Hi All,
I hope you enjoyed this beautiful weekend weather!
Last week we wrapped up our Biography Unit with A-Z Reader about Gandhi. I hope your child shared something they learned about this great world leader. In RTI we will now be enjoying the Historical Fiction novel, By the Great Horn Spoon. Students will be keeping a reading journal as we enjoy this fun book about a boy and his butler's Gold Rush adventure.
In addition, your child should now know which mission their Mission Report and Project will be on; however, all research is still happening in class. The project and final draft of the report will be homework in a couple of weeks. I will send home a list of potential projects after more research has been accomplished.
Finally, I'm making a shift with the weekly homework. We will no longer have spelling words and tests, but will be focusing instead on weekly Grammar, or short Writing tasks. The rest of the weekly packet will remain the same, with Math homework continuing to be assigned and due daily. Please remind your child that we are still reading and taking AR tests. I've reset the goals for the second half of this trimester, but found that several children missed their point goal by a long shot. These goals are individualized, based on your child's reading level, and should be achievable if they're using their homework and in-class reading time appropriately.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Hello All,
Welcome back! I imagine you all had a terrific vacation. It seemed long (in a good way!)
Over the next several weeks we will continue exploring various division and multiplication strategies, including the standard algorithm we've all grown accustomed to. Here's a video on the topic:
Common Core Math
In Social Studies, we'll read the text about missions, and then begin research projects about missions. The at-home portion of the project is scheduled for about 3 weeks from today, with more info. to follow.
We continue to use pencils and dry erase pens at an amazing rate. After we use up the thick pens, I'm shifting to the thin ones as they seem to work better for math. Any donations of these 2 items, as well as Kleenex and prize box supplies, are welcomed!
Finally, while it was way back in 2014, a big thank you to the parents who organized and attended our class party. The kids had a terrific time! In addition, thank you all for my class gift. It was fun to spend!
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Welcome back! I imagine you all had a terrific vacation. It seemed long (in a good way!)
Over the next several weeks we will continue exploring various division and multiplication strategies, including the standard algorithm we've all grown accustomed to. Here's a video on the topic:
Common Core Math
In Social Studies, we'll read the text about missions, and then begin research projects about missions. The at-home portion of the project is scheduled for about 3 weeks from today, with more info. to follow.
We continue to use pencils and dry erase pens at an amazing rate. After we use up the thick pens, I'm shifting to the thin ones as they seem to work better for math. Any donations of these 2 items, as well as Kleenex and prize box supplies, are welcomed!
Finally, while it was way back in 2014, a big thank you to the parents who organized and attended our class party. The kids had a terrific time! In addition, thank you all for my class gift. It was fun to spend!
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Hello All,
This week our class will be having a "Game Day", which the class won through its great behavior. Kids should bring games to share on Tuesday (not electronics). Kids should also bring $ if they wish to stick Mrs. Dorney to the wall on Tuesday ( part of the "Stick it to hunger" campaign). On Friday our class will be having its winter holiday party.
This week we will have a regular Homework Packet, due on Friday. In math we'll continue learning various strategies for division. RTI groups will be reading a biography of Gloria Estefan, and we'll read about European explorers of California in Social Studies.
Finally, have a warm and wonderful holiday, with much joy and family connection.
Yours,
Carroll Mayer
This week our class will be having a "Game Day", which the class won through its great behavior. Kids should bring games to share on Tuesday (not electronics). Kids should also bring $ if they wish to stick Mrs. Dorney to the wall on Tuesday ( part of the "Stick it to hunger" campaign). On Friday our class will be having its winter holiday party.
This week we will have a regular Homework Packet, due on Friday. In math we'll continue learning various strategies for division. RTI groups will be reading a biography of Gloria Estefan, and we'll read about European explorers of California in Social Studies.
Finally, have a warm and wonderful holiday, with much joy and family connection.
Yours,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Hi All,
First of all, thanks so much to the parents who were able to chaperon the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip. I heard from many kids that this was the best field trip ever! For those of you who weren't able to drive, let me encourage you to take care of the district-level paperwork (TB test and fingerprinting). It's a process that takes some time, but it'll last throughout your children's time in PVUSD, and enable you to volunteer for trips and activities on a more spontaneous basis.
This week our math will be shifting from multiplication to division, although it's still all part of Module 3. While many kids are aware of the relationship between these 2 processes, expect many more opportunities to make the connection. In RTI we'll be doing a short biography unit. We will wrap up our unit on Ecosystems this week, with a test on Thursday. This week's homework includes the final lesson of this chapter, as well as a review of the whole unit. During the last week before break we'll return to Reflections, the Social Studies text, and read about explorers and the beginning of the Spanish missions in California. We will not be doing a mission report or project until January.
Finally, I realize that this time gets busy, with lots of extra activities and holiday gatherings. Please work with your child to plan ahead in terms of homework, and to get plenty of rest.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
First of all, thanks so much to the parents who were able to chaperon the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip. I heard from many kids that this was the best field trip ever! For those of you who weren't able to drive, let me encourage you to take care of the district-level paperwork (TB test and fingerprinting). It's a process that takes some time, but it'll last throughout your children's time in PVUSD, and enable you to volunteer for trips and activities on a more spontaneous basis.
This week our math will be shifting from multiplication to division, although it's still all part of Module 3. While many kids are aware of the relationship between these 2 processes, expect many more opportunities to make the connection. In RTI we'll be doing a short biography unit. We will wrap up our unit on Ecosystems this week, with a test on Thursday. This week's homework includes the final lesson of this chapter, as well as a review of the whole unit. During the last week before break we'll return to Reflections, the Social Studies text, and read about explorers and the beginning of the Spanish missions in California. We will not be doing a mission report or project until January.
Finally, I realize that this time gets busy, with lots of extra activities and holiday gatherings. Please work with your child to plan ahead in terms of homework, and to get plenty of rest.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Hello All,
I hope you had a joyful holiday.
This week we will be continuing with our study of ecosystems in science. The kids will return to reading in the CA. Science textbook for a portion of their reading homework. I've added a note to the homework about my expectations regarding the reading of the texts. (Reread the lessons first, then use the skimming and scanning strategies to find support with the questions on the back of the homework handout.) In math, we'll spend a couple of days reviewing the first portion of Module 3 and will have a Mid-Module Assessment on Thursday.
This Friday we'll be heading to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for our field trip. Please note that we are returning to school late, and let me know if there is some special arrangement made for your child if you are unable to pick them up at our 3:00 arrival time. All students will need lunches for the trip, as well as a drink and comfortable shoes. Please don't send any money for snacks or souvenirs! Thank you to all that have volunteered to drive and chaperon on this trip!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you had a joyful holiday.
This week we will be continuing with our study of ecosystems in science. The kids will return to reading in the CA. Science textbook for a portion of their reading homework. I've added a note to the homework about my expectations regarding the reading of the texts. (Reread the lessons first, then use the skimming and scanning strategies to find support with the questions on the back of the homework handout.) In math, we'll spend a couple of days reviewing the first portion of Module 3 and will have a Mid-Module Assessment on Thursday.
This Friday we'll be heading to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for our field trip. Please note that we are returning to school late, and let me know if there is some special arrangement made for your child if you are unable to pick them up at our 3:00 arrival time. All students will need lunches for the trip, as well as a drink and comfortable shoes. Please don't send any money for snacks or souvenirs! Thank you to all that have volunteered to drive and chaperon on this trip!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Hi Parents,
I'm looking forward to seeing you all this week. The kids brought home notes with your times, but feel free to email to confirm times. The schedule is tightly packed.
This week, the kids will be bringing home permission slips and information about our next field trip, to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on December 5th. Please return completed forms ASAP, especially if you are able to drive!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
I'm looking forward to seeing you all this week. The kids brought home notes with your times, but feel free to email to confirm times. The schedule is tightly packed.
This week, the kids will be bringing home permission slips and information about our next field trip, to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on December 5th. Please return completed forms ASAP, especially if you are able to drive!
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Monday, November 10, 2014
Hi Parents,
Sorry to be a bit tardy on my posting! First of all, a big thank you to the parents that were able to chaperon our Mission San Juan Bautista field trip (Mrs. Kolassa, Mrs. Lauderbach, Ms. Harrington, Mrs.Varela, Mrs. Manchester, and Mrs. Harris ). The kids had a great time, and made a good beginning on this portion of California history, which we will be reading about in the Social Studies text quite soon. Our next field trip is coming quickly; we're going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on December 5th! We will be leaving school at about 9:15, attending a Kelp Forest Lab, eating lunch, and then having some touring time in the museum. Because we are not allowed in the museum before our 10:45 lab, I intend to return to school a bit past the regularly scheduled time (return to school about 3:00). I will need drivers for this trip. Please remember that the state requires volunteers to submit a TB test to the district, and be fingerprinted. When you've done this once, you'll be authorized for all your children's years in PVUSD. This policy is for the kids' safety.
Please take the time to do this, even if you can only drive on occasional field trips. I would hate to cancel a field trip due to lack of drivers.
Next week is Conference Week, and almost all students have one scheduled at this point. Please come to your conference on time, as many of them are scheduled back-to-back. The library's Scholastic Book Fair is also scheduled for that week, and purchasing books (including holiday gifts) is a great way to support our library's book collection. The kids will preview the Book Fair on Friday, and I'm sure they'll get back to you with their Wish List.
You will notice the homework is a little different this week, as we are stepping away from the Science and Social Studies texts to work on a short research project on phytoplankton. We will be working on it this week, and have watched a short video and read an informational article already. I reviewed the homework with the class on Monday, and gave them clear directions about my expectations about it on both the front and the back. In addition, the kids appear to be working comfortably with the math these days, and are able to push through and ask questions when they're unclear.
Take care, and I look forward to seeing you all at conferences next week!
Carroll Mayer
Sorry to be a bit tardy on my posting! First of all, a big thank you to the parents that were able to chaperon our Mission San Juan Bautista field trip (Mrs. Kolassa, Mrs. Lauderbach, Ms. Harrington, Mrs.Varela, Mrs. Manchester, and Mrs. Harris ). The kids had a great time, and made a good beginning on this portion of California history, which we will be reading about in the Social Studies text quite soon. Our next field trip is coming quickly; we're going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on December 5th! We will be leaving school at about 9:15, attending a Kelp Forest Lab, eating lunch, and then having some touring time in the museum. Because we are not allowed in the museum before our 10:45 lab, I intend to return to school a bit past the regularly scheduled time (return to school about 3:00). I will need drivers for this trip. Please remember that the state requires volunteers to submit a TB test to the district, and be fingerprinted. When you've done this once, you'll be authorized for all your children's years in PVUSD. This policy is for the kids' safety.
Please take the time to do this, even if you can only drive on occasional field trips. I would hate to cancel a field trip due to lack of drivers.
Next week is Conference Week, and almost all students have one scheduled at this point. Please come to your conference on time, as many of them are scheduled back-to-back. The library's Scholastic Book Fair is also scheduled for that week, and purchasing books (including holiday gifts) is a great way to support our library's book collection. The kids will preview the Book Fair on Friday, and I'm sure they'll get back to you with their Wish List.
You will notice the homework is a little different this week, as we are stepping away from the Science and Social Studies texts to work on a short research project on phytoplankton. We will be working on it this week, and have watched a short video and read an informational article already. I reviewed the homework with the class on Monday, and gave them clear directions about my expectations about it on both the front and the back. In addition, the kids appear to be working comfortably with the math these days, and are able to push through and ask questions when they're unclear.
Take care, and I look forward to seeing you all at conferences next week!
Carroll Mayer
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