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

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

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

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

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

Hi All,
I hope you enjoyed our rainy weekend!

This week, our big event is the field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. On Thursday, kids should bring lunches, including beverages. They will not need money, and will not be allowed to purchase food or items in the gift shop. We will be visiting the aquarium, and also participating in a lab. We do not expect to return to Rio Del Mar until approximately 2:30, so kids that ride on the bus will need alternative transportation. Those who attend Afterschool will be able to join the class when we return.

Aside from the field trip, kids are working hard finishing up the MAP test mandated by the district. We've begun a new Social Studies unit in California history, and continue to work on fractions in math. Our RTI classes are reading By the Great Horn Spoon. 

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

I hope you had a great weekend!

Last week, we started out slowly, after a long Thanksgiving vacation, and finished with a bang!  On Friday, our 2 Fourth Grades, and one Fourth/Fifth Combination class had our second writing celebration. The kids all visited other classrooms, and got to read and comment on fellow students' informational writing. We also got to read some from our home rooms, and will continue the sharing by reading our work to Kindergarten buddies on Wednesday.

The kids then got to attend their first Big Spin, which is an upper elementary celebration of students' positive behaviors and work habits. Two kids were recognized from each class in categories including reading, overall effort, citizenship, and sportsmanship. In addition, there was a random drawing for all kids with good behavior (no blue or pink slips during the first trimester. ) Those kids picked in the drawing got to spin a wheel for prizes such as ice cream coupons and movie passes. It was a fun celebration of the kids' efforts during the first term.

In math class, kids are working hard on fractions. We have been making various models of fractions, but this is an especially important math unit to practice at home. There are many real life applications of fractions, especially in measurements. Encourage your kids to notice everyday fractions, and to take note of their relationship to benchmarks, such as 1/2. For example, what's the fraction of the carton of eggs when you have 8 left? Can it be named in more than one way (8/12, 4/6, 2/3).   Is it closer to a half a carton or a whole? When a recipe calls for 1/3 of a cup of oil, is that more or less than 1/2?  And always--how do you know? Fractions are a challenging concept and lots of practice in a variety of applications will really fine tune their understanding.

Finally, I have received many report card envelopes, but not all. We use them over the entire year, so please send back the signed envelope. I'm also waiting for several permission slips for our field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer