Hello All,

While it seems ages ago, thank you all for the contributions of time and energy to make the Halloween party a success. The pumpkins were adorable, and the kids had a great time. The food was delicious too. Thanks, especially, to Christa for organizing it!

I hope everyone is having fun with the landform projects, which are due on Tuesday. I look forward to seeing a variety of terrain, as well as materials. The kids will get to see the landforms in the other classes, and then they will bring them home on Tuesday afternoon. (There is not enough room to display them in the class for any length of time.)

This past Friday, I sent the kids with this week's Homework Packet, as Friday is Veteran's Day.

The homework will be due on Thursday, and that is when we will have the spelling test. In Math, we will be wrapping up the study of the concept of multiplication this week. (We will come back to it later when they learn multiplication with regrouping.) We will also continue regular practice, homework, and occasional timed tests to develop automaticity with multiplication facts.

Report cards for the first trimester will come home next Monday, 11/14. This week is the beginning of the second trimester. I will be giving all the kids point goals for their AR Reading this term, so that they can have a target to work toward. The goal varies according to the current Independent Reading Level of the student. The kids may take AR tests on their Lit. Circle reading, Read-Alouds I do in class, the books they note on their Reading Log, and any other reading they do throughout the week. Many of the kids did a great job with AR this past trimester, but others will need some pushing to follow through with the tests when they complete a book.

Finally, just a brief reminder about Lit. Circles. I am giving the kids about 2 hours spread throughout the week to work on their assignments, including the reading and the jobs. For most of the kids, the time has been sufficient to complete their responsibilities. A few kids each week have needed extra time, and know they are expected to take home their Lit. Circle assignment on Friday, and complete them by Tuesday morning. (I do a "check in" with each kid to remind them of this.) In January, the entire Lit. Circle assignment will become homework, and it's my expectation that the kids will be able to complete this homework very independently. In class, they are doing great work with minimal support!

Have a nice week,

Carroll Mayer