2nd Nine Weeks Is DONE..........Now Onward We Go!

Well half of the school year is over and we are heading into the second half of it! With that comes LOTS and LOTS of SOL Test Prep! We have a lot of Math left to cover and there are many weak areas that students need to practice and work on outside of the classroom. After school tutoring has begun and soon in school tutoring will also go on during Activity Time. Please encourage students to study EVERY night and to READ EVERY NIGHT! The best way to become better at reading is to read more and more and more and more..........The first SOL Test will be in March and will be the Writing Test. Students should be writing and writing and writing and writing........The more you write, the better you ALSO get at reading. The two skills go together and help each! Reading improves Writing and Writing improves Reading!
As for Math.........students have a MATH JOURNAL that should be coming home every single night! Papers that I send home with grades on them should be used as study materials and worked over and over to ensure that students don't lose their skills! Students are also told to see Mrs. Appleton during AR time in the mornings if they need extra help with a Math skill. So far, not many students have been coming to get help! Now is the time to prepare and learn and study and get yourselves ready for those tests! We KNOW that everyone can pass but you have to be willing to work at it! Don't disappoint yourselves! You can do it!

Math Benchmark Test TOMORROW! (Jan. 14th)

Make sure you are studying and practicing Math for the benchmark test tomorrow. It goes in the gradebook and the top 3 in each class will get special treats! The grades are turned in to Mrs. Tucker who then goes over them with our superintendent so do your BEST! Take your time and work out EVERY SINGLE problem before choosing an answer on the computer! You get ONE SHOT!!!!! Let's see some 100's!!!!!! You can do it!

The Newest Tool In Our Math Classroom!

Thank goodness for kind donors out there who have donated a HIGH VOLUME pencil sharpener to our classroom! We just got it today and it is getting the job! Just a reminder to students to take care of it.....it is the last pencil sharpener I am getting this year for the classroom and THIS ONE SHOULD LAST or you'll be on your own to get your pencils sharpened. Let's all work together to take care of this one.

A NEW YEAR Has Started! Set YOUR Goals High!!!

Welcome to 2011 and back to school!!!!! Now is the time to set your goals and think about things to come in the future. I am SURE that many of you are thinking ahead to SOL Testing and the scores you hope to make on those tests. You can't wait until the last minute to prepare. You have to start NOW! Here are some things you should be doing to get ready:
1. Do ALL of your homework and come to class ready to ask questions if you don't understand something.
2. Study your notes EVERY night! Those Math Journals should be going home with you every night so you can review the skills that you still are struggling with. Use your OLD papers that have been graded and sent home to review and practice too.
3. Schedule a time to talk to your teacher if you need some ONE-ON-ONE help with a certain skill. AR Time is 8:05-8:40 so while my homeroom students are working on AR, I am free to help students, but YOU have to let me know what you need help with and come to me to schedule a time! I am here for you!
4. Come to school ready to LEARN! Many students are not coming with that "learning attitude." We are noticing that some are coming just to socialize and play with friends. There is a time for socializing, talking, and playing but class time is NOT that time. Save your conversations for Lunch, Recess, and other free time that may come up. Use class time for asking questions, listening carefully, and doing your best on your assignments.
5. Make yourself some study aids such as flashcards, study posters, practice tests, etc. You LEARN when you DO SOMETHING with the information.....not just by looking at it. The more you work with information and use it, the better you LEARN it! Be an ACTIVE learner!!!
6. ENCOURAGE each other.....we're all one big 5th-grade Family and everyone needs encouragement and friendship. When people feel better about being at school, they LEARN better!
7. Follow directions and DO YOUR BEST......no one can MAKE you succeed. You have to choose it for yourself and WANT to be a winner! Your teachers are here to teach you, guide you, and help you. But in the end.....it's up to YOU!