Michelle Taylor, Fifth Grade

May 17th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Finish defining page 162 vocab. in notebook.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 124

"Summer of Fire" test Tuesday.

Have D.A.R.E. permission slip in by May 30th.

May 16th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Read pages 341-344 of "Cricket in Times Square".

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 123.

Finish Word Wisdom, pages 76-77.

May 15th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Read pages 334-340 of "A Cricket in Times Square".

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 122. Word Wisdom, pages 72-75.

May 14th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Read pages 326-333 of "A Cricket in Times Square," and finish page 79 of Writer's Companion.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 121, and read pages 278-286 of "Summer of Fire."

Reminder: All money for spring portraits is due by Friday, May 18th!

May 10th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Read pages 152-157, and answer "Reading Check" questions in notebook. You have until Monday.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 120

Religion: Chapt. 11 test on Monday, May 14th.

May 8th, 2012

Grade 4: Finish English Workbook Plus, page 59.

Test on "Stealing Home" this Thursday.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 118. Finish Writer's Companion, pages 54-55.

Test on "Everglades" this Thursday.

May 1st, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Read pages 310-318.

Social Studies: Complete Government Branches worksheet.

April 30th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Please note that your grammar test has been moved to Friday. Be sure to continue studying your notes!

Reading, pages 302-310.

Social Studies: Read pages 146-149 and answer "Reading Check" questions in your notebook.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lessons 113-114. Read "Everglades," pages 250-258.

April 27, 2012

Dear Fifth Graders,

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that the youth service project you nominated, King James Buddies has been selected to receive a 2012 New Jersey Youth Jefferson Award in the Health and Wellness category.

This project was selected from a number of really outstanding entries submitted in this year's NJ Make Service Count Challenge. The judges were impressed with the creativity and contribution young people are making in their communities, schools, state and world.

We would like to publicly honor those involved in this project at a special Awards Event taking place on:

Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 1-3PM at The NJ State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ

The parents of youth involved in this project are asked to RSVP using our online form. This will also provide us permission to the name(s) and photos(s) in any publicity for the event. (If the link doesn't open, please cut and paste this URL in your browser: https://khatcher.wufoo.com/forms/2012-nj-youth-jefferson-awards-event-response-form/).

Please note that students are responsible for their own transportation to and from this event.

Again, congratulations!!

April 26th, 2012

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 112

Religion, Chapt. 10 test on Wed., 5/2

Finish Word Wisdom, pages 60-61

April 25th, 2012

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 111.

Dear parents,

I apologize for the inconvenience, but I forgot to factor in the $7.25 per student to pay the bus company for our field trip. Please remember all money is due tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Taylor

April 24th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Study for tomorrow's test!

Language Arts: Unit 3 grammar test Tuesday, 5/1/12.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 110

April 23rd, 2012

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 109

Students in Grade 5 are going on a field trip to the rope challenge course in Thompson Park via the Monmouth County Park System. A packet of information, including a permission slip and a release form, were sent home today. Please have students return signed forms and $17 by this Thursday, April 26th.

April 19th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish rewriting "My Dream Backyard" essay. Staple the new copy on top of the old.

Social Studies: Finish page 135, 14-21. This is also part of your study guide, due Monday.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 108.

April 18th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Test on "Sarah, Plain and Tall" on Friday, 4/20.

Social Studies: Unit 3 test on Wed., 4/25/12. Finish page 134, "Vocabulary," in notebook. This is part of your study guide!

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 107

Test on "Island of the Blue Dolphins" on Tues., 4/24/12.

April 17th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish English Workbook Plus, pages 56-57. Do "Writing Application" in notebook.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 106. Read "Island of the Blue Dolphins," pages 234-237.

April 16th. 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish English Workbook Plus, pages 54-55. Do the "Writing Application" section of page 55 in notebook.

Grade 5:

Religion: Unit 3 open-book test on Wednesday.

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 105. Read "Island of the Blue Dolphins," pages 227-233.

For Canada webquest

Hi fifth graders,

Click here:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 97. Quiz #25 on Friday.

Recycling poems due Wednesday.

March 22, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish "Backyard" brainstorm.

Social Studies: Read pages 120-125 and answer questions you listed in your notebook.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 96

Finish Writer's Companion, page 40. (Part B on looseleaf, to be handed in.)

March 21st, 2012

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 95

Finish Practice , page 35

Religion, Chapt. 8 test on Monday, 3/26/12.

March 20, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish brainstorming ideas for recycling poetry contest.

Grade 5:

Language Arts:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 94

Study for tomorrrow's test on "Iditarod Dream."

March 19th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Test on Thursday, 3/22/12 on "How to Babysit an Orangutan."

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 93. Quiz #24 on Friday.

March 14th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies--Finish both sides of "A Growing State" worksheet, due Monday.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 92.

Reading test on Wednesday, 3/21.

March 13th, 2012

Grade 4: Reading, pages 261-265

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 91

March 12th, 2012

Grade 4:

Finish reading pages 256-260. Finish page 41 of English Workbook Plus. I look forward to reading your cool mystery stories!

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 90. Quiz on Thursday.

Reading, pages 188-196.

March 1st, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: Finish essays, to be handed in tomorrow. Remember to write in cursive!

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 83

February 29th, 2012

Grade 4:

Language Arts: English Workbook Plus, page 39

Social Studies: Read pages 106-109.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 83

Finish Word Wisdom, page 47

February 28th, 2012

Grade 4:

LA: Finish page 36 of English Workbook Plus .

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 82

English Workbook Plus, pages 36-37.

February 27th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Finish page 103 in notebook. Be sure to summarize for Question #2!

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 81. Quiz #21 on Friday.

Social Studies: Finish answering questions in your notebook, using pages 72-77.

February 23rd, 2012

Fifth grade:

Simple Solutions Lesson 80

Chapt. 7 Religion test on Wed., February 29th.

February 22nd, 2012

Grade 4:

Remember to study for tomorrow's Social Studies test!

Test on "Garden of Happiness" on Monday, February 27th.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 79

Quiz #20 on Friday

Finish Spectrum worksheet if you haven't already.

February 17th, 2012

Grade 5: Be sure to study for Tuesday's Social Studies test!

Note to parents of Grade 5 students: Starting on Tuesday, fifth graders will be having lunch and recess with the middle school. Also, they will be receiving accountability cards to help prepare them for September. They will be stapled into students' planners on Tuesday morning; the details of the infractions are listed on the back of the card. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

February 16th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Unit 2 test on Thursday, 2/23/12. Finish page 94 vocabulary sentences in Social Studies notebook.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions Lesson 26

February 2nd, 2012

Grade 4: Reading, pages 211-217

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 68

Finish French and Indian War presentations.

February 1st, 2012

Grade 4: Finish Constitution worksheet.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 67. Be sure to study for tomorrow's Reading test!

January 31st, 2012

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 66

January 30th, 2012

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 65 Quiz #17 on Friday, 2/3/12.

Test on "We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente," on Thursday, 2/2/12.

January 27th, 2012

Grade 5: Be sure to memorize your lines for the Noah's Ark play!

January 26th, 2010

Grade 4:

Reading: Test on "The Emperor and the Kite" on Tuesday, 1/31/12.

Finish page 33 of English Workbook Plus.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 64

Finish pages 22-23 of English Workbook Plus.

January 25th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Read pages 78-81 and answer questions in notebook.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 63. Remember, Simple Solutions Quiz on Friday!

Reading, pages 150-153.

January 24th, 2012

Grade 4:

Read pages 186-194 of "The Emperor and the Kite," and finish filling in chart.

Finish Stamp Act letter.

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 62

Reading, pages 142-149

January 23rd, 2012

Grade 4: Read pages 178-185 of "The Emperor and the Kite," filling in the story chart in your notebook as you go along.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 61

January 19th, 2012

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 60

January 17th,2012

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 58

Quiz #15 on Friday

Finish Flat Stanley descriptive paragraphs.

January 12, 2012

Grade 4: Finish Social Studies questions in notebook for homework. Use pages 71-73 to help you.

Grade 5:

Finish Weekly Reader.

Simple Solutions, Lesson 56

Religion, Unit 2 test postponed to Wednesday, 1/18/12.

Bring in permission slip for Flat Stanley.

January 10th, 2012

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 54

January 9th, 2012

Grade 4:

Social Studies--Read pages 70-76, and answer in notebook: Why did the colonies want independence from Britain? Finish worksheet.

Grade 5:

Language Arts--Simple Solutions, Lesson 53 Quiz #14 on Friday.

Religion-- Unit 2 test on Wednesday, 1/18/12.

Social Studies--Finish Weekly Reader

January 6th, 2011

Have a great weekend! Come and see me get dunked at the Polar Plunge!

January 5th, 2012

Grade 4:

To be handed in: Write a letter to Flat Stanley, inviting him to come visit you. Be sure to include at least four facts about where you live, and write at least five sentences. Remember to use cursive and proper letter format.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 52

Religion: Chapter 6 test on Monday, 1/9/12. This test will be open-book, but be sure to study today's notes!

January 4th, 2011

Note to Grades 4 and 5: Thank you notes for Christmas gifts were sent home today. Please check your Wednesday folders.

Grade 4: Grammar test on Thursday, 1/12/12. Be sure to study your study guide notes!

Finish sentences (Three for each type!) in notebooks.

Finish Social Studies worksheet.

Grade 5: Grammar test on Thursday, 1/12/12. Be sure to study your study guide notes!

Finish sentences (Four for each type!) in notebooks.

Simple Solutions Lesson 51. Quiz #13 on Friday.

Finish Social Studies study guide questions in your notebooks.

Bring in a large white posterboard by next Wednesday. (1/11/12)

January 3rd, 2011

Grade 4: Do next three Reading assignments in your Study Island portfolio. Brainstorm ideas for a quotes vs. italics in titles poster.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 50.

Remember: Unit 2 Social Studies test on Friday, 1/6/12. Refer to your study guide notes.

Note to both classes: Remember this week's Grammar Gremlin! Be sure to underline or italicize book titles, movie titles, tv series names, and albums. Short stories, poems, songs, and individual tv episodes get quotes! This gremlin costs two points.

December 22nd, 2011

Reminder to Grades 4 and 5: You will have 1 book log due on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Grade 5: Be sure to look over your study guide notes during break. Remember, your Chapt. 2 test in Social Studies is on Friday, January 6th.

Have a blessed Christmas, everyone!

December 21st, 2011

Grade 4: Read pages 66-69of your Social Studies book. Answer in notebook: How was the NJ colony divided and settled?

Grade 5: Study for tomorrow's test on "Elena."

December 20th, 2011

Grade 4: Be sure to study for tomorrow's test on "The Baker's Neighbor."

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 48. Be sure to study for tomorrow's Simple Solutions quiz.

December 19th, 2011

Grade 4: Reminder: Upon returning from Christmas break, all assignments must be completed in cursive! Be sure to keep practicing.

LA: Test on "The Baker's Neighbor" Wednesday, 12/21/11.

Social Studies: New Netherlands diary entry

Grade 5:

Test on "Elena" this Thursday.

Simple Solutions, Lesson 46; Simple Solutions Quiz #12 on Wednesday, 12/21/11.

December 15th, 2011

Grade 4: Do the next three assignments in your Study Island Reading portfolio.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 44

Please note this week's Grammar Gremlins for fragments and run-on sentences!

December 14th, 2011

Grade 4

Page 28 of English Workbook Plus

Grade 5

Simple Solutions, Lesson 43

Unit 2 Social Studies test on Friday, January 6th

For Grades 4 and 5: Please note this week's Grammar Gremlins: Sentence Fragments and run-on sentences!

December 13th, 2011

Grade 4: Parents, please note in your child's planner the date they signed up for this trimester's book presentations.

Grade 5: Parents, please note in your child's planner the date they signed up for this trimester's book presentations.

Simple Solutions, Lesson 42

Read "Elena," pages 114-128.

December 12th, 2011

Grade 4: Read "The Baker's Neighbor," starting on page 154.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 41. Quiz #11 on Friday. Finish penpal letters if you haven't!

December 7th, 2011

Grade 5: Finish "Advice from an Older Person" essay.

December 6th, 2011

Grade 4

Language Arts: Finish defining page 150 vocabulary in notebook.

Social Studies: Finish defining page 58 vocabulary in notebook.

Grade 5

Simple Solutions, Lesson 40

Finish personal narrative outlines in notebook.

December 5th, 2011

Students in Grade 4 and 5 may bring in bag lunches to donate to Barn for the Poor for tomorrow.

Grade 4: Finish cursive practice paper.

Flat Stanley: Please write a two-paragraph introductory letter for our partners in South Korea. The first paragraph should introduce yourself, and the second paragraph should ask your new pen pal questions about their lives. Decorate and cut out your Flat Stanley, and be sure to write your name on the back. Both the letter and the Flat Stanley are due Wednesday.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 38. Quiz #10 on Wednesday

December 2nd, 2011

Students, please remember to get the envelopes for your report cards signed and returned!

December 1st, 2011

Grade 4: Finish your plural noun letters.

Grade 5: Study for your Simple Solutions Quiz, using your notes and Lessons 33-36.

Read Social Studies, pages 40-45.

November 30th, 2011

Grade 5

Social Studies: Finish writing your New France newspaper articles. Remember to include at least four facts and an illustration, to be handed in.

Language Arts: Finish page 27 of Word Wisdom.

Remember your money for tomorrow's Secret Santa Sale!

November 29th, 2011

Attention parents and students:

Be on the lookout for gremlins! Today students met some gremlins who will steal points from their work: 1. Not using a proper heading 2. Forgetting punctuation 3. Forgetting capitalization

Gremlins will circle these errors in green ink and leave their points tally at the top of the assignment. Students will be collecting "Gremlin Notes," as the year progresses, to help ensure they avoid common errors in their work.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 36

November 28th, 2011

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Bring in 3-5 photos of your life by Wednesday for a timeline. They should be pictures of significant events in your life, and you should have either the exact date, or at least the month and year the picture was taken. Please do not bring in your only copy of a photo, as these will be glued to a timeline and displayed in class.

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 35. Quiz #9 on Friday, 12/2/11. Finish writing your paragraph, based on the beginning you wrote on page 22 of Writer's Companion. It must be on looseleaf, to be handed in, with a minimum of five sentences and added dialogue and details.

Religion: Chapt. 5 test this Thursday, 12/1/11.

November 23rd, 2011

Reminder to all classes: Book logs are due on Monday!

Dear fifth graders: Please show your families your fabulous Thanksgiving Powerpoints, then be sure to return your thumbdrives on Monday.

I wish everyone a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.

November 22, 2011

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 34

November 21, 2011

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 33

November 18th, 2011

Grade 5: If you brought your thumb drive home to finish Mrs. Platenyk's project, please be sure to have it back in on Monday to finish your Powerpoints!

November 17th, 2011

Grade 4: Reading test on "Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride" on Tuesday, 11/22/11

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 32. Remember to study for tomorrow's quiz!

Religion: Finihsh your prayer of thanks, to be handed in. Remember, it must be a minimum of five sentences.

November 16th, 2011

Grade 4:

Social Studies: Be sure to study for tomorrow's test! Use the notes in your notebook as well as the printed study guide.

Language Arts: Read pages 135-139 of "Amelia and Eleanor".

Grade 5:

Language Arts: Simple Solutions, Lesson 31.Study for tomorrow's reading test.

Social Studies: Finish Inuit journal entry, to be handed in. Be sure to include at least three facts about the Inuit in your five-sentence paragraph. Read pages 34-39.

November 15th, 2011

Grade 4: finish page 19 of your Practice workbook. Read pages 128-134 of "Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride." For Social Studies, finish answering the study guide questions in your notebooks.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 30. Your reading test on "Dear Mrs. Parks" has been postponed until Thursday, 11/17/11.

Due tomorrow, to be handed in: Write a paragraph about Thanksgiving, using three similes and two metaphors.

November 14th, 2011

Grade 4:

Language Arts-- Finish revising your descriptive paragraph, to be handed in tomorrow.

Social Studies--Finish answering your study guide question in your notebook: Which mountain range lies east of the Interior Plains?

Grade 5:

Simple Solutions, Lesson 29

Simple Solutions Quiz #9 on Friday.

November 10th, 2011

Grade 4: Be sure to memorize your lines for tomorrow's play!

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 28. Quiz tomorrow! Chapt. 4 Religion test Wednesday, 11/16/11.

