Hi All,

Thanks for a week of great meetings!  I enjoyed discussing each and every one of your children; hearing your insights and questions, and sharing mine. Please feel free to follow up if via email if more questions arise.

We are going into a very short week, but it'll be a full one. We are having a math test on Unit 2, which will begin on Monday. We worked most of last week on a practice test, which is formatted just like the real one. Your kid should have brought home the practice test on Friday, which we corrected together. Each kid was responsible for making corrections to any errors in their practice test. It was my intention to attach a copy of my corrected version of the test to this post, but I locked myself out of the classroom!  For the most part, the problems should be a familiar type and solved in ways that make sense. However, the area model, also known as "open array", is something fairly new. I've attached a short video explaining how it works, in case your child is still having trouble with solving problems in this way, or seeing the connection to multiplication. Please support your kid in preparing for the test.

Open arrays--area model


We will also be conducting our second "Mystey Science" investigation on energy. The kids loved the first one. After Thanksgiving, we'll begin a Hyperdoc on Energy, which will involve some reading and a small -- in class-- research project.

Finally, we will continue reading the very fun book, By the Great Horn Spoon, and writing our "Expert" Informational text pieces.

Have a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving,

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

We have a fast couple of weeks ahead!

First of all, I'm looking forward to meeting with you all and discussing your beautiful children. I sent out an email with a photo of the conference schedule, but please contact me if you're having trouble with it, or have misplaced your day and time. Kids will be dismissed every day at 12:20, and there is no Afterschool program.

In class this week, we will continue reading By the Great Horn Spoon. It's a very fun historical novel about a young boy and his butler traveling to California and the Gold Rush.  Mr. McMillan has linked the audiobook from his blog, and kids may bring the book home to review, as long as they return with it each day.

We are finishing up the current math unit, and will be working on the practice test this week. We'll have the actual test next week, before the Thanksgiving holiday. After that, we'll be working with fractions!

See you later this week,

Carroll Mayer

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

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

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

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

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