Hi All,

After a long week of testing, we are finally taking off! This week, I’ll be sending home the 4th Grade Choice Board, and that will be your child’s weekly homework for the year. Tomorrow, the kids and I will spend some time discussing it, but I will also clarify questions at Back-to-School Night on September 6th. I am also sending home the Bridges Math Home Workbook, which is one of the many options on the Choice Board.

We’ve begun the first math unit, which is on Multiplicative thinking. For many kids, it’s a big shift to think in multiples instead of adding. They will be learning many multiplication strategies beyond the arrays and memorization they worked on in 3rd Grade. In reading, we are building stamina, and learning comprehension strategies, including Notice and Note “signposts”.  We are having tons of fun in science, and are studying how eyes work. We are also beginning twice monthly singing, with the entire 4th Grade!

The Afterschool Program begins this Monday. I will be teaching 4th Graders on Monday and Thursday. If you are planning on having your child attend, please submit the forms sent home during Week 1, or available at the Afterschool link.

A thank you for the donations of classroom supplies, gift cards, and dollars!

Have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Here we go, a full week!

This week we will be doing some beginning of the year assessments —MAP tests and AR levels. MAP tests measure both reading and math. We will also continue with community building activities, our 2 Read-Aloud ( The Wild Robot and Tiger Rising), and begin our first math unit, on multiplication and division. Last week,  we also began our first science unit, on “Human Body, Senses, and the Brain”, and will continue with our investigations.  I will not be sending homework, but I encourage children to read daily. If you have not already done so, please return parent paperwork.

All the best,

Carroll Mayer

Hi Fourth Graders and Parents,

Welcome to 4th Grade!  I am excited to start a new year and have lots of fun ideas to share with you all. I have met many of you over the years, but here's a brief bio. I've taught at Rio del Mar for 15 years, and it's my 5th year in 4th Grade.  I have 2 adult children who attended Rio, and I live in the neighborhood with my husband. I love reading, including children's books, and play Bridge weekly (with Mrs. Clouse!) I love beach walks and am very grateful for the amazing summer we just had.
I also got to travel to Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii!

I usually update the blog weekly, often on Sunday. Please try to check for new information regularly. Parents, if you subscribe to this blog in the space above, you will receive emails when I post. I won't be arranging volunteers until Back-to-School Night, on September 6th, but it'd be great if you submit driver information as we will have a field trip to the aquarium this the fall. We are required by the district to turn in all paperwork long before the actual activity, so updated info. is very helpful. If you wish to volunteer regularly, or even drive on a trip, you need to have fingerprints and TB tests on file with the office. Fingerprinting is done at the PV District Office.

This first week will be focused primarily on community, although we will be doing some great math activities from Jo Boaler's WIM (Week of Inspirational Math.) Google Youcubed if you want to read about it. Homework is assigned to the parents---you know the packet!  Please try to return it this first week. I'd also like you to email me with your preferred email addresses.

I will be reading two books aloud to the kids during these first few weeks: Tiger Rising and The Wild Robot. Kids may bring their own copies of these books to follow along if they wish. 

Finally, I have a small list of supplies, but provide all materials needed.  Our materials are mostly communal, and I find that many kids are distracted by cool new erasers, sharpeners, notebooks, etc. So I'd prefer you keep those items at home. If you wish to contribute to the class supplies, donations to the class are welcome.  I am also thrilled with gift cards to Amazon, Staples, Palace, and Bookshop Santa Cruz, as I make purchases throughout the year. Checks to our classroom fund are also handy!

Feel free to email with any questions,

Carroll Mayer

Hi Parents and Kids,

This is the homework that kids will need to work on next week. (Sorry it looks weird.) I will send home hard copies on Tuesday, but it's a short week, with lots to do, so here you go!

Have a great 3 day weekend!

