. Please hold them accountable.

Maddie is going to help her dad mow her lawn.

Natalie is going to help her mom do the laundry.

Philip is going to help others deal with bullies.

Robert is going to feed a turtle that his dad found in the middle of the road and let her go in Two Moon Park.

Paige is going to pick up garbage when she sees it.

Jasa is going to pick up the park.

Dalton is going to help his grandpa take out his garbage.

Preston is going to pick up trash and glass and help his grandma mow her lawn.

Lailyn is going to pick up trash in the environment she lives in.

Skyler is going to go to the highway after school and pick up garbage.

Logan is going to feed his dog since his dad is unable to.

Jewel is going to help her mom because she is sick and needs her to get her eyedrops.

Garret is going to cheer for his team at kickball and basketball!

Jordan is going to pick up garbage in her neighborhood and around school. She is also going to help in the lunchroom and make sure to help someone with their work today.

Marley is going to pick up litter and help those who need help.

Kaleb is going to help his sisters.

Arielle is going to pick up trash, help Ms. Tammy in the lunchroom, and help people have a good day!

Abby is going to pick up litter, play outside, and help those that need help.

Seth is going to pick up garbage.

Ms. Erickson is going to walk to the park rather than drive and have her students pick up trash and water the trees.

I am so excited about all of these responses and am also excited about the amount of kids and parents volunteering in two weeks at Coulson Park! Awesome!! What great citizens we have in Room 3 this year.

Celebrations!

Well our first day of standardized testing is out of the way. ALL students took their time and did their best. Way to go! Thanks Mrs. and Mr. Davis for the yummy testing treats!!! Carmel hamburgers we called them. :0) Tomorrow afternoon we take the Math portion of the test. You know I am loving that!! Wish I was a kid again, just so I could take it! LOVE math! Thanks to all those parents that sent in the hard boiled eggs for snack today. I told them to bring another for tomorrow. I will refrigerate them for them so they are not sitting out all day. It will help if they have their name on their egg bag. Peanutbutter treats are also good for that brain. Gum is also welcome again during the testing block only.

Ask your child about the story, Encounter, that we read today. It was interesting. Ask them what the big white birds were and why they did not consider the guests humans. If they can tell you write the word tail by your signature for an extra ten dollars at tomorrow's check in. Then ask them why I would have you write the word tail. If they can tell you that write the word Columbus as well to earn a jolly rancher treat. Oh yeah!

Volunteer Opportunity sheets went home today. Please read, sign, and return tomorrow.

Picture forms went home today. Please read in full as it has changed. It can all be done online which is AWESOME! Read carefully though. Also looking for parents that can volunteer for picture day. It is quite the chore.

Thanks to the parents that attended the PTA meeting last night. It was great seeing all you Erickson parents out there while presenting. Yes!!! Lots of volunteer opportunities if you are interested. Contact the office and they will put you in touch with the right people. I know they need people for the Harvest Party soon! Go team go!

Play outside tonight and read twenty minutes before bed is the only homework for this evening. Good day in Room 3. Great kids!

Bring on the Testing!!

Hi there!

Tomorrow we start to take our Fall NWEA Map tests. We will test in reading tomorrow morning. In order to help students do their very best I need your help. I highly recommend that students try to be in bed with eyes drifting off as close to 8:00 pm as possible. Students should try to eat a healthy breakfast packed with protein such as eggs or peanutbutter. Avoid sugar cereals at all costs. They burn out too fast and our test is not until 10. Sending a hard boiled egg to eat for snack right before testing, already peeled of course, would be the ultimate!!! Lastly, research shows that peppermint gum stimulates right and left brain flow. Any flavor of gum seems to help students so they are free to bring a piece if they choose to. A hug and a do your best will be the topper when leaving the house or car in the morning. I NEVER stress about testing. It is a time for kids to shine not panic. Yay!!

There is a PTA meeting tonight in the library at 6:30. Your attendance will earn your child their first $500.00 bill tomorrow morning. I will be there too! Just right a note in their planner mentioning that you attended and they win! Can't make it...no worries, there is one almost every month! You do not have to "do" stuff. You can just come listen to what is happening in your child's school. Child care is available, so bring the little ones. See you there!

Happy Night!

How is your child doing thus far?

Happy Monday! Don't you just love the start fresh feeling of a new week. In order to get off on the right foot for the week may I offer a few suggestions...

1. Start to study spelling words tonight. Take a few each night and keep track of the ones you need extra help on.

2. Pack your backpack at night before you go to bed. This way things get here instead of forgotten at home.

3. Take a look at take home papers in the take home folder. There is a up to date grade sheet in there today. It is not too late for a turn around before midterms come out.

Today, we talked a lot about choices. Some students are just now figuring out that 4th grade is not the same as 3rd. It is more responsibility on them, the student. We talked about the fact that when they turn in a paper to be graded I am assuming that they have done their best and are satisfied with their work. If students forget parts or fail to follow directions this is their choice and with that comes consequences. Today we had some tears because students were not allowed to redo papers that they made silly mistakes on. Again, students need to know that when they turn in a paper it is them telling me that it is their BEST work. Now, if a student is showing that they do not understand the concept that is different. I will reteach them the concept. In math, they can redo D and F papers. In other subjects it is a case by case issue depending on the situation. I can not stress enough to parents to have a conversation about responsibility. It will be tough for some for awhile, but in my ten years of experience they do eventually get in the upper elementary groove. The best thing they have going for them is the fact that you and I totally 100% BELIEVE in them!!

Have a wonderful evening!

One Proud Teacher!

Well, we have packed in another busy week. Man, do they fly by. Today we were able to voicethread and annotate our map stories onto the computer. This weekend I will be editing those and piecing them together in order to share them with you. The students began the lesson by promising to be patient and be good listeners. Boy, did they follow through! Even Mrs. Caskey said they did a super job and she was amazed at how smoothly it went! Yes!!! Proud of them!

Just two reminders for the weekend. Students will need a shoebox for science next week. Please try to find one where the lid totally detaches from the box. They need to bring these in on Monday. Extras???? Send them in please for those that forget or are unable to find one. The other reminder is for Saturday Live Candy. Please pick it up over the weekend. Each child needs to bring in two bags. Thanks!!!

Have a great weekend and do something outside as a family! Create those memories!!

Morning Meeting Greeting!

I love these kids! We had such a good time this morning saying good morning to our friends. As you can see our eye contact is getting better by the second, especially when shaking hands. These kids volunteered to be filmed...brave! Good times!

We need candy!!! If you have yet to send in two bags of individually wrapped, non-chocolate candy please do so soon. Saturday Live is next weekend, and we will be creating our bags to sell soon. Remember kids earn $100 for each bag they bring in. Thanks so much for supporting our school. The money earned at Saturday is spent on the kids in return. So, we all win!

We have been studying weather in science class. Students will need a shoe box by next Monday for an experiment. The ones where the lid is not attached to the box work best. Can you say Greenhouse effect??? Atmosphere??? Yep! If you can get two, please do so. I know that Payless by Little Ceasers donated a lot of boxes to kids last year if you have a minute this weekend. Thanks.

Enjoy your evening, and thanks to all of you who have made copies of sports schedules for me to be able to come watch your child in action. I LOVE sports and would love to see everyone play! Just let me know. :0)