Hi All,
This week, we have lots of excitement! On Tuesday, Rio will have its annual Halloween parade, which has been moved back to its former time: 8:30. Our class party is scheduled for after lunch at 12:00. If you have any questions about the party, please contact our room parents: Allison and Carole-Anne.
Then on Friday our class is heading off to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on a field trip. On that day, kids should bring lunches, and be prepared to be off campus most of the day.
In RTI, we are wrapping up the informational text unit, and then will begin a fun novel about the Gold Rush called By the Great Horn Spoon. In Math, we are continuing with multiplication strategies, as well as beginning division. We will also return to multiplication later in the year.
Finally, most of you have scheduled conferences, and I'll be sending home reminders with your date and time in a week or so. If you haven't yet set up a conference, please contact me.
Take care, and have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Hi Parents,
This Monday, October 16, several important papers are coming home in the homework folder.
First of all, the Unit 1 Math test is scored and in the backpack. As a group, the kids did well, and reflected a strong understanding of the math concepts addressed. There were a few kids that struggled, and many more who had a single area of weakness. The Fourth Grade teachers encourage students to improve their understanding (and test scores) by practicing and retaking the sections of the test that were inaccurate, or incomplete. There is a note explaining this policy attached to your child's test. Please review the test with your kid, and then decide if it makes sense to practice similar problems, and then take a different (but similar) test on a portion of the exam. In order to do this, the original test must be returned, with section for retake clearly marked.
Secondly, the kids have the permission slip for our field trip to the aquarium. Currently, I have enough drivers. Please return the signed permission slip this week.
Next, we have run out of Kleenex. Please send a box or 2 in if possible. We are great on hand sanitizer and all other supplies.
Finally, Picture Day is this Friday, October 20th. Be sure to send in your order on or before that day.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
This Monday, October 16, several important papers are coming home in the homework folder.
First of all, the Unit 1 Math test is scored and in the backpack. As a group, the kids did well, and reflected a strong understanding of the math concepts addressed. There were a few kids that struggled, and many more who had a single area of weakness. The Fourth Grade teachers encourage students to improve their understanding (and test scores) by practicing and retaking the sections of the test that were inaccurate, or incomplete. There is a note explaining this policy attached to your child's test. Please review the test with your kid, and then decide if it makes sense to practice similar problems, and then take a different (but similar) test on a portion of the exam. In order to do this, the original test must be returned, with section for retake clearly marked.
Secondly, the kids have the permission slip for our field trip to the aquarium. Currently, I have enough drivers. Please return the signed permission slip this week.
Next, we have run out of Kleenex. Please send a box or 2 in if possible. We are great on hand sanitizer and all other supplies.
Finally, Picture Day is this Friday, October 20th. Be sure to send in your order on or before that day.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Hi Parents,
I emailed a note this last Friday, so hopefully that reached you all at a convenient email address. If you weren't at Back-to-School Night, I used an email address on file with the school.
Currently, I'm looking for volunteers to drive on our field trip to the aquarium on November 3. I have 4 volunteers so far, and they can take up to 19 of our 34 students. In order to drive, you must already have your fingerprints and TB test on file in the office. If you'd like to help, please update your driver information this week, as the district now requires it to be on file several weeks prior to the trip. Also, please send me an email with the number of students you can carry. The aquarium does limit the number of chaperones given free admission and attending the lab.
Please contact me if you were unable to schedule your child's conference at Back-to-School Night. I only have a few spots left!
Finally, a head's up that we are having our first Unit test in math on Tuesday. The kids are bringing home a corrected math practice test and checkpoint with their Monday Choice Board. Please encourage your child to review and clarify any material they're feeling unsure about.
Have a great week and a super 3 day weekend next week! (Teachers have an SBC day next Friday. )
Best,
Carroll Mayer
I emailed a note this last Friday, so hopefully that reached you all at a convenient email address. If you weren't at Back-to-School Night, I used an email address on file with the school.
Currently, I'm looking for volunteers to drive on our field trip to the aquarium on November 3. I have 4 volunteers so far, and they can take up to 19 of our 34 students. In order to drive, you must already have your fingerprints and TB test on file in the office. If you'd like to help, please update your driver information this week, as the district now requires it to be on file several weeks prior to the trip. Also, please send me an email with the number of students you can carry. The aquarium does limit the number of chaperones given free admission and attending the lab.
Please contact me if you were unable to schedule your child's conference at Back-to-School Night. I only have a few spots left!
Finally, a head's up that we are having our first Unit test in math on Tuesday. The kids are bringing home a corrected math practice test and checkpoint with their Monday Choice Board. Please encourage your child to review and clarify any material they're feeling unsure about.
