We Are Reading Hatchet And Loving It!

This will probably be our final novel of the year but what a WONDERFUL book to be reading together! It is a book of survival and finding strength deep within yourself to face your challenges........what a great lesson for our 5th grade students to be reading as they get ready to leave elementary school and face the new journey in life of middle school and beyond! One of my students today came up to me after class and said, "Mrs. Appleton, we all are kind of like Brian because we all face hard times and have to survive by being strong." YES! I'm glad my students can make those connections between books and their own lives. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!

Orientation At Bonner Today

Today all of the 5th-graders went to O.T. Bonner Middle School to attend an orientation that helped them get acquainted with the school that they will be attending next year. Bonner is MUCH bigger than Taylor and going to middle school can be a little scary at first so this will hopefully help them feel a little more comfortable about attending. We met with a team of 6th grade teachers who went over the dress code, rules, procedures, etc. It was interesting to learn that in 6th-grade all students must wear their shirts tucked in, pants at the waist with a belt on, no logo shirts, etc. We then took a tour of the 6th grade classrooms to see where things like band, computers, art, home and family life, etc. are taught. We saw the HUGE gym, the beautiful auditorium, etc. All of the students seemed to really get a lot out of the visit and they represented Taylor very well! Our students were sooooooooooooooooo well-behaved, mature, and we were proud to see how well they reacted to the experience!

We finished reading Island of the Blue Dolphins

My homeroom class finished reading the novel, Island of the Blue Dolphins. What a wonderful story of survival! All of the students LOVED the book and enjoyed comparing and contrasting the book and the movie. I'm so glad they enjoyed it. Many students agreed that the book was MUCH better than the movie!

Orientation Trip To O.T. Bonner On Friday

The 5th-Grade students will visit O.T. Bonner on Friday morning to get an orientation about the school and how things work so that they can be better prepared for next year. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get to know the school a little better in preparation for going there next year. You are to be on your best behavior!

SOL TESTS ARE OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, 5th Grade finished their SOL Tests today when they finished the Science test. We hope that all of the students took their time, read the questions and answers carefully and showed what they have learned all year. The results will not be back until probably after they are out of school for a few weeks! Good work 5th Grade!!!!

Math SOL is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! We took our Math SOL Test today and it is officially OVER!!!!!! All of you seemed to take it seriously and work hard! I am so proud of you and I hope that when the scores come back over the summer, I will see TONS of perfect scores and EVERYONE passing!!!!!!!!!

Math SOL Test TOMORROW!!!!!!

First of all I want to say that I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of all of my students in 5th grade who have worked so hard this year in Math class! WOW, look at everything you have learned!!!!! You have developed a stronger understanding of Math concepts! You have notes, graded papers, folders of problems of the day, your finished SOL Coach book, your Math journal, and a head full of knowledge! Tomorrow when you sit down to take that test, just relax, think about what you are reading in the problems, work carefully, and get that PERFECT SOL score on that test that you deserve!!! I have so much faith in your abilities and I hope you do too! I love you all and I want you to be so successful on the test and for the rest of your lives! I expect great things from all of you and I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo happy that I was your Math teacher this year!!!!! Now show them what you can do!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Mrs. Appleton

The Reading SOL Test Is DONE!!!!!

One test down; two to go!!!!! Ok 5th-graders now it's time to start thinking about the next test: our MATH test!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to finish the released test for a grade and to give us practice. Then we are going to go over the Algebra Test, your homework page from Tuesday night and add the review notes to our Purple Math Journals! ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!!! Get the last minute help you need and let's see TONS of perfect scores!!!!!!!!! I know you guys can do it! I saw how hard all of you were working today on the Reading Test and I was soooooooooooooooooooo proud of you. Make me proud next Thursday too and show everyone what you can do in Math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST SOL TEST ON THURSDAY!!!!!!

Well, here's the moment that we've been working towards all year. The chance for you to "SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!" The first SOL Test is Thursday in Reading. Students will be given reading passages to read, comprehend, and answer questions about. Please remember to:
1. Take your time reading and read passages MORE THAN ONCE!
2. Ask yourself questions about the passages as you read.
3. Highlight key words in the passage AND in the questions.
4. Eliminate answers that you KNOW are wrong.
5. Check ALL answers before picking the correct one.
6. Take a "mental break" in between passages if you need to. It's ok to put your pencil down, stretch at your seat, close your eyes for a minute, and take some deep breaths. Then you pick up your pencil and start on the next passage with renewed strength.
7. When you read a question, FIND THE ANSWER IN THE PASSAGE, and not just from memory.
8. You can take your shoes off during the test if it helps you to relax and take your time.
9. Remember that taking YOUR time is not somebody else's time....you have all the time you NEED!
10. Remember that you only get ONE SHOT to make that passing score, so don't guess or give up. You can do it!!!!!!!