Hello All,
Our big focus this week is the Famous American speeches taking place on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:55- ?. The schedule went home on Friday, March 15th along with the rubric and your child's drafts of his/her speech. It is our expectation that children will come ready to present the speech on the assigned day. Kids are encouraged to have"dress up" style costumes and/or bring appropriate props to support the speech. This is noted in the rubric. They are also encouraged to memorize the speech, but may hold notes and refer to them as needed. Students who read the speech will be docked 1-2 points out of the total of 24; the more familiar and relaxed your child is, the better they will do. There will not be a Homework Packet this week so that students may have additional time to practice.
In Math we have moved to multiplication of 2 and 3 digit numbers by a single digit. There will still be nightly math homework.
Finally, this week's story in RTI is Trapped By the Ice!, the story of Shackleton's attempt to traverse Antarctica. The reading strategy for the story is Monitor/Clarify. The skill for this story is "Text Structure", specifically non-fiction text.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Hi All,
First of all, on Friday students brought home two important items: report cards and their work on the Famous American speech. Please have your child return their signed report card envelope this week. The Famous American speech is now homework, with the due date for your child's speech, and the rubric inside their light blue folder. We will have a regular homework packet this week as well.
Secondly, most of the children have returned their signed list of playground rules; if your child has not, please send it ASAP. I appreciate your support in reminding the kids as to our expectations of their behavior, in the class and on the playground! On that note, ask your child about the presentation from Susan Tremont on "My Distractions" last Thursday. The kids were very attentive to Ms. Tremont's lesson and seem to have a clear understanding of these issues. Hopefully, awareness will lead to improved effort in this respect.
Finally, thanks to all the parents who were able to chaperon on Friday's field trip. It's one of my favorites, and a great opportunity to learn some local history through hands-on activities.
Take care, and have a great week.
Carroll Mayer
First of all, on Friday students brought home two important items: report cards and their work on the Famous American speech. Please have your child return their signed report card envelope this week. The Famous American speech is now homework, with the due date for your child's speech, and the rubric inside their light blue folder. We will have a regular homework packet this week as well.
Secondly, most of the children have returned their signed list of playground rules; if your child has not, please send it ASAP. I appreciate your support in reminding the kids as to our expectations of their behavior, in the class and on the playground! On that note, ask your child about the presentation from Susan Tremont on "My Distractions" last Thursday. The kids were very attentive to Ms. Tremont's lesson and seem to have a clear understanding of these issues. Hopefully, awareness will lead to improved effort in this respect.
Finally, thanks to all the parents who were able to chaperon on Friday's field trip. It's one of my favorites, and a great opportunity to learn some local history through hands-on activities.
Take care, and have a great week.
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Hello All,
First of all, thanks to all of you who followed up on Friday's email regarding behavioral issues in Room 24. I appreciate your support.
This week the kids will continue working on their speech about their "Famous American". We have been working daily on this project for the last several weeks, adding research and writing to the reading students did in January. On Friday, kids will bring home their work, and any unfinished work will become homework. I will also attach a letter giving the dates the speech is due, along with a rubric about our expectations for the final product.
Friday will also be the day report cards come home. The original date was shifted, due to technology issues on campus last week.
Also on Friday, our class will attending our field trip to the SC MAH. Thank you to all the drivers who volunteered. I think you will find this trip a fun and interesting one.
Finally, a big thank you to the O'Hara family, who have been working diligently in our Rio garden and filled in the giant mud puddle in front of our classroom. In addition, thanks so much to Misty Courtney and Mary Zimmer for their hard work on our yearbook pages. You all are going to be so impressed. Also, thanks to Brett Hegna for the cool auction item. The kids had a good time working on it, and I know someone is going to love it!
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
First of all, thanks to all of you who followed up on Friday's email regarding behavioral issues in Room 24. I appreciate your support.
This week the kids will continue working on their speech about their "Famous American". We have been working daily on this project for the last several weeks, adding research and writing to the reading students did in January. On Friday, kids will bring home their work, and any unfinished work will become homework. I will also attach a letter giving the dates the speech is due, along with a rubric about our expectations for the final product.
Friday will also be the day report cards come home. The original date was shifted, due to technology issues on campus last week.
Also on Friday, our class will attending our field trip to the SC MAH. Thank you to all the drivers who volunteered. I think you will find this trip a fun and interesting one.
Finally, a big thank you to the O'Hara family, who have been working diligently in our Rio garden and filled in the giant mud puddle in front of our classroom. In addition, thanks so much to Misty Courtney and Mary Zimmer for their hard work on our yearbook pages. You all are going to be so impressed. Also, thanks to Brett Hegna for the cool auction item. The kids had a good time working on it, and I know someone is going to love it!
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Hello All,
We have another "normal" week ahead of us. The kids will bring home a complete Homework Packet on Monday, and it's due on Friday.
Our trimester ends on Thursday, and report cards go home on the following Thursday, March 14th. Many students have still not met their AR goal, so remind your child to take tests on any books they have recently completed. (It's best not to test on books from weeks and months in the past, as there are detailed and specific questions.) It's important to keep in mind the point of AR is to give kids practice in reading, with some accountability; it's not an end in itself. Students will get a new AR goal for the last trimester.
Our field trip to the SC MAH is scheduled for March 15th; thanks to all who have volunteered to drive. We have a nice amount of space, with a little extra in case of sickness, etc. There are a few kids who still need to return their permission slips and $2.00. If it's sitting on your counter top, please send it in!
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
We have another "normal" week ahead of us. The kids will bring home a complete Homework Packet on Monday, and it's due on Friday.
Our trimester ends on Thursday, and report cards go home on the following Thursday, March 14th. Many students have still not met their AR goal, so remind your child to take tests on any books they have recently completed. (It's best not to test on books from weeks and months in the past, as there are detailed and specific questions.) It's important to keep in mind the point of AR is to give kids practice in reading, with some accountability; it's not an end in itself. Students will get a new AR goal for the last trimester.
Our field trip to the SC MAH is scheduled for March 15th; thanks to all who have volunteered to drive. We have a nice amount of space, with a little extra in case of sickness, etc. There are a few kids who still need to return their permission slips and $2.00. If it's sitting on your counter top, please send it in!
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hi All,
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. This week we return to a normal schedule!
The spelling list is a review list, so the children have 3 pages of spelling practice instead of two. There are no sentences to study. This Friday there will be another multiplication Timed Test on 0-6. Please encourage your child to review these facts.
Last week I sent home permission slips for our field trip to the MAH on March 15th. Thank you to all who have volunteered to drive; we have a good number at this point. I am still missing several students' permission slips, as well as their $2.00 donation for the museum. If your child has misplaced their permission slip, please send a note requesting another, or download the form from the school's website.
The kids have begun gathering additional research about their "Famous Americans" this week. We will work in class over the next several weeks to research and write a 3-5 paragraph first person speech from the point of view of their candidate. The children will then bring home their speeches to rehearse before performing them for the class. The due date for the speeches will be the last week of March, before vacation, with the kids presenting them over a couple of days. I will send home a rubric with our expectations when the kids bring home their speeches.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. This week we return to a normal schedule!
The spelling list is a review list, so the children have 3 pages of spelling practice instead of two. There are no sentences to study. This Friday there will be another multiplication Timed Test on 0-6. Please encourage your child to review these facts.
Last week I sent home permission slips for our field trip to the MAH on March 15th. Thank you to all who have volunteered to drive; we have a good number at this point. I am still missing several students' permission slips, as well as their $2.00 donation for the museum. If your child has misplaced their permission slip, please send a note requesting another, or download the form from the school's website.
The kids have begun gathering additional research about their "Famous Americans" this week. We will work in class over the next several weeks to research and write a 3-5 paragraph first person speech from the point of view of their candidate. The children will then bring home their speeches to rehearse before performing them for the class. The due date for the speeches will be the last week of March, before vacation, with the kids presenting them over a couple of days. I will send home a rubric with our expectations when the kids bring home their speeches.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Friday, February 15, 2013
Hello All,
Have a wonderful 3 day weekend! This week was a particularly challenging one for many kids, with the Choir performance and Valentine's Day sandwiched between two holidays. We spoke in our class meeting about distractions, and distracting behaviors, and how frustrating they are. Many of the kids are able to identify them in others, but don't see how they contribute to the problem. Feel free to continue this conversation at home. Even those children who are generally well-behaved may add to the problem by laughing at those who choose "class clown" behavior.
A big thank you to Ruth DeLuca, for the great, yet mellow Valentine's Day party. The cupcakes were yummy too! Thanks as well to all the parents who popped in to help; you make our school a special place.
Finally, a reminder about the March 15th MAH field trip. I have only had a handful of permission slips returned. Please have your child bring in the form, and $2.00, ASAP.
Take care, and enjoy a beautiful, warm, weekend!
Carroll
Have a wonderful 3 day weekend! This week was a particularly challenging one for many kids, with the Choir performance and Valentine's Day sandwiched between two holidays. We spoke in our class meeting about distractions, and distracting behaviors, and how frustrating they are. Many of the kids are able to identify them in others, but don't see how they contribute to the problem. Feel free to continue this conversation at home. Even those children who are generally well-behaved may add to the problem by laughing at those who choose "class clown" behavior.
A big thank you to Ruth DeLuca, for the great, yet mellow Valentine's Day party. The cupcakes were yummy too! Thanks as well to all the parents who popped in to help; you make our school a special place.
Finally, a reminder about the March 15th MAH field trip. I have only had a handful of permission slips returned. Please have your child bring in the form, and $2.00, ASAP.
Take care, and enjoy a beautiful, warm, weekend!
Carroll
Monday, February 11, 2013
Hi All,
I hope you are all enjoying the first of two 3 day weekends! Because of the holidays, this week's Homework Packet will not be due until Friday, 2/22. We have found that many of the kids need a full week to practice the spelling words, and that it is worthwhile to give them extra time to prepare for the test on Friday. We have included an extra reading log (on the back of the regular one) and expect students to read throughout both weeks. Most of the class is doing an excellent job on the reading log, and reading interesting, appropriate books. Please encourage your child to check whether their outside reading has AR tests. Many of the kids are not on track with their point goals, despite a lot of reading in class and at home.
In addition, please remember that this Wednesday (2/13) is the choir performance. The kids have been practicing with Tanya and Jessica since the fall and are looking forward to showing off the results of their labors.
Our class Valentine's Day party is on Thursday. Ruth Deluca sent out a list with all students' names and a schedule. In general, 3rd grade keeps it low key.
Finally, I am sending home a permission slip for our next field trip, which is to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. They have an excellent, hands-on presentation about local history. Our class is scheduled to attend on Friday, March 15th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you are all enjoying the first of two 3 day weekends! Because of the holidays, this week's Homework Packet will not be due until Friday, 2/22. We have found that many of the kids need a full week to practice the spelling words, and that it is worthwhile to give them extra time to prepare for the test on Friday. We have included an extra reading log (on the back of the regular one) and expect students to read throughout both weeks. Most of the class is doing an excellent job on the reading log, and reading interesting, appropriate books. Please encourage your child to check whether their outside reading has AR tests. Many of the kids are not on track with their point goals, despite a lot of reading in class and at home.
In addition, please remember that this Wednesday (2/13) is the choir performance. The kids have been practicing with Tanya and Jessica since the fall and are looking forward to showing off the results of their labors.
Our class Valentine's Day party is on Thursday. Ruth Deluca sent out a list with all students' names and a schedule. In general, 3rd grade keeps it low key.
Finally, I am sending home a permission slip for our next field trip, which is to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. They have an excellent, hands-on presentation about local history. Our class is scheduled to attend on Friday, March 15th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
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