Hi All,

Last night I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Booka thanks to the generous gift certificate I received from the class at Christmas. Thank you all, once again; it was a real pleasure!

This week the class will be learning about government during our Social Studies block. In writing, the kids are working on the text for their "Little Red Ridinghood" pop-ups.  The geometry unit in math wraps up on Tuesday, and then we will move on to division.

Many people have been asking about the Famous American projects. At this point, students should be reading the biographies that they were to have selected by the 17th. We will start working on the project in class in a couple of weeks, and will be doing the rest of the research and first drafts at school. I will keep parents and students up-to-date as we set various deadlines, and there will be plenty of notice as they approach.

Finally, the permission slip for our field trip to the MAH was sent home on Tuesday. If you haven't already returned it with your child please do so ASAP.  Thank you Sandi Kolassa for coordinating this trip, along with all the others!

Take care, and have a great week.
Carroll Mayer

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome back!  I trust you had a great vacation, and are ready for the second half of the year.  Thanks to all of you who sent us off with such a great party in December, especially Kristen and Amy.   Thanks, as well, for my fun gifts. I will be enjoying the various gift certificates and the museum membership for all of 2014.   Happy New Year!

This week, we will begin Dogzilla, one of the most popular stories in our anthology. We will be studying the ways that authors inject humor into their writing, as well as comparing elements of fantasy and reality. In math, we will review perimeter, and then study area.  There will be a test on these concepts later in the week.  In Social Studies, we will learn about some of the various individuals who have worked for our freedoms, from the Founding Fathers to Martin Luther King, Jr.  

As for homework, students should have a plan as to who they want to read about for their Famous American research project. The homework packets now have an additional page, so that students can practice grammar skills addressed in class.

Finally, we have a field trip coming up in early February, to the Museum of Art and History. Please be on the lookout for the permission slip for this trip on 2/4/14.

Take care,

Carroll

Hi All,
This week the kids will have a regular Homework Packet,  with a review list for spelling.  I realize many children will have extra holiday busyness, but please encourage your kids to plan ahead with their schoolwork.   There will also be math homework on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

We are continuing with our research on Ohlone Indians this week, with the student groups giving short presentations. In math, we will be learning about perimeter.

In addition, please watch this week for information about the Famous American report. There will not be any work assigned over break, but many students find it's a good time to read a biography and get some background information on their person. Please don't have your child write a report over break, as this is mostly an in-class project.

Finally, thanks to all that sent in donations for Toys for Tots, and to Kristen Barrett for organizing our classroom toy drive. A special visitor is collecting the toys on Monday. Mrs. Barrett and Mrs. Danish are also organizing a class party on Friday!

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Thanks to all who were able to drive on our field trip to the Aptos History Museum.  I know many adults learned right along with the kids, and it's great to see how enthusiastic and respectful they were in their desire to learn about local history.

This week we will continue studying about Native Americans in RTI, as well as during our social studies block.  In math, the kids will proceed with the geometry unit, learning lots of new words to use in describing triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons.

Kristin Barret, our Room Parent, has also arranged for the class to participate in a Toys for Tots Drive.  They will be writing letters explaining the purpose of Toys for Tots this week, and if they wish, may bring in toys by Monday, December 16th. Student leadership is also collecting spare change to donate toward another organization. Donations to both these causes are completely voluntary.

Student leadership has also planned a school-wide holiday pajama day for this Friday, December 13th. Kids may wear pajamas, and/or Santa hats if they wish.

Have a great week, and stay warm!
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
I hope you enjoyed a joyous Thanksgiving, with lots of time for friends and family!

This week, the children's Homework Packet will not contain a spelling list, but poems to memorize instead.  Encourage your child to practice the poems, and also focus on clear speech, excellent posture, and appropriate eye contact.  The packet also contains multiplication, and we are still learning Rhymes 'n Times sayings and reviewing old rhymes daily. Your child should be reviewing multiplication facts at home a few minutes each day.

In Math, we move on to Geometry.  There are a lot of vocabulary words in this unit, so discussing various concepts and observations using the terms will be great reinforcement. For example, they will be studying parallel lines, and right angles on Monday.   In RTI, we will be reading about Native Americans (Social Studies text and anthology story Dancing Rainbows).  The strategy for the next 2 weeks is Summarize and the skill is Topic, Main Idea, and Details.  We will also be researching the Ohlone during our Social Studies block.

In addition, we have a field trip to the Aptos History Museum scheduled for this Thursday.  All parents who have volunteered to drive are welcome; this is an interesting opportunity to learn a little local history. However, several kids have not returned their permission slips, so if your child is one of them, please send it in on Monday!

I am also missing a few report card envelopes.  Please return your child's ASAP, as they are reused next term.

Finally, please no Santa hats during these first few weeks of December.  The kids get very excited as the holidays near, so the hats just add fuel to the fire.  In the past I've allowed them the last week before break, and as long as this remains okay with Mrs. Dorney, that will be my policy.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
It's a short week, so this will be short as well! First of all, there will be no homework this week. Secondly, if you haven't already done so, please send in permission slips for the upcoming field trip to the Aptos History Museum.  The trip happens the week we get back from the holiday!
Finally, have a great Thanksgiving!
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
On Tuesday report cards will go home with the kids.  Please use this as a time to reflect on the past term, and set goals for the next trimester.  All the students have also been given a new AR goal, which you will find is much larger than the last trimester's.  Please continue to support the kids in achieving these more challenging goals; most of the class did really well with the Trimester 1 goal.

In math, we are moving into a unit on measurement and geometry. This week kids will not be bringing home a homework packet, as the one sent home last Tuesday is to last for this week as well.  There are 2 Reading Logs attached to the packet, which should be entirely filled out, despite the Veteran's Day holiday.

Have a good week,
Carroll Mayer