Advice from Kayla- Former sass of the class

Hello NEW 5th graders! Mrs. Thomas teaches Reading, Language Arts, and Math. In Reading, you will have different projects to choose from and learn about different genres of reading such as Science Fiction. You will also have a long test after you learn a topic within the subject so be prepared, but it's okay, it's just so Mrs. Thomas can gauge your understanding and assess what you have learned about the content we've covered in the unit.  Language Arts is actually more fun than you think it will be...not just writing, writing and more writing!  You also choose from many projects and writing topics and you get to write memoirs and your young authors stories too. More and more projects come along when you get into Math. Can you tell she is into hands-on learning and bringing it to life to make it fun for you?!?  I mean, we ARE in 5th grade afterall...shouldn't we learn AND have some fun too?!?  It's learning on our level- real, relevant, awesome :) Another thing worth knowing is that you will often get to watch verrrrry short videos at the beginning of class (during what Mrs. Thomas calls the "engage" time) on how to do things in math (like a silly song, a rap, a dance, or crazy tune) and you may even get to construct a project called Geometro-City.  

     Most importantly, however, you will need to study VERY hard because there are lots of tests in 5th grade in general and with Mrs. Thomas as well! (Be prepared) For Religion, Science, and Social Studies, you switch over to Mrs. Schleg's room. I've heard some of you are a little scared about the switching classrooms. Let me just tell you there's absolutely nothing to be afraid about! You will be absolutely fine! 

     Now, let's focus on Mrs. Thomas... She is the best teacher ever and she might even give you a nickname! Also, if you get joked on or she teases with you, don't take it offensively, it actually means she likes you and feels comfortable in your relationship that she CAN do that with you.  Take it as a compliment :)  If you're getting offended it's probably something really funny, but if  it's not to you, you can most definitely always talk to her and say you didn't appreciate it and she will completely understand! She is very approachable and cares about your feelings first and foremost.  On an extremely light note and as just a tip, if she hears, "Don't Stop Believin'" on Pandora, she may or may not get on her chair and start dancing! It was pretty hilarious last year when she did it at 6 months pregnant! BUT, if she's not feeling it that day, don't sing and don't take it to heart, she'll feel it again another day, I promise! Also, if "mean Mrs. Thomas" comes out don't ever take it to heart- you probably WERE being too loud or were out of line, because she gives plenty of chances.  Don't think she's doing it to be mean, she's just being teacher! She will also have a list of your names, so if you're talking during class she might give you a warning or a check by your name. You will also have a praise note box where you can write a praise letter to someone and then on Fridays or during class meetings, she will read them aloud and then hang them on the wall as you build a year long praise wall!  It's pretty cool and who doesn't love hearing a nice shout-out about themself?!?  I wish you all the best of luck in 5th grade and have fun!  Trust me, YOU WILL.  

Advice from Alyssa (former 5th grader extraordinaire)

Hello incoming 5th graders! Today I decided that I wanted to let u know what u will be looking forward to this year and some things about Mrs. Thomas (also known as Francis to us former 5th graders [inside joke]). 

  This year you will get to do reading groups and get to read with a group and do homework about it each night and read about it,  but the best part is, you get to chose from like 25 projects to do a project about this book. You also get to to do work and projects based upon reading comprehension, but what you may enjoy most of all is the studying of the specific genres such as Historical fiction, Science fiction and other topics such as that. And the really cool thing is. you get to switch classes which is great because there is a different environment within the two different classrooms. 

   Next, I will tell you all about math because that that is the other subject Mrs. Thomas teaches. You will get to do so many fun projects this year. The things you get to learn about are topics like multiplying and dividing fractions, geometry, multiplication, long division, and more fun experiences far beyond. BUT, I will tell you some friendly tips: 1) DO NOT make your work sloppy to where she can not read the final answer because you will get a big fat 0. 2) Also, when you have to do more than one thing to get your final answer, make sure to circle that answer. 3) Don't stress!  She is the best teacher you could possibly have. 4) I have also heard that some of you are nervous about switching classes for math but please don't stress... that was everybody's favorite part last year!!!

   The last subject Mrs. Thomas teaches is Writing. We get to do so much stuff with this subject. One day she asked us to bring in a special object. I so was confused what we were going to do with this for writing, but it ended up that we had to write a memoir about something special that happened or that was happening in your life. Of course you probably already know that we get to do Young Authors, but last year was my favorite year of doing it because she made it so much fun! 

      Lastly, I'm going tell you about Mrs. Thomas and I know you have been waiting for this part... I'm going to tell you why she is the best teacher you could possibly have. To start of, if she is in the mood for dancing, keep her in that mood because let me tell you, she is the funniest dancer and she will either dance on desks or on her chair which is hilarious. She also likes to make nicknames for you. There is already one kid that has a nickname and school hasn't even started yet!  Her nickname is small molls...or Smollz for short...see?  Fun.  Don't take them in a bad way, they are just for fun and typically if you get a nickname, it means she likes you.  She called a student McGuff all last year because she decided his last name was to long and his first name didn't match his quirky personality. She is a great cheerleader and if she stands with one leg while teaching it's from college and other years from a cheer move. It's pretty random, but quite funny.  She loves to play with you and have fun to keep it lighthearted, but also remember you're at school so still take it seriously, but don't get overwhelmed.  She never wants you to get too burned out.  Do not forget though, DON'T STRESS, JUST DO YOUR BEST and Mrs. Thomas will take care of the rest!!!!  See you around SMA!  -Alyssa

an interview with Mrs. Thomas...

Hello!  I am anonymous student here interviewing Mrs. Thomas for you new students' reading pleasure.  I hope you enjoy this look into who your new teacher is :)


1) How was your summer Mrs. T?
-to be honest, it was tough.  Mr. T got a new job and had to travel around the country every week which left me home with 2 boys under four...and the weather was less than stellar.  We went a bit stir crazy!

2) What was your favorite part?
-going swimming!  Both of my boys LOVE the water!  AND, having my brother home for the month of July.  He lives in China (you'll get top Skype with him and his students several times this year)

3) What was your least favorite part?
-see above to number 1!  And I didn't get my tan on like I usually do, but I did lose 15lbs+, so that was nice :)

4) What do you like to do on weekends?
-hang out with all 3 of my crazy boys and see my friends that happen to live nearby.  We also live very close to the zoo and love taking our two little guys to see the animals (Jack calls the orangutans "Uncle Joes" but that's a whole other story for a different day).  I also love to shop and we live almost on Bardstown Road so Mr. T and I love trying out new eateries. Cafe LouLou is definitely a fave!

5) What would your students say is a "quirk" of yours?
-when I was pregnant they would say that I rubbed my belly a lot.  They also say I run my fingers through my hair quite often, am easily swayed off topic, and absolutely DETEST things left out on desks or the floor...like, if I do not leave my classroom with your desks empty and MY desk empty, I am an anxious mess all night.  I am also EXTREMELY terrified of vomit.

6) What would your former students say might bother them about you?
-I can definitely be moody here and there.  I say every day is my birthday and I probably talk about my own children far too much...  And then on another note, when mean Mrs. Thomas comes out, it isn't always the most cordial of all times. They probably always hate how I make them ALWAYS have their desks cleaned off at all times and I am not a fan of students getting up without asking or shouting out answers, or making random connections.

7) What bothers you most that students do?
-talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.  I prefer a quiet classroom and talking only when appropriate.  I also get quite perturbed when students make random connections to things in which we're discussing. While I appreciate the stories and the fact that your brain is connecting the wires, when you tell your long tale, you can tend to get off track and before we know it, we have totally derailed and are far off topic and it's hard to get back.  Thus, I institute a concept known as the parking lot (you'll learn about this Day ONE!)

8) What is something you do that probably annoys your students?
-I ask them every single day, "hey, did you know that today is my birthday?!!?" and they always roll their eyes and say, "Ughhhhhh...." followed by a giggle or four but many mumbles and groans, but after a while it becomes quite the running joke.  I am easily swayed off topic and can get in a random conversation in the middle of class as well, and student soon learn to take advantage of that.  I look at it as part of the getting to know you process because before you know it, I have tied it into the lesson and we are right back on track (which they then in turn are annoyed because their plan has backfired and we are back to learning [insert evil laugh here...muwuhahahahahaha!]) Also, back to the cleaning off of the desk thing which is quite difficult with the HUGE binders that Mrs. Schleg likes you to have.  Those things are honking big and take up a lot of your desk space so be prepared to be organized with that thing because Mrs. Thomas does NOT fancy you adjusting space by leaving other things out and I'll nag you endlessly about it until it is more aesthetically pleasing and appeals to my liking :)

9) What is something your students love most about you?
-I dance on chairs and love a good dance party.  I joke with my students and try to make every bit of learning fun and relatable.  I am also easy to talk to and quite approachable in and outside of the classroom.  Being down to earth and someone my students feel as if they can talk to about their lives is a priority of mine.  You spend the majority of your days with me and I want to be someone you feel you can trust and converse with.  Conversing with adults is a skill that kids of your age MUST be able to do, so why not practice this concept with me?!?  Students always say that they love how easily they can talk to me

10) What do you enjoy most about teaching?
-the relationships I make each and every year with my students.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOVE getting to know and formulating relationships with such awesome kids and then continuing those relationships through the years.  My first group of students I ever taught just graduated high school this past year and it was so cool getting invites to witness something that I had a little bit of a part in helping them accomplish :)