Hi All,
Most of this week's information are repeats from last week. First of all, if your child is not done with typing their Little Red story, it must be finished and typed by Wednesday morning to be submitted to the Student Authors' Fair. Your child knows whether they've finished typing the story, and how to access Google Docs to complete it.
Secondly, this week's Homework Packet is the one sent home last Monday. Make sure your child is working on the packet and completing both pages of the Reading Log. The kids will definitely have math homework this Monday and Tuesday, no math on Wednesday, and I'm not sure about Thursday. RTI is ending for the year on Tuesday of this week.
The reason I'm not sure about Thursday is that we will be having state testing "Smarter Balanced" on that day. Our testing schedule is: Wednesday and Thursday morning of this week in the Computer Lab. Next week, we will be testing on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, using the Chrome Books in Room 24. The other two 3rd grade classes are also testing in Rm. 24, so we will be moving from room to room during those days. It's essential that students be on time to school during those 5 days, as testing will begin at 8:00! Please don't schedule appointments either.
Finally, I still need a few permission slips for the field trip to the Agricultural History Museum. At this point I have enough drivers.
Take care and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Hello All,
Welcome back from break! I've heard about many fun activities from the kids.
This week we will be working on Telling Time in math. The math program we are using is from Engage New York and was developed in that state to align with the Common Core. It's my understanding that the district will be providing us with this same math program next year, so it's worthwhile for the kids to become accustomed to the format. We will be returning to nightly math homework, which appears to be clearly aligned with the lessons. Kids should be able to work very independently on this. Our Homework Packet is for 2 weeks, rather than one. Because of this, I've told the kids I expect all spaces in the 2 Reading Logs to be filled. They have less homework than usual because it's spread over 2 weeks, so they can read an extra time!
In addition some of the kids will be bringing home drafts of their "Little Red" stories to type. We've been working in the Computer Lab, but will not have any more time in there for a few weeks due to testing. Stories will need to be typed in the next week to be ready for the Student Authors Fair.
We are beginning our Astronomy unit in earnest now. Expect lots of questions and conversation about the solar system. I also encourage outside reading (of informational texts) about space.
Finally, I've sent home a permission slip about our last field trip, to the Agricultural History Museum at the fairgrounds. This is a terrific field trip, with some cool hands-on activities.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Welcome back from break! I've heard about many fun activities from the kids.
This week we will be working on Telling Time in math. The math program we are using is from Engage New York and was developed in that state to align with the Common Core. It's my understanding that the district will be providing us with this same math program next year, so it's worthwhile for the kids to become accustomed to the format. We will be returning to nightly math homework, which appears to be clearly aligned with the lessons. Kids should be able to work very independently on this. Our Homework Packet is for 2 weeks, rather than one. Because of this, I've told the kids I expect all spaces in the 2 Reading Logs to be filled. They have less homework than usual because it's spread over 2 weeks, so they can read an extra time!
In addition some of the kids will be bringing home drafts of their "Little Red" stories to type. We've been working in the Computer Lab, but will not have any more time in there for a few weeks due to testing. Stories will need to be typed in the next week to be ready for the Student Authors Fair.
We are beginning our Astronomy unit in earnest now. Expect lots of questions and conversation about the solar system. I also encourage outside reading (of informational texts) about space.
Finally, I've sent home a permission slip about our last field trip, to the Agricultural History Museum at the fairgrounds. This is a terrific field trip, with some cool hands-on activities.
Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Hi All,
Famous American speeches will be presented on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 AM until they're finished. On Friday, the kids brought home a schedule, and all of the class indicated they knew the day they were to speak. Parents are welcome to attend.
We will be having a Homework Packet this week, but nightly math homework will not restart until after break. Happily, the moon is finally visible so the Moon Observation Chart should be a lot more interesting. Rob Hoffman, PVUSD's Science TOSA, will be the Third Grade's guest speaker on Monday, kicking off the astronomy unit.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Famous American speeches will be presented on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 AM until they're finished. On Friday, the kids brought home a schedule, and all of the class indicated they knew the day they were to speak. Parents are welcome to attend.
We will be having a Homework Packet this week, but nightly math homework will not restart until after break. Happily, the moon is finally visible so the Moon Observation Chart should be a lot more interesting. Rob Hoffman, PVUSD's Science TOSA, will be the Third Grade's guest speaker on Monday, kicking off the astronomy unit.
Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Hello All,
On Monday, students' Famous American speeches will be coming home to be written in final draft, practiced, and "costumed". We have spent many hours in class working on the speeches, and most of the students were able to complete their research and first drafts. It's now homework, so students will be given a very small Homework Packet this week in order to focus on the speech. This week's packet will consist of a Reading Log and the Moon Observation Chart only. (We hope to see the moon this week!) Attached to the packet is the rubric for the speech, as well as a letter explaining dates and expectations. Students in our class will be speaking on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8th and 9th. It's been exciting watching the kids learn about these special people and I know they are eager to share the information with the class.
This week we will also be wrapping up our unit on fractions. The kids will have an assessment and then will work on an interesting (in class) project to demonstrate their knowledge of fractions. We are then moving on to forms of measurement not yet addressed (capacity and time). In RTI we'll be enjoying a terrific narrative about the explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew.
Finally, we will continue to practice with the Smarter Balanced format and technology. As you've seen, the tests is quite a shift from former ones, and we'd like the kids to be as comfortable as possible with its structures.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
On Monday, students' Famous American speeches will be coming home to be written in final draft, practiced, and "costumed". We have spent many hours in class working on the speeches, and most of the students were able to complete their research and first drafts. It's now homework, so students will be given a very small Homework Packet this week in order to focus on the speech. This week's packet will consist of a Reading Log and the Moon Observation Chart only. (We hope to see the moon this week!) Attached to the packet is the rubric for the speech, as well as a letter explaining dates and expectations. Students in our class will be speaking on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8th and 9th. It's been exciting watching the kids learn about these special people and I know they are eager to share the information with the class.
This week we will also be wrapping up our unit on fractions. The kids will have an assessment and then will work on an interesting (in class) project to demonstrate their knowledge of fractions. We are then moving on to forms of measurement not yet addressed (capacity and time). In RTI we'll be enjoying a terrific narrative about the explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew.
Finally, we will continue to practice with the Smarter Balanced format and technology. As you've seen, the tests is quite a shift from former ones, and we'd like the kids to be as comfortable as possible with its structures.
Take care, and have a great week,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Hello All,
I hope you are making the most of our beautiful spring weather; I know I'm trying!
This week we will continue with fractions, making the connection between fractions and measurement. The kids are continuing to have lots of opportunities for hands-on exploration, and are coming to a deep understanding of fractions and what we really mean when we write these mathematical expressions. Thank you for your patience with the homework.
This week's homework packet went home on Friday, as so many of the kids like to get a head start on the weekend. I will be sending home one additional page on Monday-- a moon observation chart! This page should be interesting, and not too time consuming. We are encouraging the kids to make daily observations of the moon for the next 4 weeks in preparation for our science unit on Astronomy. This is one of my favorite units of study in the third grade year, and I'm sure that most students will find it equally engaging. We will begin the unit after the Famous American speeches go home for final drafts and rehearsal.
The Famous American speeches are on the calendar for Tuesday, April 8th, and Wednesday, April 9th. We have been working on research and writing in class over the last 2-3 weeks, and will continue through this week. On Monday, March 31st, students will bring their drafts home for finalizing. At that point kids should complete and recopy their speeches (typed or handwritten), rehearse them, and put together their props and/or costume. A rubric will come home with them on the 31st. I am looking for parent volunteers to video the speeches on the 8th and 9th, but any parent who wishes to watch in person will be welcome.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
I hope you are making the most of our beautiful spring weather; I know I'm trying!
This week we will continue with fractions, making the connection between fractions and measurement. The kids are continuing to have lots of opportunities for hands-on exploration, and are coming to a deep understanding of fractions and what we really mean when we write these mathematical expressions. Thank you for your patience with the homework.
This week's homework packet went home on Friday, as so many of the kids like to get a head start on the weekend. I will be sending home one additional page on Monday-- a moon observation chart! This page should be interesting, and not too time consuming. We are encouraging the kids to make daily observations of the moon for the next 4 weeks in preparation for our science unit on Astronomy. This is one of my favorite units of study in the third grade year, and I'm sure that most students will find it equally engaging. We will begin the unit after the Famous American speeches go home for final drafts and rehearsal.
The Famous American speeches are on the calendar for Tuesday, April 8th, and Wednesday, April 9th. We have been working on research and writing in class over the last 2-3 weeks, and will continue through this week. On Monday, March 31st, students will bring their drafts home for finalizing. At that point kids should complete and recopy their speeches (typed or handwritten), rehearse them, and put together their props and/or costume. A rubric will come home with them on the 31st. I am looking for parent volunteers to video the speeches on the 8th and 9th, but any parent who wishes to watch in person will be welcome.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Hi All,
Report cards will be coming home on Thursday! When they arrive, please take some time to reflect on my comments, and then work with your child to set goals for the final trimester of third grade. We tell the kids that they are all different, with various strengths and weaknesses. It's one of the reason why they are instructed to save their report cards for their parents (to whom they're addressed). Please remind your child to use the report card to think about their own areas for growth, and not to focus on the struggles or achievements of friends and siblings. Finally, I encourage you keep your plans very specific and achievable.
This week in RTI we will wrap up the story Seal Surfer, and then move on to an historical selection called Across the Wide Dark Sea. In math, we continue with fractions. Thanks, again, for your support on the math homework. Our in-class writing focus is now 100% Famous American, so be sure to have your child bring any books they have to school to use while taking notes.
I've moved the Smarter Balanced link to the links list on the right side of the blog. Please have your child experiment with this site so that they may become familiar with the testing format.
I'll be sending home another Scholastic book order on Monday, which is due on Tuesday, March 18th. The class code is located on the blog.
Lastly, thanks to all of you who have worked so hard on the Auction/ Dinner Dance Fundraiser. The on-line auction portion of this event is now live, and I encourage you all to take a look at the item from our class, as well as those donated by various members of the community. This fundraiser pays for many things that make our school run smoothly, as well as enhancing educational opportunities for all who attend Rio del Mar.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Report cards will be coming home on Thursday! When they arrive, please take some time to reflect on my comments, and then work with your child to set goals for the final trimester of third grade. We tell the kids that they are all different, with various strengths and weaknesses. It's one of the reason why they are instructed to save their report cards for their parents (to whom they're addressed). Please remind your child to use the report card to think about their own areas for growth, and not to focus on the struggles or achievements of friends and siblings. Finally, I encourage you keep your plans very specific and achievable.
This week in RTI we will wrap up the story Seal Surfer, and then move on to an historical selection called Across the Wide Dark Sea. In math, we continue with fractions. Thanks, again, for your support on the math homework. Our in-class writing focus is now 100% Famous American, so be sure to have your child bring any books they have to school to use while taking notes.
I've moved the Smarter Balanced link to the links list on the right side of the blog. Please have your child experiment with this site so that they may become familiar with the testing format.
I'll be sending home another Scholastic book order on Monday, which is due on Tuesday, March 18th. The class code is located on the blog.
Lastly, thanks to all of you who have worked so hard on the Auction/ Dinner Dance Fundraiser. The on-line auction portion of this event is now live, and I encourage you all to take a look at the item from our class, as well as those donated by various members of the community. This fundraiser pays for many things that make our school run smoothly, as well as enhancing educational opportunities for all who attend Rio del Mar.
Take care,
Carroll Mayer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)