November 9, 2011

Grade 4: Finish page 18 of English Workbook Plus. Be sure to memorize your lines for Friday's play!

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 27. Test on "Dear Mrs. Parks" on Tuesday, 11/15/11.

Note to both classes: Please check your child's planner for personal notes on outstanding reader's responses, all of which are due no later than this Friday. The format for the reader's response was posted to this page in September, and is also listed below:

Sample Reader’s Response Format

Students should brainstorm as part of their prewriting, listing:

Who—Who were the main characters in the book?

What—What was the main problem the characters faced? What did they want?

Where—What is the location of the story?

When—When does the story take place?

How—How is the problem resolved in the story?

Why—Why is the problem resolved in this way?

When they are finished brainstorming, they should write out their reader’s response in paragraphs. Here is an example for the students to follow:

I just read the book, (title), by (author). It was a (name of genre) story. The main characters were______________________________________. The main problem the characters face is ________________________________________________. The story takes place in _________________________ during_____________________________. The characters solve their problem by_____________________________________________. They solve it this way because____________________________________________________.

For the second paragraph, students should choose one of the connections that are also listed on their book logs, and answer in full:

Does this book remind you of any other books or movies? If so, what is the name of the book or movie, and how is it similar to this book? (Only choose this option if you can actually think of a book or movie which reminds you of this book. Don’t just write, “It doesn’t remind me of any other books or movies, just because.” )
What do you think will happen to the characters after the story ends, and why? (Be sure to base your prediction on what clues the book gives you. Please don’t write, “I know this happens next, because I saw the movie!” )
Is there anything you think one of the characters should be doing diifferently? If so, describe what you think they should be doing, and why you think they should be doing this.

November 8th, 2011

Grade 4: Social Studies, Unit 1 test on Thursday, 11/17/11. A study guide is soon to follow, but students may prepare by studying their vocabulary and brushing up on identifying lines of longitude and latitude.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 26. Read pages 98-104 of "Dear Mrs. Parks"

I wanted to thank all of you for all of your cards and kind words during this difficult time. I feel blessed to be working in such a kind and thoughtful community. <3

November 7th, 2011

Grade 4: Finish page 16 of English Workbook Plus

Grade 5: Simple Solutions Lesson 25. Simple Solutions Quiz #7 on Friday. Read pages 90-97 of "Dear Mrs. Parks."

***Reminder to both classes: The final day to turn in both reader's responses is Friday, 11/11/11. ***

November 3, 2011

Grade 5: Simple Solutions #24. Quiz #6 tomorrow on Lessons 20-24.

Religion: Unit 1 test Monday

October 25th, 2011

Fifth Grade: Simple Solutions, Lesson 18. Quiz #5 on Friday.

Grade 4: In LA notebook, write four statements, and label the subject and the predicate.

October 24th, 2011

Grade 4: Finish filling in the who, what, when, where, how, why in your LA notebooks for your "Loaves and Fishes"-themed story.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 17. Quiz #5 on Friday. Read pages 78-84 of "Yang the Third." Finish defining Social Studies, page 18 vocabulary in your notebook, and answering the questions in your notebook, using pages 18-23 to help.

October 20th, 2011

Grade 4: Finish page 8 of English Workbook Plus, doing the bottom portion in your LA notebook.

Grade 5: Finish Weekly Reader if you haven't. Study for your Simple Solutions quiz!

October 19th, 2011

Grade 5: Study Simple Solutions, Lessons 13-16 for Friday's quiz. Read pages 72-77 of "Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family." Religion, Chapter 3 test Wednesday, 10/26.

Grade 4: Study for tomorrow's test on "My Name is Maria Isabel." Social Studies: Read pages 26-31.

October 18th, 2011

Grade 4: Test on "My Name is Maria Isabel" on Thursday, 10/20/11.

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 16. Simple Solutions Quiz #4 on Friday.

Students in Grades 4 and 5 signed up for their independent reading presentations today. Be sure to check your child's planner for the date they selected to bring in their projects and give their presentations. It is strongly suggested that students give their presentations on the first book they read this trimester, for time management purposes.

The rubric for the oral presentation can be found here.

The rubric for the project which accompanies the presentation can be found here.

October 13th, 2011

Grade 5: Simple Solutions, Lesson 13