Wednesday, November 4th

     Soon, I will be calling to finalize the details of the Eckley Miners' Village trip. Be reminded that the trip will take place this Saturday. Please be at the Taylor Community Center parking lot by about 9:45. We will leave at 10 o'clock sharp!

Monday, October 26th

Peyton is leading the Great American Homework Race!

     During our "Book Talk" sessions today, it was learned that Natalie and Samantha are both reading My Sister The Vampire. What a timely book with Halloween just a few days away!  Both girls seem to be enjoying the book. Christina is reading  Dear Dumb Diary, and says it's very comical. This book is part of a series written by author Jim Benton.  Finally, Calista is reading a book which was recommended by Christina titled Olive's Ocean. Calista likes the book very much and agrees that it is really touching. It is a Newberry Award Winner!

Parents are reminded that no homemade treats are welcomed for this year's Halloween party. Information was sent home last week regarding this. If you did not receive one, please send in a note requesting one.  Have a nice night!

Thursday, October 15th

   It's nice to see the class so involved in reading chapter books.  Throughout the week the students share in a "Book Talk" with me for a brief moment. The "Book Talk" time allows the students to share what they're reading with their teacher. Together, we discuss the plot and set goals for further reading. It was learned that Brooke M. enjoys reading "Judy Moody" books written by Peter H. Reynolds. Others liked "these" books too. Today in Language Arts class, the following students were randomly chosen to share last night's homework, which was a story written using this week's vocabulary words:

Samantha, Victoria, Emilio, and Jason

Each one wrote great stories (following all of the directions as stated in the practice book) and won prizes from the large prize can!  Keep up the excellent work! You never know when your homework assignment can become part of a contest!

Friday, October 9th

4:23 PM

 Excited for Bingo!

  What a busy day it was! Today, we watched a "glacier" melt! The model was set up to see 'just' how our Lackawanna River was formed over 12,000 years ago. The activity was done to enhance what we've been learning about our state's geography. Later in the morning, the students had an assembly presented by the Taylor Fire & Rescue Squad on fire safety. They also got to go outside to see one of the firetrucks, where they learned about how it operates too. This ended our week on National Fire Safety. Also, in Math class we learned how to collect landmark data using m & m's candies. In many cases the color blue was the "maximum" color, since there was a "higher" number of blue m & m's in the cup than any other color. By the way...  Did you know that the original m & m candy was coated "white" without any letters on it?  This was way back in 1941. The candy was sent to the GI's fighting in WW II.

Looking Ahead

  On Tuesday, we will finish up with 'publishing' in Language Arts class. Let's work hard at preparing for the S.S. Bingo game on Pennsylvania Geography over the weekend! The test is Wednesday!

Finally, congratulations to Jason, Hailey, and Natalie for winning the election today! They were voted as our class's student council reps. I am also proud of all of the others in our class who ran for student council rep. Let's remember, it will be YOUR ideas the reps bring to the meetings.  Have a nice weekend!

Monday, October 5th

5:23 PM

   Today, we worked in groups during Pennsylvania History class to create our Pennsylvania cake!  Yes, our PA cake!  With help from Miss Mazeleski's 8th grade Family and Consumer Science class, we were able to use a cake which they baked to carve out the 5 physical regions of our state. The cake was baked in several layers (in the shape of PA), then delivered to us for the carving. This activity allowed the students in our class to get a 3-dimensional look at Pennsylvania's 5 physical regions, from the Erie Plain Region in Northwestern, PA, across the mountainous Allegheny Plateau Region,  through "our" Ridge and Valley Region, southeast to the Piedmont Region, and finally to the Coastal Plain Region, which includes our state's largest city; Philadelphia!  

   Tomorrow, we will begin our first processed writing; The Personal Narrative!  The students were asked to brainstorm for experiences to write about...  a summer vacation, a trip to an amusement park, a humorous experience, etc. 

 Victoria did a great job volunteering answers today in class! You made my day!!!

Monday, September 28th

4:38 PM

   The first "Surprise Desk Inspection" took place after the students went home today. Find out tomorrow who "passed" the inspection!  If you passed, you will find a reward certificate on your desk in the morning. The certificate entitles you to a "Small Prize" chip. Let's study hard for the Math (Unit One) test!

Friday, 9/25/09

3:44 PM

   Natalie did a great job in Reading class today!  She noticed an example of alliteration in a passage we read: "waved weakly"  Keep up the nice work, Natalie!  Today we visited our school's composter. Ask your child what she/he learned about it! Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, 9/24/09

4:20 PM

 Good habits all add up to great results!

Matthew did a terrific job today in Math class! He had no trouble identifying a RHOMBUS!  Keep up the excellent work!!!  I am a bit concerned about students leaving workbooks in school when they have homework in them. This is your responsibility to remember to take the right books home, not mine. FYI: I even remind the students of what books they need to take home at the end of each day. Hats off to those students who "DO" take all necessary materials home each day! Set a goal to take all essential materials home each day. Dress Down for $1.00 tomorrow!!! 

                                       Monday Night

September 21st

9:19 PM

   With the turn of our season from summer to fall, the class was given a preview of an upcoming chapter in Science today.  The students learned how the earth rotates daily, revolves yearly (around the sun), and tilts on its axis throughout the year. Peyton and Calista did a fine job of arranging the planets on our solar system model so that they are in their correct positions with relationship to one another for September 22, 2009. The model will be put into motion tomorrow so the class can watch how this all works! Also, Hailey, Corey, and Jason were taught how to use a road map during free time today. They will be teaching others in the class just how this works. Once everyone has been taught, they will be able to "further challenge" themselves during free time (indoor recess, etc.) by finding their way from one destination in the U.S. to another. These three found their way from Ogden, Utah to Boise, Idaho today. This is also a great way for the students to practice using "cardinal directions" throughout the year. Did you know that "most" odd-numbered routes travel North or South, while "most" even-numbered routes travel East or West? This is a lifelong skill we should all possess!  In Math, the class seems to be grasping our geometry unit quite well! I was pleased with the participation level today! Let's make this week even better than last week! Hey... How are we doing with the P.T.A. fundraiser? If "everyone" just sells "something" it will be much better than a few selling from our class.

Thursday, 9/17th

4:25 PM

   It was nice to see the many parents who came to "Back-to-School Night" last evening! It shows you really care. I am sure others wanted to be here, but couldn't make it due to work, etc. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Soon, I will be calling the folks at Eckley Miners' Village to ensure a field trip date. Stay-tuned! Reminder: Gym on Fridays!!!

Monday, September 14th

3:53 PM

  Hats off to a few good students!

   What a terrific time we had in Reading class today! Most of the class participated well. Several students stood out during today's lesson. Noah volunteered to answer a question pertaining to "Story Structure" and hit the nail on the head with CHARACTER & SETTING! Peyton and Corey both did an excellent job with CHARACTER TRAITS from our teacher read aloud activity! Also, Christina SUMMARIZED "Day One" of Akiak's journey across Alaska very well!

  Guess what happened on our playground today!  Mr. Murphy, who was not on recess duty today, but instead was on detention duty in his classroom, happened to witness some very good sportsmanship skills through his window. In particular, Mr. M noticed Noah S. and Braden playing touch football by the rules. He also noticed Evan and Noah Z. from Mrs. Jones doing the same. You are all good role models for the entire school. Keep this kind of behavior up and you will stand-out for  GOOD THINGS here at West!  You never know who's watching! All boys were commended upon re-entering the building and your names will be sent to Mr. Brennan!!!

Saturday, September 12th

6:06 PM

   The students have been doing a pretty good job following rules and procedures!  We are off to a great start. Your child will come home with a completed daily schedule in the coming days. For now, please note that we will have Gym class on Fridays. Follow the dress code for dressing on Gym days. Finally, your child's 3rd grade P.S.S.A. scores came in. Expect a copy of the results coming home in the first quarter report card.

  *A Taylor fact: Our town was incorporated as a Pennsylvania Borough in the year 1893. Originally, our town was named "Taylorville" in honor of Moses Taylor, President of the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad.

Thursday, September 10th

4:20 PM

   Ask your child about their "Character Sketch" tonight. This was done at school and previews a future reading skill. All textbooks must be covered within a few days of receiving them. Reading books were passed out today.  Have a nice night!

Wednesday, September 9th

4:15 PM

   It was a great "First Day" back! The students all seemed to pay good attention while listening to our procedures, rules/consequences and other important information today. Each child interviewed another one to learn more about each other today. Tomorrow, we will hear the interviews! As the books come home, please do your best to cover the hard-covered texts A.S.A.P. Please send in a note if you need book covers. I will do my best to obtain covers from the office. Also, ask your child about the time capsules. Each child is welcomed to (but not required to) bring in an old shoe box, coffee can, old tupperware container, or "other" to add things to throughout the year (e.g. photos from 4th grade events/activities, drawings, and other artifacts from this year). This time capsule will be labeled with their name and their expected graduating year "2018" so that it can be delivered to them on graduation night. We can label them here. Again, a reasonable-sized container; nothing too big. Finally, please note that BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 16th from 7 - 8 P.M. Parents are urged to attend this important informational meeting in our classroom. Have a good night!

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