Have a great week and a super 3 day weekend next week! (Teachers have an SBC day next Friday. )
Best,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Hi All,
I hope you're having a great weekend! I am continuing to find this class hardworking and collaborative; it's a pleasure working with them.
Almost everyone returned their homework, and many kids enjoyed their first reading partnership. This is a choice on the homework, but reading daily is not an optional activity. I will be sending home the Choice Board weekly, and it is due each Friday. Please make returning this page your kid's responsibility, not yours. It's very frustrating to hear kids blame their missing homework on their parents. So, reminding them and having routines is terrific, but it's a kid's job to place the Choice Board in their backpack, hopefully in a Homework Folder.
On another note, Dav Pilkey ( of Captain Underpants and Dogzilla fame) is coming to our community soon. I've made his name a link to Bookshop's site, so you can get information if you and your child are interested in this event. Dav Pilkey is responsible for growing a lot of book readers and book lovers!
Finally, if you haven't had a chance to sign up for a Parent/Teacher conference in November, please email me and we will find an open time. Many people signed up at Back-to-School Night, so some days are already pretty full!
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
I hope you're having a great weekend! I am continuing to find this class hardworking and collaborative; it's a pleasure working with them.
Almost everyone returned their homework, and many kids enjoyed their first reading partnership. This is a choice on the homework, but reading daily is not an optional activity. I will be sending home the Choice Board weekly, and it is due each Friday. Please make returning this page your kid's responsibility, not yours. It's very frustrating to hear kids blame their missing homework on their parents. So, reminding them and having routines is terrific, but it's a kid's job to place the Choice Board in their backpack, hopefully in a Homework Folder.
On another note, Dav Pilkey ( of Captain Underpants and Dogzilla fame) is coming to our community soon. I've made his name a link to Bookshop's site, so you can get information if you and your child are interested in this event. Dav Pilkey is responsible for growing a lot of book readers and book lovers!
Finally, if you haven't had a chance to sign up for a Parent/Teacher conference in November, please email me and we will find an open time. Many people signed up at Back-to-School Night, so some days are already pretty full!
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Monday, September 11, 2017
Hi All,
It was terrific to see so many of you at our Back-to-School Night on Thursday! For those of you unable to attend, information about the year, including field trips, homework, volunteer opportunities, and content was shared. In addition, parents signed up for conferences. I have 9 time slots left, which means there are 8 of you that need to schedule conferences. I will be contacting you directly, but feel free to contact me. The conference week is November 13-17, and they are scheduled at 20 min. intervals beginning at 12:45 and ending at 2:45. I can also make special arrangements for alternative days and times, and all of the Monday times are booked.
This week kids in Room 9 will begin the homework I explained on Thursday. They are expected to read every day, and note it on the back of their form. In addition, there are a huge number of activities listed on the Choice Board. Please feel free to modify the list for your child/family if you feel it's appropriate. I am sending home the math workbook "Home Connections", and kids may work on any pages up to 8.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
It was terrific to see so many of you at our Back-to-School Night on Thursday! For those of you unable to attend, information about the year, including field trips, homework, volunteer opportunities, and content was shared. In addition, parents signed up for conferences. I have 9 time slots left, which means there are 8 of you that need to schedule conferences. I will be contacting you directly, but feel free to contact me. The conference week is November 13-17, and they are scheduled at 20 min. intervals beginning at 12:45 and ending at 2:45. I can also make special arrangements for alternative days and times, and all of the Monday times are booked.
This week kids in Room 9 will begin the homework I explained on Thursday. They are expected to read every day, and note it on the back of their form. In addition, there are a huge number of activities listed on the Choice Board. Please feel free to modify the list for your child/family if you feel it's appropriate. I am sending home the math workbook "Home Connections", and kids may work on any pages up to 8.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Hi All,
We had an excellent and exciting 5 day week. Although it was foggy, many kids were able to make the pinhole projectors work with terrific support from wonderful parent volunteers. We also watched a livestream throughout Monday morning.
This week, kids will be taking a district-mandated assessment (MAP). After completing Fact or Fiction poems, we'll begin Writing Workshop. In reading, I am doing minilessons on comprehension strategies and then kids are reading self-selected books. After several lessons using Stanford's youcubed Week of Inspirational math, we've begun the Bridges math curriculum. Our first unit is on multiplication and division. The kids will be learning a variety of strategies to approach number and story problems, with the goal being a deep understanding of number relationships and fluency building.
On Monday, kids will bring home classwork from the past week, as well as any handouts from the office, etc. I try to keep all important papers until the Monday folder, and encourage you to check folders/backpacks on that day. This week I'm sending the first of 4-5 Scholastic book orders ( for the year). Your book orders are one of the primary ways I fill our classroom library; donations is the other big way. If you wish to purchase books, you may order digitally --or the "classic" way, by filling out the form I'm sending home. Please make any checks out to Scholastic, so that I can just send them on directly. Our class code, for digital orders, is noted on the blog.
This week we will be meeting with our Buddy classroom for the first time. Our class will be working with Mrs. Hegerle's 2nd Graders. Along with reading, our big focus will be reviving the school gàrden, located behind the 3rd Grade portables. The first several weeks will be spent weeding, so kids should wear appropriate clothes, and bring gardening gloves if you feel they're necessary. We will be in the garden on Tuesday afternoons, at 12:45.
I will not be sending home any homework until after our Back-to-School Night, on Thursday, September 7th. At that time I will be explaining the 4th Grade team's expectations, as well as scheduling parent volunteers, and sharing my plans for the coming year. During these weeks, your child should be reading every day after school, at home or in their after school program.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
We had an excellent and exciting 5 day week. Although it was foggy, many kids were able to make the pinhole projectors work with terrific support from wonderful parent volunteers. We also watched a livestream throughout Monday morning.
This week, kids will be taking a district-mandated assessment (MAP). After completing Fact or Fiction poems, we'll begin Writing Workshop. In reading, I am doing minilessons on comprehension strategies and then kids are reading self-selected books. After several lessons using Stanford's youcubed Week of Inspirational math, we've begun the Bridges math curriculum. Our first unit is on multiplication and division. The kids will be learning a variety of strategies to approach number and story problems, with the goal being a deep understanding of number relationships and fluency building.
On Monday, kids will bring home classwork from the past week, as well as any handouts from the office, etc. I try to keep all important papers until the Monday folder, and encourage you to check folders/backpacks on that day. This week I'm sending the first of 4-5 Scholastic book orders ( for the year). Your book orders are one of the primary ways I fill our classroom library; donations is the other big way. If you wish to purchase books, you may order digitally --or the "classic" way, by filling out the form I'm sending home. Please make any checks out to Scholastic, so that I can just send them on directly. Our class code, for digital orders, is noted on the blog.
This week we will be meeting with our Buddy classroom for the first time. Our class will be working with Mrs. Hegerle's 2nd Graders. Along with reading, our big focus will be reviving the school gàrden, located behind the 3rd Grade portables. The first several weeks will be spent weeding, so kids should wear appropriate clothes, and bring gardening gloves if you feel they're necessary. We will be in the garden on Tuesday afternoons, at 12:45.
I will not be sending home any homework until after our Back-to-School Night, on Thursday, September 7th. At that time I will be explaining the 4th Grade team's expectations, as well as scheduling parent volunteers, and sharing my plans for the coming year. During these weeks, your child should be reading every day after school, at home or in their after school program.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Hi All,
Here is the link to some different types of pinhole projectors. They look like fun projects. I've also heard that slotted spoons, colanders, ets, can be used to aid in viewing. We will be making the traditional one with 2 pieces of stiff paper with a pinhole poked in foil taped to one. If your kid makes some other kind of viewer, he or she is welcome to bring it to school to share. I sent home a yellow note on Friday explaining the plans for our class. I am welcoming volunteers, from about 9:45 on, and I'm not sure how long we will be outside. Fog may make it pretty impossible in our area. Please review eye safety with your child, and I will again on Monday.
On another note, we had a great first few days! The kids worked well together and made some interesting math discoveries using Jo Boaler's WIM. I will not be sending any structured homework forms out next week, but kids should be reading every day after school. Reading to and with family members is fine, as well as independent reading. I don't have a specific time limit, however the more you read, the better you are at reading. Kids also build a huge bank of knowledge from reading!
Most parents have returned the forms sent home Wednesday, but if you haven't, please do so on Monday. The yellow Emergency cards are the most crucial!
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Here is the link to some different types of pinhole projectors. They look like fun projects. I've also heard that slotted spoons, colanders, ets, can be used to aid in viewing. We will be making the traditional one with 2 pieces of stiff paper with a pinhole poked in foil taped to one. If your kid makes some other kind of viewer, he or she is welcome to bring it to school to share. I sent home a yellow note on Friday explaining the plans for our class. I am welcoming volunteers, from about 9:45 on, and I'm not sure how long we will be outside. Fog may make it pretty impossible in our area. Please review eye safety with your child, and I will again on Monday.
On another note, we had a great first few days! The kids worked well together and made some interesting math discoveries using Jo Boaler's WIM. I will not be sending any structured homework forms out next week, but kids should be reading every day after school. Reading to and with family members is fine, as well as independent reading. I don't have a specific time limit, however the more you read, the better you are at reading. Kids also build a huge bank of knowledge from reading!
Most parents have returned the forms sent home Wednesday, but if you haven't, please do so on Monday. The yellow Emergency cards are the most crucial!
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
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