Already November!

Well, pumpkin day is over and we are still munching on all the candy that we collected. The clocks have been changed and the daylight is getting shorter. It is hard to believe that parent/teacher conferences are next week. Where has the 1st marking period gone?

With the new marking period comes the change from Social Studies to Science. It was great to see how excited all of you were for the first experiment. I was very impressed with how focused you were and how well you worked with your lab partner!

Remember to get started on reading the 1,000 pages for the second marking period. Let's surprise Mrs. Miller and everyone turn in a reflection sheet before Thanksgiving.

On Friday, November 8 we will be having the achievement assembly. Then you are lucky and have Monday, November 11 and Tuesday, November 12 off. I will be at school meeting with your parents. On Friday, November 15 we will be having career day. Thanksgiving vacation begins with early dismissal on Wednesday, November 27. We don't return to school until Tuesday, December 3. Eat lots of turkey and cranberry sauce.

Enjoy November!

Welcome October! We have several special days this month. First all students received a Progress Report on Wednesday, October 2. They were delayed due to the new Sapphire System. Mr. Lininger's desire for 5th and 6th grade students to be leaders in the school has prompted a training day. On Tuesday, October 8, the students will be receiving this leadership training by Compass Mark. Friday, October 11 will be our first Community Day for this school year. We love when all the students get to be in multiple age groupings and learn how to become community members. The older students become friends with the younger students. The younger students love meeting the older students. Of course we have no school on Monday and Tuesday, October 14 & 15. We will run a Monday schedule on Thursday, October 17. So remember, Mrs. Young's homeroom has library (don't forget your books) and Mrs. Miller's homeroom has art. Friday, October 18 is homecoming. Let's support the football team against Elco. Friday, October 25 is the Vocabulary parade. All students should participate. They will receive information and a rubric for their project. We have an early dismissal day on Wednesday, October 30. Make plans for your child since they will be dismissed at 1:15. One day left in the month and it is very important. Thursday, October 31 is the end of the 1st marking period. Any test retakes must be scheduled before this day so that they can be graded and the grades adjusted.

I just want all parents to know that your child has the option of retaking any of the social studies or language arts tests to improve their grade. The parameters that they have been told several times about are that they must ask me at least the day before so that I can have a copy of the test ready for them and that I am not available on Mondays after school since I have door duty. My goal is for your child to learn the material, therefore they may take as many retests as need be to get the grade they would like to receive. This also applies to all writing compositions. Once they receive their compositions with rubrics attached, they need to rewrite on composition paper and resubmit.

Again, if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

The First Week of School

A new year has begun in 5th grade at Taylor Elementary. Our first week found us working together to make a crossword puzzle out of all 48 of our names. That was a problem that we had to solve the 1st day of school. We were successful once we realized that we needed to start with the longest names and work our way down to the shortest ones. There was team building involved as we helped one another in finding where we could connect our name in the puzzle. It is a very colorful reminder that we are all an integral part of the 5th grade. We must think of our peers and how we can support each other. This is not a competition to see which one of us can finish first, but what we must do so that all of us finish together because we are stronger as a whole then any of us individually.
We made self-esteem shields to show to us and everyone else that each one of us is successful daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. We designed pennants that show who we are and what we like. Our parents were also involved by explaining what school was like for them. We started to create some items for our parents to see and do at Back-to-School Night (Tuesday, September 10). Some time was set aside on Thursday to explore our new playground equipment and cool down with a freeze pop. A peer scavenger hunt was a great way to find out new items about old and new friends.
Of course there were baseline tests to be taken in Reading and Math. Spelling and Reading Comprehension levels were also checked. Agendas, folders, books, workbooks, journals and binders were all passed out in anticipation of starting our education for the year.
Our 1st week was varied, exciting, and fun. We learned about each other and about ourselves. As more than one student said, "I think I am really going to like 5th grade."

Another school year has begun. This is the year to realize that you are responsible for your education. Your parents are available to help you. I am ready to support you. Mrs. Miller is glad to give you suggestions. But no one can make you learn if you decide not to. Your responsibility is to do your work, be prepared for class and put forth your best effort. One way to help yourself is to be organized. Use your planner, use the 5th grade web page for daily homework assignments and project due dates, and use this blog to remind you what and when weekly lessons and projects are due.

As you can see, each one of the subjects has its own page. Dates as to where you should be on the self-paced subjects will be posted. Workbook pages will be available in case you forget yours at school. Glogs will have lesson materials to study. Links for outside support will be made available. Project research connections will be published.

This is our class blog and we can add to it what benefits us. Let me know if there is something you find out we need to include.