Hi All,
Just a head's up for the week!
First of all, the kids are bringing home a handout explaining the California project they are working on as this week's homework. In case the information gets misplaced, I'm copying it to the bottom of this post. The goal is to work creatively on a project applying the information gathered for the written report, which we are doing at school.
Secondly, Jogging for the Arts is this Friday. It's a favorite fundraiser, and a great opportunity for the kids to support the school through their efforts.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
California Research Project
You have worked so hard in class to write an amazing research report on a topic related to California. Now it’s time to make the report come alive by creating a visual aide that supports your report!
This visual aide will be done at home and will replace the homework choice board. There are several ideas so we know there will be something for you. If you have an incredible idea that is not on this list, just let your teacher know and we can add it to our list so future students can benefit.
If your visual aide requires the use of technology be sure to communicate with your teacher on the best way to share it with the class. If you can find a way to get it onto your Google Drive then it will be super easy to share with the class.
Visual Aide Ideas
Diorama - Find an empty shoebox and create a scene that represents your topic
Brochure - Create a tri-fold description with visuals that teaches us about your topic
Photo essay - Share important images about your topic with captions explaining their importance
Google Slides - Include photos, graphics, diagrams, text, and more to teach about your topic.
Video - Make a video about your topic! Get creative and we’ll sit back and enjoy.
Board game - Design your own board game that is related to your topic - Come up with rules, game pieces, game board, and anything else needed to play the game
Painting - Paint something that is inspired by your topic
Puppet show - Create a puppet show that dramatizes your topic
Song or dance - Create an original dance or song inspired by your topic
Skit or play - Partner up with some friends who chose the same topic and create a short skit to teach us about your topic
Mobile - Create a hanging “sculpture” to display in class
Sculpture - Use modeling clay or any other materials to create a sculpture about your topic
Game show - Create a game show and invite us to participate during your presentation
Coloring book - Draw several illustrations that we can color in - just like a real coloring book
Poster - Create a poster that displays some important information about your topic
Float - Decorate the outside of a shoebox in a way that is informative and creative
Any other ideas, ask your teacher!
Important Dates
Monday, April 24th - Project description goes home
Wednesday, May 3rd - Visual Aid due
That’s 9 days to work on your project! Get started early and have fun!
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Hi All,
How time flies! I trust you've all had a terrific week off, and are rarin' to push through these next couple months of school!
In RTI we are beginning a poetry unit. The kids are all very excited. They also did a terrific job during our biography unit, and seemed to learn a lot about the genre, as well as many significant people.
In math, we are continuing with geometry, which has many vocabulary words. Many kids find this topic to be extremely interesting, but encourage your kids to put some time into Moby Max, BrainPop, or the workbook ( up to page 102 this week.) This will help with all the new and vaguely familiar words!
In writing, kids are working on a California research report. I'm excited to read about topics as diverse as the role of Chinese-Americans in Ca, the state government, the transcontinental railroad, as well as old favorites like the missions and California Indians. All research and writing is taking place at school, although kids who have fallen behind might be given work to complete at home. I'll send an email if your child is in that category.
Finally, in Social Studies we are learning about the period leading up to California's statehood, from the ranches of early California, through the Bear Flag revolt, and including the Gold Rush. It's a big, exciting topic!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
How time flies! I trust you've all had a terrific week off, and are rarin' to push through these next couple months of school!
In RTI we are beginning a poetry unit. The kids are all very excited. They also did a terrific job during our biography unit, and seemed to learn a lot about the genre, as well as many significant people.
In math, we are continuing with geometry, which has many vocabulary words. Many kids find this topic to be extremely interesting, but encourage your kids to put some time into Moby Max, BrainPop, or the workbook ( up to page 102 this week.) This will help with all the new and vaguely familiar words!
In writing, kids are working on a California research report. I'm excited to read about topics as diverse as the role of Chinese-Americans in Ca, the state government, the transcontinental railroad, as well as old favorites like the missions and California Indians. All research and writing is taking place at school, although kids who have fallen behind might be given work to complete at home. I'll send an email if your child is in that category.
Finally, in Social Studies we are learning about the period leading up to California's statehood, from the ranches of early California, through the Bear Flag revolt, and including the Gold Rush. It's a big, exciting topic!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Monday, March 13, 2017
Hi All,
A few updates for this week:
First, we will be celebrating “Pi Day” tomorrow, 3-14. Ask your kid what we did and what Pi is all about.
Second, we are having a Unit 4 math test on Friday. I’m sending home a blank copy of the pretest as a tool for review. The final test is formatted in the same way as the pretest. I’m attaching the answers to this post, so if you have any questions, please feel free to refer to the answer sheet.
Third, report cards will go home on Friday. Please return signed envelopes next week so that we may reuse them for the last report card in June.
Fourth, we will be reading biographies for 3 more weeks, including this one. Encourage your child to read several books, and about different people.
Finally, have a great week. Enjoy the daylight!
Unit 4 Pretest
Regards,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Hi All,
I hope you've had a great weekend!
First of all, thanks to our chaperones, David, Heather, Victoria. We had a great field trip to Cabrillo College and some terrific examples of the educational opportunities this great school has available.
This week the kids will begin a biography unit in RTI. Each student will be reading their own biography, many more than one. I have quite a few in the classroom, and our school library has more. However, your child may want to visit the public library or purchase other alternatives. This unit will continue for 4 weeks.
On that note, I'm also sending home a Scholastic book order. There are biographies available through Scholastic, as well as many other great books!
We will be working on our current math unit, addition and subtraction of big numbers, for 1-2 more weeks. Then, we'll be moving into Geometry.
Our trimester ends this Wednesday, March 8th, and report cards will go home on Friday the 17th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you've had a great weekend!
First of all, thanks to our chaperones, David, Heather, Victoria. We had a great field trip to Cabrillo College and some terrific examples of the educational opportunities this great school has available.
This week the kids will begin a biography unit in RTI. Each student will be reading their own biography, many more than one. I have quite a few in the classroom, and our school library has more. However, your child may want to visit the public library or purchase other alternatives. This unit will continue for 4 weeks.
On that note, I'm also sending home a Scholastic book order. There are biographies available through Scholastic, as well as many other great books!
We will be working on our current math unit, addition and subtraction of big numbers, for 1-2 more weeks. Then, we'll be moving into Geometry.
Our trimester ends this Wednesday, March 8th, and report cards will go home on Friday the 17th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Hi All,
I hope you're enjoying a gorgeous weekend!
First of all, thank you to all the parents who drove and chaperoned our field trip to Mission San Juan Bautista. The kids got to see a beautiful example of the mission "world", which we are also learning about through our Social Studies text and technology. In class we have been working on a Hyperdoc about explorers who came to California and built various settlements, including missions. The kids know that the Lesson 1 and 2 portion of the Hyperdoc is now homework if they haven't completed it during the hours of class time we've used. This week we'll continue learning about California missions with some whole class lessons, which are Lessons 3 and 4 in our text.
We are also wrapping up our math unit on fractions and decimals this week. I gave the kids a brief quiz and many did well, especially with decimals. I'll be sending it home this Monday, corrected Any problem areas from the quiz would be valuable review for the final test, which I'll give on Thursday and Friday. I will also work with the kids on a Chapter review that is formatted almost exactly like the final test. We'll work on it in class on Tuesday, and then kids will be bringing it home as a resource to study.
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you're enjoying a gorgeous weekend!
First of all, thank you to all the parents who drove and chaperoned our field trip to Mission San Juan Bautista. The kids got to see a beautiful example of the mission "world", which we are also learning about through our Social Studies text and technology. In class we have been working on a Hyperdoc about explorers who came to California and built various settlements, including missions. The kids know that the Lesson 1 and 2 portion of the Hyperdoc is now homework if they haven't completed it during the hours of class time we've used. This week we'll continue learning about California missions with some whole class lessons, which are Lessons 3 and 4 in our text.
We are also wrapping up our math unit on fractions and decimals this week. I gave the kids a brief quiz and many did well, especially with decimals. I'll be sending it home this Monday, corrected Any problem areas from the quiz would be valuable review for the final test, which I'll give on Thursday and Friday. I will also work with the kids on a Chapter review that is formatted almost exactly like the final test. We'll work on it in class on Tuesday, and then kids will be bringing it home as a resource to study.
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Hi All,
I hope you're enjoying this rainy weather!
On Friday of this week we'll be heading to Mission San Juan Bautista for a field trip. Please send your child with a lunch and drink. If you haven't returned the permission slip, please send it ASAP, along with $2.00 toward the cost.
We are also beginning a new writing project this week. The kids will be studying examples of Opinion writing, and then doing their own essay. This will be our focus in writing over the next few weeks.
In math, we are wrapping up our fractions unit, and have shifted focus somewhat to decimals. We will have an end of unit exam mid next week. We are still reading By the Great Horn Spoon in RTI. Please check in with your child regarding progress on their AR goal. The due date for points is the first week of March, so kids should have achieved about 50% of their points. I've also asked the kids to read earn 10% of their goal in nonfiction.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
I hope you're enjoying this rainy weather!
On Friday of this week we'll be heading to Mission San Juan Bautista for a field trip. Please send your child with a lunch and drink. If you haven't returned the permission slip, please send it ASAP, along with $2.00 toward the cost.
We are also beginning a new writing project this week. The kids will be studying examples of Opinion writing, and then doing their own essay. This will be our focus in writing over the next few weeks.
In math, we are wrapping up our fractions unit, and have shifted focus somewhat to decimals. We will have an end of unit exam mid next week. We are still reading By the Great Horn Spoon in RTI. Please check in with your child regarding progress on their AR goal. The due date for points is the first week of March, so kids should have achieved about 50% of their points. I've also asked the kids to read earn 10% of their goal in nonfiction.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Hi All,
Happy holidays! Have a wonderful--long!-- vacation, beginning this Friday.
Before Friday, we will be working hard on a district-assigned writing prompt.
On Wednesday, we will have a Pajama Day, earned by the kids for good behavior. They may wear pajamas, bring blankets to sit on when on the floor, and bring slippers to wear in class only. (They should have regular shoes as well. ) Please, don't send stuffed animals or pillows. Participation is optional.
Our Room Parents are also planning a fun holiday party on Thursday, from 10:15-11:40. An email was sent last week.
I'd intended to make a Scholastic book order available, but I missed the window for timely orders. Please make use of the library, or other book sources, and keep your kids reading over the break!
Finally, our field trip to Mission San Juan Bautista is on January 27. Please save the date, especially if you're interested in chaperoning. All 4th Graders will be going on the same day.
Once again, have a great vacation, and I'll see you in the new year!
Carroll Mayer
Happy holidays! Have a wonderful--long!-- vacation, beginning this Friday.
Before Friday, we will be working hard on a district-assigned writing prompt.
On Wednesday, we will have a Pajama Day, earned by the kids for good behavior. They may wear pajamas, bring blankets to sit on when on the floor, and bring slippers to wear in class only. (They should have regular shoes as well. ) Please, don't send stuffed animals or pillows. Participation is optional.
Our Room Parents are also planning a fun holiday party on Thursday, from 10:15-11:40. An email was sent last week.
I'd intended to make a Scholastic book order available, but I missed the window for timely orders. Please make use of the library, or other book sources, and keep your kids reading over the break!
Finally, our field trip to Mission San Juan Bautista is on January 27. Please save the date, especially if you're interested in chaperoning. All 4th Graders will be going on the same day.
Once again, have a great vacation, and I'll see you in the new year!
Carroll Mayer
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