Hi All,

Happy Second Week! Thanks to all of you who have responded so swiftly to the supply lists and many forms to fill out. I still have a few students missing their Computer Use form and/or yellow Emergency Card. These are the absolute essentials!

After 5 days, I've found your children to be charming and am enjoying starting to know them a little. We will continue with Mystery Bags for this entire week, so be sure your child has brought in their bag as it's a fun way to learn a little about their interests.

This week the kids will continue learning about Data & Probability in math, with the focus shifting more to the concepts and vocabulary for probability. We will have a test on these 2 chapters during Week 3. We have read 5 chapters of Charlotte's Web, and will continue to practice the skill of summarizing throughout the reading of this novel. In Science, we are studying adaptations in plants and animals.

The kids have been very responsible with the daily math homework! In addition, Third Grade sends home a weekly Homework Packet. It goes home on Monday and is due on Friday. This week's packet is a condensed version, as we will not be sending home spelling until next week. However, in a usual week you and your child should expect a spelling list, a spelling Practice Book page (front and back), a reading log, and a math facts sheet (front and back). This week the kids have the math facts and the reading log. The reading log is to be completed daily, and we expect the student to write a 1-2 sentence summary of what they have read. It is probably best for them to practice this orally before they write, and we understand that there is a "learning curve" involved with this skill. Please make sure that your child is held accountable for neat penmanship, and beginning and ending punctuation.

Finally, we will be sending home a permission slip this week for our first field trip: the Santa Cruz County Fair. Please file your driver information in the office ASAP if you plan on driving on a field trip this year. It really makes organizing these enriching activities much easier.

Take care, and have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to Third Grade! We are going to have a great year.

A short supply list is posted. Please don't send pencil boxes, as they take up a great deal of space and are underused by the kids. I will have communal boxes with markers, colored pencils, and other supplies, which we will pull out as needed.

In addition, if you have copies of Charlotte's Web, please bring them as we will start reading this wonderful book right away.

We are also going to hit the ground running with math homework on Monday night. In addition there will be a Mystery Bag assignment that will be due on Friday, August 24th.

I look forward to seeing you on Monday morning at 7:55. Have a great weekend!

Ms. Mayer

HI All,

Just a few short messages...

I am still short transportation for 5 students to the beach. If you are able to drive, please let me know. Also, the office will not be able to handle last minute updates to driver info., so please come in before Wednesday morning if updates are necessary.

Also, a reminder that Wednesday is a full day. We will have early dismissal on Friday.

If your child has a lost or overdue book, please clear it with the library before Friday. We will have to hold report cards for people with missing books.

Finally, it's been a great honor to teach your children this year. This class has been a special one, and I will look upon it with great fondness. Have a wonderful summer!

Take care,

Carroll

Hi All,

Happy Memorial Day! This week there will be no regular homework, HOWEVER, students should bring home the Astronomy study guide and prepare for the test on Thursday.

The permission slips for the End-of-the-Year Party at Seacliff were sent home last Monday. I am still missing paperwork and $5 from quite a few kids, and I am a little short on drivers. If these have not been sent in, please do it ASAP.

I can't repeat it enough: Thanks for a fabulous year! Your kids have been such a pleasure and I have really enjoyed our time together.

Take care,

Carroll

Hi All,

Fun field trip on Thursday; thanks to all the drivers who made it possible! Also, the kids enjoyed another successful choir performance on Thursday night.

This week, we will continue to have nightly math homework. The homework packet contains multiplication practice and a reading log. I am doing a final push on multiplication. The kids are taking quizzes twice a week, with the goal of 90% accuracy in 2 minutes or less. When they reach that goal, students are shifting to 100 second multiplication and then 144 second multiplication. In these programs, the kids recite the factors for a list of products. It is a different way of working with multiplication facts, and prepares them well for using these facts in more advanced math.

Finally, I've wrapped up Literature Circles for the year. The kids should continue reading for pleasure and knowledge, and taking AR tests. Many have reached their goal, but many have not.

Have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

It was great to see you all on Thursday night at the Open House. The kids have worked hard this year, and are so proud of all they have accomplished. I have had a great time this year with your kind and responsible children, and am so grateful for the opportunity to have taught them.

This Thursday, our class will be going to the Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Kids should bring their lunches and a light jacket or sweater. On Thursday NIGHT, we will have our spring choir performance at Aptos High. Third Graders are expected to perform at 6:15.

Finally, this week students will have a homework packet with multiplication practice and a Reading Log. Please make sure they follow up with these responsibilities. Lit. Circles will be due on Wednesday.

Have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
This week begins with the Famous American speeches.  Kids, please come to school on Monday or Tuesday, dressed appropriately,  ready to give your speech.  We will begin as soon as we can. Students 1-15 (A-J) will speak on Monday and 16-29 (J-T) will go on Tuesday.

We will resume regular math homework this week, but the Homework Packet will only contain multiplication practice and a reading log. I will be giving multiplication timed tests 1-2 times a week for the remainder of the year, as we push towards automaticity with these facts.  The Lit. Circle assignment is due on Wednesday, as we have speeches on Tuesday.

Finally, Open House is scheduled for Thursday night. Please come by and see your child's work.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer