Sunday, September 28, 2014

Hello Parents and Students,

As you know, we are beginning RTI this week. Students brought home the name of their RTI teacher on Friday, stapled to their spelling test, so as not to be misplaced. RTI is scheduled Monday -Thursday, from 9:15-10:10 and is the time teachers will give targeted reading instruction. However, be assured that the kids will be doing plenty of reading during other times throughout the day, and will have ample opportunities to practice the skills and strategies introduced during RTI. The team meets weekly to develop our RTI lesson plans. The focus for the first 3 weeks of RTI is non-fiction text structures. We'll be using Reflections, and additional non-fiction materials, to identify the comparison and cause/effect structures.  We will also be studying how maps and charts are used to convey the writer's message. It should be interesting and challenging!

We are also starting a new chapter in Social Studies. This chapter is about Native Americans in California, and shows the various ways different groups utilized the natural resources within the 4 California regions.

In math, the focus is on applying all the concepts addressed in this first module, and tackling some story problems. The problems are multi-step, and it's expected that kids will work slowly and carefully; first analyzing the problem and estimating the solution using rounding and a tape diagram, then going back and finding an exact answer using the standard algorithm and computation, and finally assessing their answer for reasonableness by comparing it with their estimate. The kids are sometimes daunted by all these steps, so please continue to encourage them by pointing out how "real" these math problems are. In adult life, we are constantly estimating, and then comparing our exact figures against our estimates, and then recalculating if the two aren't close-ish!  The rounding and tape module step are also an additional time for the kids to rehearse their approach to a given problem. I've posted a Lesson 16 Show Me, and will be working on a Lesson 17 one as well.

Finally, I've located an online resource for nonfiction articles called Newsela. In order to enroll, kids need our class code, which is IWAHG. When they sign up, they can receive news articles written at a 4th grade Lexile level, and sometimes follow-up quizzes. I'd be happy to see this reading noted on students' reading logs.

Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Hello All,
It was great to meet with you on Thursday at Back-to-School Night. I hope I was able to answer any questions you might have.

This week we will be reviewing our Social Studies chapter on California regions, and will have our first test on Friday. The questions on the back of the homework sheet are a review of the content covered these first few weeks. We are continuing with Module 1 in math, with continued focus on addition and subtraction in story problems and by themselves. The kids are expected to show their thinking through pictures, as well as the standard algorithms, when solving story problems. In ELA, we will be wrapping up our unit focused on character, and and getting ready to begin RTI.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Hello All,
I hope you had a great weekend! I had some wonderful learning opportunities at the Cotsen conference and returned Saturday night with some terrific ideas about teaching Reading and Writing.

This week, our anthology story is called Boss of the Plains and is about the Stetson hat, and the man who designed it. We'll be continuing to focus on character and 1st/3rd person narration.  In Social Studies, we'll be completing Chapter 1 with a section entitled "Life in California" and will have a test next week on the entire chapter about California's regions.  I will let you know more details about the test next week. In math, students are scheduled to have a Mid-Module Assessment on Tuesday.  This test will assess their understanding of place value to the millions, and their skill with rounding to the one, ten and hundred thousands.  I am sending home a review homework on Monday, and will take questions from students on Tuesday before the test.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all this Thursday night for Back-to-School Night. The schedule is posted on the Rio del Mar website, with different times by grade level, as well as Mrs. Dorney's presentation.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer


Wednesday, September 10, 2014





Here is a strategy for those problems that ask you for the greatest number you round down to a target--in this case 300,000, and the smallest number you round up. Hope it helps!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Hi Parents and Students,
This week I am meeting with students and discussing a short term AR goal.  The goal is for the next 3 weeks, until September 26th.  Students have a target ranging from 1.0-4.0 points, depending on their reading level.  Please encourage your child to read their books (both at home and during in-class silent reading) and then take the AR test as soon as possible.  It's not a good idea for them to take tests on books they read this summer, unless they quickly reread them first.  The AR questions tend to be very specific, and fact oriented, rather than focused on big ideas and themes. I expect many students will easily achieve this first goal, but you can remind them that they can set a bigger, yearlong goal to read a million words, or even two.  Also important to remember is the even greater view, that we want them to be lifelong readers and lovers of books!
See you soon,
Carroll Mayer

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Hi Parents and Students,
I hope you're having a terrific weekend.  I'm starting to feel that we're on a roll, with the kids understanding this year's routines and expectations, now that they are 4th graders.

I've added something new to the blog this week, which you will see on the right.  There is a section labeled "Homework Help". So far, I've posted the 3 "ShowMe" videos that review the main concepts of the math lessons we will address this week.  I've also posted a copy of this week's homework, so students who are absent or have misplaced the homework will be able to find it.  I will continue to search for resources to support the kids with homework as it changes.

Today I also read (in the Sentinel) about what sounds like a terrific presentation for parents on Friday night at Aptos High. I'm including the article, and encourage you to attend even though it sounds directed toward parents of teenagers.
 Aptos High Parenting Presentation
The thing that appealed to me was the shift in focus, away from grades, and toward learning.  I think this is an especially valuable reminder right now, as we are currently expecting kids to work at school in ways they haven't experienced before.  Of course it will take time for kids to become familiar with new formats, and increased rigor! I would attend myself, but this Friday and Saturday I (and several other Rio teachers) will be attending a conference sponsored by the Cotsen Art of Teaching Foundation.  The kids will have a sub on Friday so that I can observe classrooms in southern California prior to the conference.

This week the kids will be reading a story in the anthology called Cendrillon.  We continue to discuss character in ELA, as well as 1st and 3rd person narration. In Social Studies, they will be reading about California's population, and where the residents of California tend to live. Finally, in math we will continue with rounding, moving from the vertical number line to mental math, and applying rounding in story problems.  By the end of the week we will be adding large numbers, using a variety of models including the standard algorithm. (Module 1, Lessons 8-12)

Finally, a reminder that Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 18. 

Take care,
Carroll Mayer

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Hello Parents and Students,
I've found an App that I think will be very helpful with math.  It's called "Showme" and there are two teachers, Mr. Serrano and Mrs. Perri that have posted many helpful short video clips, labeled by Engage NY Modules and Lessons.
Here is are some examples:
Module 1, Lesson 8 

For next week:
Module 1, Lesson 9 --Showme

These can be viewed on all devices I've tried so far!
Try it out.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Hi Parents and Students,
I hope you're enjoying this extra long weekend; I know I am.

First of all, I'm still working on providing support for the math homework in the clearest, most user-friendly format. Hopefully, the need will decrease as we all become accustomed to the math program. I've decided to decrease the math homework, so that students will be responsible for two lessons' worth of homework, rather than 4. I am also going to have students turn in all math on Friday with the other homework. This should allow for student follow-up with confusing questions, and flexibility about pace. It will be essential for the kids to work throughout the week, however, as it will be miserable and not very useful to try to complete all the work on Thursday night.  Along with the math homework, the kids have a spelling list to study, and sentences to write using their assigned words ( either challenge or the regular list, depending on their pre-test performance.) In addition, kids should read nightly. I've assigned one of the night's reading, and students will also be responding  to questions on the reading, and defining some vocabulary words from the text.  The other nights are up to the individual student, and kids may reread Reflections  over 2 nights if desired.

In class this week, we will  continue reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. In addition, the class will read a short biography of Lou Gehrig from our anthology, and do a first reading of the Social Studies lesson on the climate and vegetation of California's 4 regions. In math, we will be progressing from place value to rounding, using numerals as large as a million.

Finally, I've begun the class incentive system, using "Mayer Moola". I'd love contributions to the prize box. In the past, parents have recycled party favors, and sent on leftover prizes from birthday parties as well. Kids will be allowed to spend Mayer Moola on picks from the prize box, as well as lunch time parties, and homework passes.

I look forward to seeing you all at our Back-to-School Night, on Thursday, September 18th. In the mean time, please feel free to call or email your questions.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer