Mrs. Taylor's 5th grade Blog

Omigosh! She's writing us a note...

2010-06-24T22:38:00.008-04:00

I know that's what you're thinking! It's "butt deodorant" true, I haven't written in a while...ooops.

I want you all to know what a wonderful year this has been for me, because of YOU! Students, parents, grandparents... you are wonderful people. Parents, Thank you for trusting me with your children everyday, for encouraging them to do their best, for helping and guiding them to grow and mature in great strides this year. I am so blessed to know them, and to know you. Thank you. Students... you are ready. You are ready to go to the big, new, exciting world called middle school in a few days. It's no where near as scary as you think, and that's because you are ready. :o) You have been my very favorite class that I have ever had the opportunity to teach! You ROCK! I love you all very much and want you to remember that you will always have a special place in my heart. You know where I will be, room 2205. Please stop by to say "hello", as I will miss you and I will always love to get a hug. Enjoy middle school. Be safe and have fun! :o)
~Mrs.Taylor

A few events coming up...

2010-03-23T22:42:00.006-04:00

This Friday we will be tracking out - and report cards will go home.
Monday, April 26 we will be tracking in - and Meterology Madness, our in-house science field trip, will be here.

If you have not had the chance to send in your $8.50 for the field trip, please do so by this shaving cream Friday.

We are still in need of small items for our "prizes and rewards". Ask your child what they would like, and possibly pick some up for us during track-out. Stickers were a huge hit this week. :o)

Paper towels would be greatly appreciated also - that brown, course paper in the hand-towel dispensers won't clean up spilled aquarium water very easily!

Thank you for your continued support. Have a safe and happy track-out!

A few supplies needed...

2010-03-11T16:03:00.006-05:00

Our class is in need of
paper towels
diaper wipes
small prizes - I have been using grippers, pencils (they love mechanical ones!), spinning tops, etc.

Thank you again for your generosity and support!

Super Science!

2010-03-10T23:04:00.009-05:00

You did a fabulous job today putting together the aquariums for your ecocolumns. You chose healthy stalks of elodea and a good number of duckweed plants. I am hopeful we can add the mosquito fish, which are like guppies, and the aquatic snails on Thursday. If the water is not settled, then we will wait and add all the animals on Friday. On Friday, we will be adding the pill bugs, or rolie-polies, and the crickets to the terrarium. It's a good thing their food source has been growing lately! Your Science journals will be seeing many entries soon. Keep up the good work!

GETTYSBURG - that's the (not-so-secret) secret word for this week. heehee! :o)

2010-02-22T18:54:00.003-05:00

Read-a-Thon

2010-02-16T16:41:00.005-05:00

Be picking out a few good books! Prepare to READ! The upcoming Read-a-Thon begins in March 8th for Track 4. I believe you will have the opportunity to ask friends and family to pledge for each page/book/time you read. Money will then be collected and put to good use here at our school. Actual read-a-thon duration: March 8-19. Final money collection day is March 23. More information will be shared soon (as soon as I know more).

Students - you will begin to see Track 1 & 3 students in the hall who don't have any fashion sense! They have crazy hat and sock days, mismatched clothes day and more! Our jungle celebration days are
Wednesday March 10-crazy hats
Friday March 12 - wild socks
Monday March 15- mismatched clothes
Tuesday March 16 - pajama day
Friday March 19- character day Hmmm...wonder where this idea came from? We seem to have set the example back in October! :o)

Transportation Changes

2010-02-16T16:40:00.001-05:00

Dear Parents,
According to the parent handbook, transportation changes need to be done through a hand written note, not email. I know at many times email is more convenient, but Ballentine would like to be consistent on this policy. Thank you for understanding and putting transportation changes in writing!

Thank you!

2010-01-28T15:32:00.004-05:00

Parents and Whirlwind Students,
You really spoil me. Thank you so much for your generosity at Christmas and for my birthday. I have never felt so appreciated. Thank you. In December, I bought much needed lamps and curtains for my bedroom, and I bought two really good books. Love it! Thank you very much. I enjoyed our "pizza fractions" yesterday and appreciate all of the "healthy options" that were donated to our feast. Thank you for your support and your generosity. :o)

YOU ARE SO AWESOME!

2010-01-28T15:30:00.003-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am so proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves too! You do an awesome job earning your complements. You've earned one every day this week! YOU ROCK!

Wow!

2009-12-17T22:37:00.006-05:00

I am so proud of each of you for doing such a great job designing, snowman building, and decorating your Geo-bread Houses. All of the architects became building contractors and you enjoyed yourself so much! Your houses were beautiful. My only advice...stay away from the frosting! Ha! You go crazy!

I love and enjoy each one of you. Please stay safe and warm during the holidays and track-out. I'll see you again on Thursday, Jan. 21st. It seems so far away...

Blessings to you and your families,
Mrs. Taylor

Geobread Houses

2009-12-10T13:10:00.005-05:00

Building supplies are arriving each day now. Our general contractors appreciate the generosity of the suppliers! Thank you! Our houses will be beautiful - and yummy!

As we complete our math unit on geometry, the students will become architects and draw up blue prints for a house. The blue print plans must include many specific measurements and geomtric shapes before being approved. The plans must pass inspection before building on Wednesday. The architects will then obtain their general contractor's license and begin building their graham cracker and frosting houses. Decorations will be applied on Thursday. Our complete Geobread Houses will be going home on Turtle Thursday as well.

I will be requesting some parent helpers in an email soon. Thanks for all you do!

Thank You!

2009-12-02T07:22:00.005-05:00

Our school had a very successful Book Fair! We are able to purchase some much needed technology and books for our Media Center. I would like to thank each of you who so generously contributed to our classroom library. You are so thoughtful! Thank you for all of my books - you know how much I love to read. I am thrilled most of you like to read too, and now we have more great choices. For those of you who are not so crazy about reading, now I have more good recommendations!

Math Night - This Wednesday!

2009-11-25T12:08:00.009-05:00

Ballentine's annual Math Night is Measurement Olympics this year! It will be fun for the whole family. Each grade level is sponsoring two events. Fifth grade will be in the 5th grade hallway - paper plate discus and scooter glide. Come join the fun!
Wednesday night, Dec 2 from 6:00-7:00!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T12:06:00.002-05:00

Enjoy a safe and dragon wonderful holiday and weekend!

Fuquay-Varina Christmas Tree Lighting

2009-11-17T13:19:00.002-05:00

Your 5th grader has been working very hard getting ready for the performance at the Fuquay Varina Christmas Tree Lighting! We are looking forward to performing for you! The performances will be on stage in the parking lot next to Ann’s Diamonds in downtown Fuquay. Please have your child meet me at the front right corner of Ann’s Diamonds near the parking lot at 6:45 p.m on Dec 3rd. Since we are performing outdoors make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. If it is cold we will perform in our coats, hats and gloves! If your child would like to wear red or green they certainly can! Should you have any questions please contact me by phone or email.
Thank you,
Lin Bailey, Music Specialist

Human Growth and Development

2009-11-09T16:26:00.004-05:00

Our science unit, Human Growth and Development, will begin tomorrow. The Poe Health Center will be here tomorrow afternoon to begin the unit with an in-house field trip presentation, "Puzzled by Puberty". Parents, any question asked by your child that is not part of our science curriculum will be referred to as a "PQ" or "Parent Question", and your child will be encouraged to go home and ask you. Students are encouraged to share what they are learning in this unit, as with all curruculum, with their parents. Enjoy this opportunity to discuss puberty and health with your child.

UNICEF $

2009-11-09T16:25:00.003-05:00

Thank you very much for the families that were able to donate money to UNICEF. Our school has raised over $1000 so far! We are collecting money until this Friday.

Our Compliment Celebration!

2009-10-28T10:17:00.003-04:00

Yeah! Way to go 5th graders! You did it AGAIN! Congratulations on earning 15 compliments and earning another celebration. Friday granola bar, we will be dressing up as our favorite character in a book (remember, no masks of any kind or scary/bloody/yucky stuff!) and dancing around in celebration of our accomplishments. You may bring in snacks on that day to be eaten in the afternoon during our celebration. I am proud of you!

THIS WEEK!

2009-10-26T16:13:00.004-04:00

Just a reminder...

Tues 10/27 is the last day to order Scholastic books online. I will put in the order Tuesday night (if my home modem isn't still acting up!) or Wednesday morning.
Picture make-up day is Wednesday 10/28 @ 9:25am.
Thursday night 10/29 is Pumpkin Night and the Book Fair 6:00-7:30pm
UNICEF boxes are due back Monday 11/2.

***IMPORTANT***

Students must be fever free (without the use of an OTC medication) for 24 hours before returning to school. I will do my best to get you the make-up work while they are absent.

Welcome Back!!

2009-10-15T14:27:00.004-04:00

Hello! I am so excited to see you on Monday! I hope everyone had a fun and healthy track-out. Remember to return your Monday snowball folders and the report card envelope signed by your parent (the actual report card is yours to keep). We will be moving desks and creating new teams on Monday. I already have a map worked out that I think will work out really well, so come to school with your moving muscles ready. :o)
I have conferenced with many of your parents and I told them wonderful things about you - we are looking forward to another great quarter. We will be studying inferencing, cause & effect, and sequencing in Reading; business letters and news articles in Writing; decimals, fractions, multi-digit multiplication and division in Math; Native Americans, exploration, and colonists in Social Studies, and we will learn Motion and Design together in Science. And we will learn so much more!
Have a great weekend - see you soooooon!~Mrs. Taylor

Parents - Track out & Email

2009-09-25T10:39:00.003-04:00

I hope you treasure these three weeks with your child. I will be spending much of the vacation out of state, out of town, and just enjoying my family. Therefore, will not be checking email regularly. I will be at BES on 10/14 and 10/15 for parent conferences, meetings, and planning our 2nd quarter together, and I will check email then. If something comes up and you cannot make your conference, please let me know and we can schedule one after we track back in on the 19th. Have a wonderful track out!

Secret Word

2009-09-22T16:02:00.001-04:00

Can you find it in a message? If so, keep it to yourself and write it on your Latin & Greek spelling test on Friday. Shhhhhh...

Guest Teacher

2009-09-22T15:58:00.003-04:00

A special thank you to Mr. Blankenship for teaching our class! Mr. Blankenship came in to teach us about germs and what we can do to prevent the spread of germs. Clean! We swiped our desks, the lightswitch, a computer mouse, the drinking fountain handle and sink handle, and the telephone and will view the germ growth later this week. Yuck! Mr. Blankenship also taught us the importance of washing up properly, and why using only water to wash our hands actually feeds the germs instead of washing them away. We look forward to learning more when Mr. Blankenship returns to show us our germ growth!

Stay healthy!

2009-09-22T15:54:00.002-04:00

Wow! We have so many of our classmates out sick. Thank you parents for picking up your child when they are not feeling well. With track-out just right around the corner, we need to stay healthy and feeling well. Students, please remember to wash our baseball hands often!

Buy Books Online!

2009-09-10T10:00:00.004-04:00

An account has been established online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs to purchase books! And there's a bonus ~ every time a parent orders online, our class earns a free book for our classroom library. Yippee!
Our Class user name: KellyTaylorsClass
Password: buy books
Our first order MUST be placed by this coming Tuesday, Sept. 15th.
Happy Reading!

Writing Night Success

2009-09-03T21:24:00.003-04:00

Thank you to all the students and parents who came tonight! You wrote beautiful persuasive essays. I appreciate your thoughts and opinions on homework and school uniforms. Check out all these great essays - they're published and posted in the 5th grade hallway. For those who couldn't come, I'd be happy to email you what we did tonight, and you can have your child teach you what we are writing in class.

Interims

2009-08-24T16:57:00.004-04:00

Parents,
Interims will be going home this Wednesday 8/26 - 1/2 way through the 1st quarter. Portfolios will be going home Wednesday as well. Please sign and return to school with your child. Thank you.

The Bathroom...use it wisely.

2009-08-24T14:59:00.005-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please remember to use the bathroom during our designated times: before school, after recess, before lunch (wash those hands!), and after lunch. The bathroom use during classroom instruction is getting disruptive to your learning and to the learning of others in our class. Even if you do not feel the need to go at the designated times, please try. Because this has become a problem, only "emergencies" will be allowed during instruction. Thank you.

So Many Compliments!

2009-08-21T10:58:00.003-04:00

Wow! Students, You are awesome! You have earned "C-O-M-P-L-I-M-E-N-T-S P-L-E-A-S-E" in unsolicited compliments. Together we have decided to celebrate by having a pajama day on Friday, August 28th. We will be watching "School House Rock" as an added bonus. Way to go!

Today at Recess

2009-08-18T12:23:00.003-04:00

Dear Students,
Thank you for understanding the importance of our afternoon meeting. For your own safety and health, and the safety and health of your classmates, it is vital that no one be licking their hands at recess! Please remember to wash hands often to help prevent getting sick, and take advantage of our bathroom break before lunch to wash up before eating.
Thanks!

Posting Homework

2009-08-10T17:03:00.004-04:00

I will be updating the Homework posting daily. Unless specifically stated, homework is due the next school day. Unfinished classwork may go home on Friday to be completed and turned in on Monday. I believe weekends are "family time", so students are encouraged to complete classwork in class. Therefore, Homework will NOT be assigned on Fridays. :o)

Math curriculum website

2009-08-05T19:44:00.003-04:00

Math Expressions is our new math curriculum. You can log on to their website and click on "Resources for Families" and "5" and find a glossary, help with terms, an overview of what we are currently doing, and even some extra word problems. It's a very user-friendly site: www.eduplace.com/math/mthexp/

Message from Music Teacher

2009-08-03T10:18:00.004-04:00

Although we don't have music class for a few more weeks, Mrs. Bailey sent out a request.
"5th grade parents: Are you able to donate a package of party horns to your child's class? Your child will be playing the recorder again this year in music class. We are in need of one party horn per student. We will be using these to help with articuation. Any type of party horn is wonderful as long as they uncurl when blown. THANK YOU!" Lin Bailey, Music Specialist

Parents ~

2009-08-02T22:33:00.006-04:00

Thank you so very much for all of our supplies! We seem to be all set for now. I appreciate your generosity in fulfilling my "wish list".

Many of you have given me your schedule for volunteering in our classroom. Thank you! As soon as we are completely settled in, I will be posting requests and contacting you for any help needed. Thank you for your offer.

If I do not have your current email address, please send me an email at ktaylor3@wcpss.net so I may include you in my address file. The best way to contact me is through email or sending a note with your child. I will respond within 48 hours, but usually much sooner. I do make a habit of reading email in the morning upon arrival. If you have not heard from me, please resend. Occasionally a message does end up in cyberspace!

Lastly, and most importantly, thank you. You have done a wonderful job raising polite, bright, and happy ladies and gentlemen. This group of students sure makes it easy to get up in the morning and want to come to class! We are off to a beautiful start with our 5th grade year!

First Week of School!

2009-08-02T22:01:00.005-04:00

Thank you to all the students for making this such a wonderful first week of school! You welcomed me warmly. I don't feel like the "new kid" in class. :o) Thank you for sharing personal interests and stories and participating in our Morning Meetings - it's been a pleasure getting to know many of you, and I am anxious to hear from those who have yet to share. We have set high standards for ourselves and shared important values in our Social Contract. I look forward to spending the year living, learning, working, and meeting those standards.