Sunday, April 29, 2012

Hi All,
Just a few reminders...

This week we will continue CSTs. We should finish on Thursday and will return to a normal homework schedule after this week. I will also be ready for parent volunteers again when testing ends.

Permission slips and $4.00 for the Agricultural History Museum are due right now. I still need 1-2 more drivers (depending on car size.) The trip is on May 17th.

May 17th is also the day for the kids' Spring Choir Performance at Aptos High.

Jogging for the Arts is this Friday. This fundraising event pays for our special Art teachers: Choir this year, various Spectra Art teachers in the past.

Finally, Famous American speeches are due in written form this Friday. The kids will be giving their speeches on May 7th and 8th. I will tell them which day they are speaking this week.

Have a great week!
Carroll

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Hi All,
This is a big week!

First of all, everyone has now brought home their research and writing on the "Famous Americans." As I said in the cover letter attached to the work, most students have completed their research and the first draft of their writing. All students will need to dedicate some, or a lot, of homework time to taking their work to a final draft stage, and practicing delivery of their speech. They will also need to put together an appropriate "dress up" style costume. Please don't spend money on special clothing or props. Regular homework will be much lighter than usual for the couple of weeks, so there should be plenty of time to focus on the speech.

As for regular homework, the weekly packets will now contain a Reading Log and multiplication practice sheet only -- No spelling! In addition, this week's Lit. Circle will be due in 2 weeks, not one, because of state testing. Students will have math homework on Monday and Tuesday of this week only; after that we will begin state testing.

Students are also bringing home a permission slip for our final museum field trip-- the Agricultural History Museum. This is a fun, hands-on activity. Please return the permission slip quickly, so I don't have to nag the kids.

Finally, as you have probably inferred, state testing will begin in Room 24 on Wednesday, April 25. Please make sure your child arrives on time, well rested and fed. The tests will continue into the week beginning April 30th. Students may bring sugarless gum to chew in class, but school rules about gum elsewhere will be enforced. Thanks for your support this year in all matters, including these assessments.

Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Hello All,
This week we will be working on long division in math. For homework, I will be sending home some practice pages that focus just on this skill. The homework will look different from our usual HM math pages. After this week, we will move on to 2 chapters on capacity, but will still be practicing long division daily.

In Social Studies, we will continue working on researching and writing Famous American speeches. After this Thursday, students will be bringing home their work, and completing the project at home. While many have made a lot of progress in class, some of the kids will need a lot more time and support at home. The speeches will be due on May 8th and 9th, but more details in terms of expectations will come home with the kids at the end of this week. This week is the last week the homework packets will include spelling words; starting next week they will just have reading logs and multiplication drills.

Have a great week.
Carroll Mayer

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Hello All,
I hope you had a great break. I know I enjoyed the time off and beautiful weather.

First, as so many students forgot their Lit. Circle assignments today, I am delaying the groups for one day. Students will receive their new assignments on Wednesday this week.  If your child has not completed their assignment (which they have had for 2 weeks) please have them wrap it up tonight!

Spelling homework for this week will be due next Friday, April 20th. This is the last spelling lesson of the year, so packets after this date will just contain multiplication practice and reading logs. Also, I am having the kids add a word to the list: doesn't.

This Friday our class has a field trip scheduled for the MAH.  I have many volunteer drivers, so if you signed up the field trip and are having second thoughts, please let me know.  I will send a reminder home ASAP if you volunteered for the trip.

Finally, the date for Rio del Mar's spring choir concert is Thursday, May 17th.  It will be at Aptos High, just like the Winter Concert.

Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer