Sunday, August 23, 2015

Hi All,

Here we are, already beginning the second full week of school!

Thank you, thank you for all the donations of supplies. We are well outfitted with skinny Expo pens, pencils, and cleaning supplies. For now, I can barely close the cupboards, but I'll let you know if/when I run low!!  We use a lot of materials ( two boxes of Kleenex this week on beginning of the year sniffles.) Thanks, also, for those special nurturing gifts...the yummy bread and lattes. I feel very fortunate to be part of such a kind and generous community.

Most students have returned the paperwork that was due last Friday. If your child hasn't, please send it in right away. This includes the special Cotsen permission slip.

A reminder that TB tests and fingerprints are mandatory for adults helping in the class or driving on field trips. If you took care of this in our district last year, your info. is still valid. If you didn't do this last year, please consider taking care of these requirements, even if you are only able to drive on a single field trip per year.

This week the kids will be bringing home more typical homework. I will be giving them a handout on Monday that includes spelling words, a reading log, and Social Studies reading and questions. Those assignments are due on Fridays. In addition, the kids will bring home math homework on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and those assignments will be due the following day. We will be spending time in class reviewing the homework, so kids will best benefit from it if they come to class prepared with the work when it's due. I appreciate your support with this. For math this week, I've posted some links to YouTube videos of teachers presenting portions of the material. If you or your child need some support, please take a look. I realize that math is taught quite differently now than it was when we were kids, but I think the content is very interesting and much more thorough than it was in the past.

Finally, please feel free to email me with questions and concerns as they arise. I don't often respond to emails during class time, but will usually get back to you after school.

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to 4th grade, in Room 9!  I'm excited to begin a great new year.  My name is Ms. Mayer, and I will have met and seen many of you around the school.  This is my 12th year teaching at Rio del Mar, and my second year of 4th Grade. The shift from primary to intermediate grades has been a stimulating one for me, and I'm sure it will be for you as well.


To the right of this post you will see a supply list.  I really would like all students to have a homework folder and a clean sock.  Please don't get a binder.  They take up a lot of space in the desk and backpack, and are hard to organize.  The rest of the supplies are materials that we consume a lot of in the class, and will be shared with others in the room.  My priorities are good pencils and whiteboard pens. As we use them throughout the year, feel free to bring additional supplies whenever you're able. Anyone who is unable to purchase supplies will be provided with them, as I purchase materials with Parent Alliance funds as well!

Parents, please email me with your preferred contact information.  It's also helpful if you subscribe to the blog, as I post regularly.  I encourage you to have your child make checking the blog a part of their weekly routine as well.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer