A FUN FUN FUN Fieldtrip To Amazement Square!

Well, today we had a BLAST! We took 37 fifth-graders, 8 parents, and 3 teachers to Amazement Square in Lynchburg, VA followed by a SCRUMPTIOUS buffet lunchon at Golden Corral! Everyone had a great time and we had the BEST behaved group there! Several people complimented our Taylor Toucans and I was sooooooooooooo proud of them! They went to two workshops on Cells and Light/Sound and demonstated that they knew A LOT!!!! Good job!!!! We had a ball playing with all of the displays and then sliding down tunnels and riding the zip line! Miss Dudley even got Mrs. Appleton to slide down a couple of tubes......you can see by the picture that Mrs. Appleton had a rough time with that one tube!hahahahahhahahahahaha What a fun day!!!Thank you to all of the WONDERFUL chaperones who went with us and had a ball with their kids! You all were so supportive and we appreciate you taking the day to be with all of our students! Now, check out all of the pictures of our fun day!

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!!!!!!!

Danville Braves Reading Contest!!!!

Students who read 4 books and answer questions about the books will receive two free tickets to a Danville Braves baseball game!!!!! You only have through May 23rd to do this so get busy and READ READ READ!!!!!

It's SPRING........time for TESTING!!!!!!!

Ok, this is what we've been working towards this year......SOL Testing time! Time for the students to "SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW!" I know that MANY of them have been increasing their study time every night and are taking this seriously. They have set their goals high and I've heard many say that not only do they want to pass the tests, but they want a perfect score of 600!!!!!! WAY TO GO 5th-GRADE!!!!!!!!!!!! I totally believe that you can do it! So, keep working hard, study nightly, ask questions, and believe in yourselves!
5th Grade Testing Dates are:
May 8: Reading 9:00 A.M.
May 15: Math 9:00 A.M.
May 19: Science 9:00 A.M.
P.S. Don't you just LOVE the beauty of the Spring blossoms? These are from Mrs. Appleton's yard! Try studying outside some too so you can enjoy the beautiful days!

Intersession Starts Tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Well, I certainly hope that all of my students had a wonderful Spring Break and are now ready to enjoy a week of Intersession Review, Practice and FUN! If anyone has ANY questions about any skill in Math, this is the time to ask for extra help!!!!! Remember that SOL Tests are quickly approaching and I want to make sure that all of you understand EVERYTHING for the Math test!!!!!!! ASK ASK ASK!!!!!!! Don't wait until test day.....it will be too late! Remember: We want 100% Passing!!!!!!! I can't wait to see how many perfect 600's we'll have this year!!!!!!! Last year we had 9! Let's see if this "smart cookie" group can do even better!!!!!!!!

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How's Your Spring Break Going?

Hello to all of my 5th-grade students!!!!! I hope you're having a "sparkley-fun" Spring Break and come back for Intersession ready to practice and polish your Math skills! Keep studying!!!!
Love,
Mrs. Appleton

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Field Trip Money Needs To Be Paid!

Hey everyone, I hope you are enjoying your Spring Break! I sure am! When we come back to school, please remind your parents about the Field Trip to Amazement Square in Lynchburg. If you have not paid for your trip, you need to get that taken care of so we can reserve the bus, the museum, and your buffet lunch at Golden Corral. It will be an awesome trip!!!!!!

Enjoy Your Spring Break!!!!!

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I hope all of my students have a restful, fun, and safe Spring Break! Many of you have worked VERY hard and you deserve some fun. Just make sure you squeeze in a little bit of review time every day so you don't lose your skills! Be safe!!!!
Love,
Mrs. Appleton

SOL Tests Are Quickly Approaching!

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Make sure that you are studying EVERY night for your SOL Tests. How can you do that? Review your notes, practice with old papers, go to SOL Practice websites, give yourself review questions and then check your answers, READ every night and make sure you can pick out the parts of the fiction stories AND the 5W's and H from the nonfiction selections. I want EVERYONE to pass the SOL Test, but you have to want it bad enough to work for it! Show us what YOU can do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Colonial Days Was FUN!!!!!!!!!!

Today we had Colonial Days and learned all about the life of George Washington. We were able to dress up in colonial clothes for pictures, play colonial games, learn about maps and The Declaration of Independence. We also heard and sang some colonial songs to the music of a guitar! It was a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At the end we played Jeopardy and got new pencils to use in class. What a great time we had!

Are You Working To Get Perfect 600's?????

This year, I would LOVE to see all of the 5th grade students pass the SOL Tests. I think that MANY of them could get perfect scores of 600 on the tests if they are willing to STUDY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and make sure that they are understanding all of the material we are covering in class. Do not forget to ask questions in class AND review your old notes at home nightly! We are doing our part to teach you; now make sure you are doing YOUR part by studying.

SOL Writing/English Tests THIS WEEK!

On Tuesday and Wednesday (March 4-5) students will be taking the English/Writing SOL Tests. Please remind your child to:
1. Get a good night's rest before the day.
2. THINK about the prompt and take their time on the tests (they are NOT timed).
3. Use good test-taking skills which they have been taught.
4. Take the test SERIOUSLY!
5. DO THEIR BEST!!!!!!
We know that each and every one of them can pass this test with flying colors!