Hello All,

We finally get to enjoy some warm weather.  Yeah! 

On Tuesday, January 22nd, students are expected to have chosen a "Famous American" and located a book about their person. The written book report is due on Friday, February 1st.  After students hand in the book report, we will further research their subjects, and prepare speeches in class.  We will give you plenty of advance notice before the speeches are due.

This week's Homework Packet is a review list.  It is formatted a little differently from the regular pages, but there are no new words to study.  Please be sure your child completes the packet, including the reading log.  They may note their biography, books they're reading for pleasure, or any other reading material on the log.

On Tuesday, we will wrap up our Geometry Unit and move into division.  Students will find it very handy to know their multiplication facts when they tackle this subject.  Please continue to practice the facts daily!

Our next field trip is scheduled for Friday, March 15th. We will be heading to the Santa Cruz MAH, to learn about local history.  This is an interesting, hands-on field trip.  I will send the permission slips home in early February.

Take care, and enjoy the weekend!
Carroll Mayer

Hello All,

Welcome back!  This week we will attempt to get back into our regular routines.  Students will bring home a Homework packet that will include spelling, a reading log, and multiplication practice.  At this point, your child should be reviewing multiplication facts daily, unless they are already proficient. This week's spelling list is homophones.  Please remind your child to memorize which meaning is associated with which spelling; simply knowing how to spell a word will not be sufficient on this test.

In addition, students must choose a "Famous American" for their upcoming research project, and locate a biography about that person. A book must be chosen by Tuesday, January 22.  Information about the appropriate candidates for research, and the book report that will be a portion of this project, was sent home just prior to the vacation.  If your child's handout has been misplaced, please have him or her request a second copy.

Have a great week, and stay warm!
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
Happy Holidays!  Soon we will be enjoying a long winter break!

For this week, the kids were given a Homework Packet on Friday.  Instead of spelling words, they are to practice a poem to recite on Thursday, our last day of school. Please make sure that your child works on this throughout the week, as it is too much to learn on Wednesday night!  In addition, they have a multiplication practice page and a reading log.  At this point in the year, they should be practicing their multiplication facts on a daily basis.  Every family will have their preferred methods: web-based drills, youtube videos, flash cards, oral quizzes, workbooks. The important thing is that your child learns these facts so that he/she doesn't have to count on her/his fingers when applying multiplication to more complex problems.  The class will have math homework on Monday and Tuesday of this week as well.

On Thursday, the 3rd grade Room Parents have organized a grand class party, taking place in all three rooms.  Thank you, Ruth DeLuca, for planning this super activity.  I think the kids will really appreciate the opportunity to mix with their friends in other classes.  They will also enjoy the chance to move around and get a peek at other classrooms.  What a great idea!

Finally, have a beautiful, restful holiday.  In these stressful times, and with current events being what they are, we all need to remind ourselves to take a breath, and share our love with those we hold dearest. Enjoy the break.

Yours,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Hopefully not too much rain in the week to come! The kids haven't developed their "rain stamina" yet this year, nor have I.

Kids are already excited about Christmas break, but please remind them that there are 3 more weeks of school.  Many kids have Santa hats, but I am not allowing them to be worn in class until the last week before vacation, as they tend to stimulate the kids even more.

On Friday I sent home a packet of Scholastic book order flyers.  I am hoping to do an order this Wednesday afternoon, so please send in any orders --with checks --before then.  However, the easiest way to order from the book club is on line.  Our class code is H6KT4.  You can order from the flyers I sent home, or the November ones,  and pay for them with a credit card.  The deadline is short because I'd like to get the books before the break.

Otherwise, have a great week.
Carroll Mayer

Hello All,
I hope you had a family-filled-- and refreshing --Thanksgiving.  This week the class returns to "business as usual", with a regular homework packet and nightly math homework.  We have a longer than usual gap between Thanksgiving and Winter Break, and it's going to be a challenge to sustain the focus and energy through this busy month.  Please make sure your child maintains his/her work quality.

In math, we are moving on to a unit entitled "Measurement and Geometry".  We will revisit multiplication later this year, and I will continue sending home practice sheets in the packet, and giving timed tests every 2-3 weeks.  Please make multiplication practice a regular part of your child's study routine, using whatever format seems most productive for your kid and family.

Remember to send in report card envelopes this week; we reuse them for the entire year.

Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
Happy Thanksgiving!  We will have just two days of school this week.  As your child should know, the homework packet sent home last Tuesday is due this Tuesday, with all days filled in the Reading Log.  We will have the spelling test on Tuesday.

We wrapped up Unit 3 in math (multiplication) and will be moving on to a new unit on measurement. Before we begin this new unit, I will be working with the kids on some special math problems called MARS tasks. These involve applying the mathematical concepts in bigger, more real-life situations.  Because of this, there will be no math homework on Monday.

Finally, report cards will be sent home on Tuesday. The kids will be instructed to save the report cards for home, and told that they are personal family business. There is no benefit to kids comparing them. When viewing the report card, please work with your child at setting realistic goals for the next term, based on the strengths and weaknesses reported.

Have a wonderful holiday,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Thanks to all that helped with the Halloween party, most especially Ruth DeLuca, our extraordinary Room Parent!  The kids had a great time!

This week the students will have a challenging spelling list that focuses on 3 letter clusters and unexpected spelling patterns( like -tch, spr-, wr- and gn-.)  Please be sure your child gives him or herself enough time to practice these words.  The weekly math practice will now shift from subtraction practice to multiplication practice, which we will continue throughout the year. We will have a test on Ch. 6 in math on Tuesday, addressing the concept of multiplication, and the application of multiplication facts from 0-5, and 9. This test is not timed, and facts need not be memorized for students to perform well.

However, it's the goal for third graders to memorize their multiplication facts, so this week we will begin timed tests on the facts from 0-4.  The kids will be given a lot of time, and students will raise their hands to indicate when they have completed the test.  Your child will then note how long it took to complete the test. The goal is to get faster and faster (with accuracy!)  If your child is struggling with multiplication facts, please support them with additional practice using flash cards, web-based drills, videos, or oral practice (in the car, while waiting in line, etc.)

Finally, please remember that RTI (Reading Groups) start promptly at 7:55.  Tardy students miss out on reading instruction that is targeted to their specific reading needs.  Please get kids to school on time -- or early!

Take care,

Carroll Mayer