Our Last Team Day Today!

Well, the year is quickly coming to an end, and today was our very last Team Day! We played Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, sang songs,danced, had a cookout, played games, and just had fun talking and laughing! What a great day to just enjoy being together and having fun!

5th Grade Picnic Today!!!!!

Well today the 5th-Grade students had a BLAST!!!!!! We had a kickball tournament and a huge cookout! The day started when the students arrived and discovered that the teachers had made them team t-shirts!!!!!!! The three teams were:
Appleton's All-star Alligators
Barr's Blazin' Bulls
Dudley's Dodgers
We had sooooooooooooooooooo much food that we decided to save some of it for Team Day next week! The students played the kickball tournament ALL DAY and thankfully, the weather held out! It rained as we were going inside! YIPPEE! Thanks to all of the parents who sent food items for the cookout! We really had a great time!!!!

Getting Better At Promotion Practice!

The students are REALLY getting good at the songs they are practicing for The 5th-Grade Promotion Ceremony! You can click on the video to see another song that I recorded today.

Promotion Ceremony Practice Started Today!

Today we started practicing for the Promotion Ceremony which will be held on the last day of school, June 19th, beginning at 9:00 A.M. How exciting! Students are reminded to pay attention, stay quiet, and take it seriously. Remember to sing out loud on your songs and follow directions that the teachers give you. This is an important day that we are preparing for. Parents are reminded to be there early on that day so that you can get a good seat in the gym. Students are to wear "Sunday attire" for the ceremony and my leave with their parents after the ceremony. If students plan on leaving with someone besides their parents, they MUST bring us a note telling us who they have permission to go home with that day. Parents, I think you will REALLY enjoy the songs that we have lined up for them to perform for you and there will be lots of awards and recognitions given out! (Click on the video below to see the 5th grade students singing one of their songs for the ceremony!)

Enjoying Recess Today

Our 5th-graders had a great recess time outside. Recess is our time to get some fresh air, some exercise, and have fun with our friends!

Our Visit To O.T. Bonner Middle School

Today our entire 5th-grade group traveled over to visit O.T. Bonner Middle School where many of them will be next year for 6th-grade! We were presented with a Power Point Presentation that told us about the dress code, rules, and supplies for next year. We were then led on a tour of Bonner by some former Taylor students who are in 6th-grade now. Thanks TyAsia, Kyla, Antoinette, and KeyAira! Our students were soooooooooooooooooooooo well-behaved and really showed that Taylor Pride!

Reptile Assembly Today!

We really had a wonderful time seeing all of the reptiles that were shown at the assembly today! A turtle, lizard, and 3 snakes! We even got to touch the Albino snake!

A 3-Day Weekend!

I hope all of my students have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and get some much deserved rest and relaxation! They all worked so hard during SOL Testing and I am so proud of them! Have fun and I'll see you all on Tuesday!

YIPPEE!!!!!

We Took The Math SOL Test Today!

Congratulations to my 5th grade students who finished their Math SOL Test today! YAY! They worked hard and I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of them! Now we can start learning some 6th-grade material.

You Can Help Us Get Materials For The Classroom

If you know of any businesses or individuals who would like to help fund this proposal for my classroom, please send them a copy of this. I want to get these materials for my students!!!! Please help!

Susan Appleton thought you'd be interested in the classroom project "Creating A Literary Dream World In The Classroom!!!!": http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=202182&utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=project&utm_campaign=TellAFriend

This and all other projects at DonorsChoose.org have been submitted by public school teachers who seek resources that will help their students learn.

Contributions are tax-deductible and donors hear back from the classroom they choose to support.

Hoping you'll join us to help bring a classroom project to life,

The DonorsChoose.org Team

**************************

DonorsChoose.org, 347 West 36th Street, Suite 503, New York, NY 10018.

SOL Reading Test On Thursday!!!!!

Well, it's time for our students to SHOW WHAT THEY KNOW! On Thursday, 5th-grade students will take the Reading SOL Test! Please remind your child to get a good nights' sleep, a good healthy breakfast, and to come to school with a winning attitude; ready to work and make a PERFECT 600! They can do it!!!!!!! They need to remember to use good test-taking skills and to take their time on this test because they have ALL DAY!

Danville Braves Reading Competition

Today we had a visit from The Danville Braves and the mascot, Blooper! It was at an assembly to start a new reading competition! In 5th grade, students are required to read 4 AR books, take the tests and pass them, and then let the teacher know so it can be recorded on the students' bookmarks. Students will then receive their bookmark to take to Sylvan Learning Center where they will receive tickets to a Danville Braves game!!!! They will also be eligible to win other prizes. So let's all get busy!!!!! Please note that the students MUST pass the AR tests and the teachers will ONLY take the tests off ONCE if they do not pass them. Their bookmarks are kept in a pocket chart at the front of the room so they can bring them to me to update. A poster in the hall helps us keep track of how many books each student reads! So......come on 5th graders and READ, READ, READ!!!!

A "Teacher's Basket" For Miss Worsham!

We had a teaching assistant from Averett, Miss Worsham, helping in Math classes for the past few weeks. As a "thank you" for all of her help, the students and I gathered materials to put into a basket for her. Next semester she will do her student teaching before graduating from Averett and becoming a teacher and we wanted to give her some things that she could use in her classroom one day. We FILLED the basket with paper, pencils, highlighters, folders, paperclips, glue, glue sticks, post-it notes, and MANY MANY other things! It was a HEAVY basket and Miss Worsham was so surprised and wanted me to make sure that I told each and every student who contributed to it how much she appreciated such a wonderful surprise! All of the 5th-grade students also signed a card for her! What a wonderful and caring thing for them to do for her! She is going to be an AWESOME TEACHER!!!!!!

SOL SKATETOWN CELEBRATION!

Students who work hard, have all of their homework, put forth a lot of effort, and really work hard during the SOL preparation time and SOL Test Days will be allowed to go to Skatetown in June during the school day. This is an important time so PLEASE put a lot of effort into your preparation for these tests. We KNOW that everyone can pass all of the tests and I feel confident that ALL of the students can make a PERFECT 600 on the MATH! My homeroom class is also capable of making PERFECT 600's on the Reading Test if they use the skills we discussed in class and they TAKE THEIR TIME READING AND RE-READING THE SELECTIONS!!!!!!! You can do it! Make us proud and do it for yourself, your families, and your school! YOU MAKE TAYLOR ELEMENTARY LOOK GREAT!!!!

***As a reminder......if you do not do what you're supposed to do, then you will not be allowed to go with us to SkateTown. We are not going to reward those who do not do what they are supposed to, so work hard and let's ALL pass!!!!!

Picture Orders Due By May 4th!

Parents please remember that the last day for ordering pictures is May 4th.

School Starts Back Again On Monday!

I certainly hope all of my students have had a wonderful and restful Spring Break! I sure have! Now we are getting ready to jump back in and do some last minute preparing for the SOL TESTS! They are quickly approaching. Make sure that you are paying attention, asking questions, practicing at home, and doing your best. I have a top-notch group of students this year and I expect all of them to make perfect 600's on that Math Test! You guys can do it! So buckle down and "show what you know!" Can't wait to see all of your smiling faces on Monday! Enjoy your last day of Spring Break! Love you guys!!!

SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Break officially started today when the kids got out at 11:40! YAY! We now have all of next week off and I am so happy that we will all have time to relax and get rejuvenated for the upcoming SOL Testing Time! Make sure you study a little bit every day and don't lose your skills! Be safe and enjoy yourself!!!!!!!

INTERSESSION THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!

Well this week (April 6-10th) is our last Intersession before SOL Testing! We are going to do a lot of fun games and review activities so please be on time and be prepared to ask questions about things you still need help with! We want to be ready for those tests so EVERYONE makes a PERFECT 600!!!! You ALL can do it because you're a smart group and we have covered ALL OF THE SOL MATERIAL!!!!!! Practice every night at home and ask questions!!!!!!!!! I'm here to help you succeed!!!!!

SOL TEST DATES!!!!!!!!

Here are the dates that students will take the SOL Tests:
May 7th: Reading

May 14th: Math

May 20th and 21st: Science (online)

May 26th and 27th: Make-up days if they are absent. Do NOT be absent if you can at all prevent it, because the make-up tests are more difficult!!!! BE HERE and BE ON TIME!!!!!

STUDY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!!!!!! THIS IS CRUNCH TIME! ASK FOR HELP AT SCHOOL IF YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING!!!! DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!!!!