Hello All,
We have another "normal" week ahead of us. The kids will bring home a complete Homework Packet on Monday, and it's due on Friday.
Our trimester ends on Thursday, and report cards go home on the following Thursday, March 14th. Many students have still not met their AR goal, so remind your child to take tests on any books they have recently completed. (It's best not to test on books from weeks and months in the past, as there are detailed and specific questions.) It's important to keep in mind the point of AR is to give kids practice in reading, with some accountability; it's not an end in itself. Students will get a new AR goal for the last trimester.
Our field trip to the SC MAH is scheduled for March 15th; thanks to all who have volunteered to drive. We have a nice amount of space, with a little extra in case of sickness, etc. There are a few kids who still need to return their permission slips and $2.00. If it's sitting on your counter top, please send it in!
Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hi All,
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. This week we return to a normal schedule!
The spelling list is a review list, so the children have 3 pages of spelling practice instead of two. There are no sentences to study. This Friday there will be another multiplication Timed Test on 0-6. Please encourage your child to review these facts.
Last week I sent home permission slips for our field trip to the MAH on March 15th. Thank you to all who have volunteered to drive; we have a good number at this point. I am still missing several students' permission slips, as well as their $2.00 donation for the museum. If your child has misplaced their permission slip, please send a note requesting another, or download the form from the school's website.
The kids have begun gathering additional research about their "Famous Americans" this week. We will work in class over the next several weeks to research and write a 3-5 paragraph first person speech from the point of view of their candidate. The children will then bring home their speeches to rehearse before performing them for the class. The due date for the speeches will be the last week of March, before vacation, with the kids presenting them over a couple of days. I will send home a rubric with our expectations when the kids bring home their speeches.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weekend weather. This week we return to a normal schedule!
The spelling list is a review list, so the children have 3 pages of spelling practice instead of two. There are no sentences to study. This Friday there will be another multiplication Timed Test on 0-6. Please encourage your child to review these facts.
Last week I sent home permission slips for our field trip to the MAH on March 15th. Thank you to all who have volunteered to drive; we have a good number at this point. I am still missing several students' permission slips, as well as their $2.00 donation for the museum. If your child has misplaced their permission slip, please send a note requesting another, or download the form from the school's website.
The kids have begun gathering additional research about their "Famous Americans" this week. We will work in class over the next several weeks to research and write a 3-5 paragraph first person speech from the point of view of their candidate. The children will then bring home their speeches to rehearse before performing them for the class. The due date for the speeches will be the last week of March, before vacation, with the kids presenting them over a couple of days. I will send home a rubric with our expectations when the kids bring home their speeches.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Friday, February 15, 2013
Hello All,
Have a wonderful 3 day weekend! This week was a particularly challenging one for many kids, with the Choir performance and Valentine's Day sandwiched between two holidays. We spoke in our class meeting about distractions, and distracting behaviors, and how frustrating they are. Many of the kids are able to identify them in others, but don't see how they contribute to the problem. Feel free to continue this conversation at home. Even those children who are generally well-behaved may add to the problem by laughing at those who choose "class clown" behavior.
A big thank you to Ruth DeLuca, for the great, yet mellow Valentine's Day party. The cupcakes were yummy too! Thanks as well to all the parents who popped in to help; you make our school a special place.
Finally, a reminder about the March 15th MAH field trip. I have only had a handful of permission slips returned. Please have your child bring in the form, and $2.00, ASAP.
Take care, and enjoy a beautiful, warm, weekend!
Carroll
Have a wonderful 3 day weekend! This week was a particularly challenging one for many kids, with the Choir performance and Valentine's Day sandwiched between two holidays. We spoke in our class meeting about distractions, and distracting behaviors, and how frustrating they are. Many of the kids are able to identify them in others, but don't see how they contribute to the problem. Feel free to continue this conversation at home. Even those children who are generally well-behaved may add to the problem by laughing at those who choose "class clown" behavior.
A big thank you to Ruth DeLuca, for the great, yet mellow Valentine's Day party. The cupcakes were yummy too! Thanks as well to all the parents who popped in to help; you make our school a special place.
Finally, a reminder about the March 15th MAH field trip. I have only had a handful of permission slips returned. Please have your child bring in the form, and $2.00, ASAP.
Take care, and enjoy a beautiful, warm, weekend!
Carroll
Monday, February 11, 2013
Hi All,
I hope you are all enjoying the first of two 3 day weekends! Because of the holidays, this week's Homework Packet will not be due until Friday, 2/22. We have found that many of the kids need a full week to practice the spelling words, and that it is worthwhile to give them extra time to prepare for the test on Friday. We have included an extra reading log (on the back of the regular one) and expect students to read throughout both weeks. Most of the class is doing an excellent job on the reading log, and reading interesting, appropriate books. Please encourage your child to check whether their outside reading has AR tests. Many of the kids are not on track with their point goals, despite a lot of reading in class and at home.
In addition, please remember that this Wednesday (2/13) is the choir performance. The kids have been practicing with Tanya and Jessica since the fall and are looking forward to showing off the results of their labors.
Our class Valentine's Day party is on Thursday. Ruth Deluca sent out a list with all students' names and a schedule. In general, 3rd grade keeps it low key.
Finally, I am sending home a permission slip for our next field trip, which is to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. They have an excellent, hands-on presentation about local history. Our class is scheduled to attend on Friday, March 15th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you are all enjoying the first of two 3 day weekends! Because of the holidays, this week's Homework Packet will not be due until Friday, 2/22. We have found that many of the kids need a full week to practice the spelling words, and that it is worthwhile to give them extra time to prepare for the test on Friday. We have included an extra reading log (on the back of the regular one) and expect students to read throughout both weeks. Most of the class is doing an excellent job on the reading log, and reading interesting, appropriate books. Please encourage your child to check whether their outside reading has AR tests. Many of the kids are not on track with their point goals, despite a lot of reading in class and at home.
In addition, please remember that this Wednesday (2/13) is the choir performance. The kids have been practicing with Tanya and Jessica since the fall and are looking forward to showing off the results of their labors.
Our class Valentine's Day party is on Thursday. Ruth Deluca sent out a list with all students' names and a schedule. In general, 3rd grade keeps it low key.
Finally, I am sending home a permission slip for our next field trip, which is to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. They have an excellent, hands-on presentation about local history. Our class is scheduled to attend on Friday, March 15th.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hi All,
This Friday, the short book reports (summaries) on students' biography books are due. Please be sure your child takes time to thoughtfully summarize their book, and to recheck their writing for proper punctuation. Also, expect your child to use their book as a resource for the more challenging spelling words. I don't want to see their subject's name misspelled.
Other than the biographies, this week's homework and routines are the usual. We will have a timed multiplication test on Friday for the multiplication facts 0-6. Please continue to review the facts daily.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
This Friday, the short book reports (summaries) on students' biography books are due. Please be sure your child takes time to thoughtfully summarize their book, and to recheck their writing for proper punctuation. Also, expect your child to use their book as a resource for the more challenging spelling words. I don't want to see their subject's name misspelled.
Other than the biographies, this week's homework and routines are the usual. We will have a timed multiplication test on Friday for the multiplication facts 0-6. Please continue to review the facts daily.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Friday, January 18, 2013
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
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
Sunday, January 13, 2013
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
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
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