Hi All,

For the next 2 week students will be taking CSTs. Because of this focus, we will not be sending home a spelling packet.  I will be sending a reading log on Monday, and the students will have nightly math homework. In addition, there will be a multiplication drill sheet attached to the math homework each day. The third grade is experimenting with a new multiplication program with the goal of greater fluency in this skill.

As your  kids have probably shared, gum is allowed during testing. They will be able to chew gum in class, and will have to throw it out before leaving the classroom.  I have asked that they not bring bubble gum, as I don't want there to be a temptation to blow bubbles. I will bring some gum to share, and you may also equip your child with enough gum to share with others.

I will not need parent volunteers during the 2 week testing window.

Most of the class has returned their typed "Little Red" story, but if your child has not, please send it ASAP. The Student Authors' Fair is scheduled for next Saturday, May 4th at the Capitola Mall and we will need time to assemble their typed work with the pop-up illustration.  

Finally, on Friday we had such a nice day with Jogging For the Arts in the morning, and a party and video in the early afternoon. Then we wrapped it all up in the garden!  Thanks to Ruth DeLuca for organizing the party, and Rachel O'Hara for planning our Life Lab activities.  In addition, thanks to all of you that worked to make Jogging For the Arts such a smooth and well-run event! 

Take care, and have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Hello All,

I hope you enjoyed the gorgeous spring weather!

This week we will begin test prep. for CSTs (the state tests) which Third grade will begin on Tuesday, April 30th.  We will be testing daily during that week, and the following Tuesday and Wednesday.  Please be sure to get your kids to school on time, and avoid doctor and dental appointments during the morning hours.

This week's story in RTI is Poppa's New Pants.  The strategy is Predict/ Infer and the skill is Drawing Conclusions.  In spelling, we will focus on contractions. In math we will wrap up our short unit on capacity, and then move on to long division!d

If you and your child are working on their "Little Red" typing at home, please push to have it completed by Friday.

In addition, this Friday is Jogging for the Arts.  Please have your child bring in their pledge form this week so that we are ready to go on the 26th.  The kids really enjoy this event and are proud to help with fundraising.

Finally, thanks to all of you who responded swiftly with signed permission slips for our final field trip, to the Agricultural History Museum, and generously with your $5.00+ donations.  If you haven't sent in the permission slip, please do so ASAP.  I am also still in need of a couple drivers.

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a fun and energizing break.  We are on to the final push because soon your children will be 4th graders. It goes fast, I know!  Along with the usual, I will begin doing some review as we will begin state testing at the end of the month.

Next week in RTI we will start a new story called Pepita Talks Twice. The reading strategy emphasized with this story is "Evaluate"  and the skill is "Problem Solving".   In math we will continue with multiplying greater numbers.  Continue to practice multiplication facts daily as this will make more complex math applications easier, and more accurate.

I enjoyed seeing the kids in their costumes and was very proud of their work on the Famous American speeches.  Many of the kids appeared to have a great time with costumes/ props and worked hard to learn and present their speech in a clear and poised manner.  The majority were also great listeners to the presentations as well!

Finally, this week I will be sending home some "Little Red Riding Hood" stories to be typed into final drafts. We wrote these stories a couple of months ago, and have been trying to chip away at the typing at school, but our time in the computer lab is short and there are not that many computers in the class, so this seems the most efficient way.  Kids and parents may type together, kids may assist by reading their work, or you may set your child up to work on their own ---- whichever way works best for your family.  If you print at home, please divide the text into two equal (probably partial) pages.  You may also email me the text and I will print it at school.  If any of this is an issue in your household, please let me know. We have completed the art for this pop-up book at school and will be assembling it once we have the text in final draft.

As always, thank you for your support at home and at school.

Take care,
Carroll Mayer

Hello All,

Our big focus this week is the Famous American speeches taking place on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:55- ?.  The schedule went home on Friday, March 15th along with the rubric and your child's drafts of his/her speech.  It is our expectation that children will come ready to present the speech on the assigned day.  Kids are encouraged to have"dress up" style costumes and/or bring appropriate props to support the speech.  This is noted in the rubric.  They are also encouraged to memorize the speech, but may hold notes and refer to them as needed.  Students who read the speech will be docked 1-2 points out of the total of 24; the more familiar and relaxed your child is, the better they will do.  There will not be a Homework Packet this week so that students may have additional time to practice.

In Math we have moved to multiplication of 2 and 3 digit numbers by a single digit.  There will  still be nightly math homework.

Finally, this week's story in RTI is Trapped By the Ice!, the story of Shackleton's attempt to traverse Antarctica.  The reading strategy for the story is Monitor/Clarify. The skill for this story is "Text Structure", specifically non-fiction text.

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

First of all, on Friday students brought home two important items: report cards and their work on the Famous American speech.  Please have your child return their signed report card envelope this week.  The Famous American speech is now homework, with the due date for your child's speech, and the rubric inside their light blue folder. We will have a regular homework packet this week as well.

Secondly, most of the children have returned their signed list of playground rules; if your child has not, please send it ASAP.  I appreciate your support in reminding the kids as to our expectations of their behavior, in the class and on the playground! On that note, ask your child about the presentation from Susan Tremont on "My Distractions" last Thursday.  The kids were very attentive to Ms. Tremont's lesson and seem to have a clear understanding of these issues.  Hopefully, awareness will lead to improved effort in this respect.

Finally, thanks to all the parents who were able to chaperon on Friday's field trip.  It's one of my favorites, and a great opportunity to learn some local history through hands-on activities.

Take care, and have a great week.
Carroll Mayer

Hello All,
First of all, thanks to all of you who followed up on Friday's email regarding behavioral issues in Room 24.  I appreciate your support.

This week the kids will continue working on their speech about their "Famous American".  We have been working daily on this project for the last several weeks, adding research and writing to the reading students did in January. On Friday, kids will bring home their work,  and any unfinished work will become homework.  I will also attach a letter giving the dates the speech is due, along with a rubric about our expectations for the final product.

Friday will also be the day report cards come home.  The original date was shifted, due to technology issues on campus last week.

Also on Friday, our class will attending our field trip to the SC MAH.  Thank you to all the drivers who volunteered.  I think you will find this trip a fun and interesting one.

Finally, a big thank you to the O'Hara family, who have been working diligently in our Rio garden and filled in the giant mud puddle in front of our classroom.  In addition, thanks so much to Misty Courtney and Mary Zimmer for their hard work on our yearbook pages.  You all are going to be so impressed.  Also, thanks to Brett Hegna for the cool auction item.  The kids had a good time working on it, and I know someone is going to love it!

Take care, and have a good week,
Carroll Mayer

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