Carroll Mayer

Special Homework for May 29th- June 1st

• Practice Wax Museum speech.
• Plan Wax Museum costume and bring to
• school on Thursday, May 31st.
• Read and finish books and take AR tests by
• Monday, June 4th.
• Practice for Friday’s Math Test-- Unit 6

Practice Problems for Math Test

1. Six friends are going to Lake Tahoe.
2. The trip will cost $150.
3. How much does each person pay?
4. Show your work.

1. The friends stop at Safeway to buy snacks to share.
2. They cost $16.50. How much does each person pay?  
3. Show your work.
4. How did you handle the remainder?

1. Mrs. Green is ordering books for next year.
2. She needs 200 planners for the 5th and 6th classes.
3. She has found 3 half-boxes of 12 in the stockroom.
4. If she orders 6 more cases of 24 planners,
5. will she have enough? Show your work.

1. The area of the Mr. Kyle’s  rectangular garden is 2286 square feet.
2. If one dimension is 9 feet, how long is the other dimension?
3. Use sketches and equations to solve this problem. Show all your work.

1. Fourth graders are measuring the length of their long jumps.
2. Make a list of the distance they jump. (You can make these up.)
3. Draw a line plot using the information you have.

Additional practice problems can be found on pages 125-127,
and 129-130 of your Home Connections math workbook.

Hi All,


Phew!  What a week!!  I enjoyed seeing all of you on Thursday; Open House is always a fun and festive celebration of the year's learning.

Thanks again for my Hideout birthday gift card. I had a great time using it with a good friend!

While I am have most of the permission slips, I think I am still a bit short on drivers for our End of the Year Party.  As I don't know car capacity, I have assigned 3 kids to a car unless notified otherwise.

1. Carole-Anne-3
2. Julie C.-3
3. Liz R.-5
4. Sean P.-3
5. Phil G.-3
6. Tina H.-3
7. Aga V.-7
8. Chris K.-3

*Please let me know if you can take more than 3 kids. 

This week, the kids have one more district-mandated test: the ELA MAP test.  Next week we will have a small math test. Kids should know how/when to use multiplication and division to solve story problems.

We are also working on our final project; the Famous Artist Wax Museum. The kids have all selected artists (many of them pop musicians).  They are researching and writing a short first person statement about the life of the artist. Kids will bring it home to memorize as they complete the work this week, and the Wax Museum will be held in the Cafeteria on Thursday, May 31st in the morning (9:15-10:20). Parents are welcome to stop in and listen to the kids. The homework component of this project is:

1. Memorize the speech.
2. Put together a "dress-up" style costume.

We are also reading our final novel, Esperanza Rising.  If your child is absent, they should read 10-20 pages of the novel, or listen to the audiobook linked on Mr. McMillan's blog. You may also email me about the pages read. In Social Studies, the class is working on a hyperdoc about California's "Path to Statehood." 

Have a great week!

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Thanks for all the Teacher appreciating!  I’ve enjoyed the flowers, cards, and treats. I really love all the thoughtful notes from the kids. Also, the $50 gift card to Bookshop Santa Cruz is a great treat. As the kids know, I love books and reading!

Thanks for all your kind words and actions,

Carroll

Hi Parents,

A few reminders...

Kids should have a solid plan for their California project. In class, we are finishing up the writing and research; project is home work.

Jogging for the Arts is this Friday. Kids love this activity, and it's a festive way to support our school.

Open House is Thursday, May 17th. Please plan on attending. Information about dinner option is coming home today.

Today, be on the look out for a permission slip for our End of the Year Party!  We will be going to the Green Valley Cinema, and taking our own DVD with us.  This means that the entire 4th Grade can vote on a movie. The cost per student will be $7.00, and will include a Kid's Treat.  Each class will get 3 free chaperones, additional ones will cost $3.00.  So, if you'd like to go, let us know right away!  The first 3 responders will get the free admission. For those of you unable to attend, we are taking donations to offset the $3.00 per adult charge.

Finally, thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. I feel very appreciated! 

Have a great week,

Carroll Mayer