Week of October 6th

Last week the 5th grade worked on connecting models and strategies for multiplication, with some extensions moving toward using these models with some algebraic concepts.  This week the fifth  grade will finalize some ideas around multiplication and apply those as we work on division.  We will be approaching division with a variety of strategies which will include rewriting as a multiplication problem and using an area model as we connect the two concepts.  I have included a short youtube clip in the resources section that outlines how the area model for multiplication can be used as students learn algebraic concepts in future grades.  

The 6th grade classes started a unit last week, Comparing Bits and Pieces.  This week we will focus on writing equivalencies to compare situations using both fractions and ratios.  For both 5th and 6th grade self assessment will be coming home as homework as well as some review problems.  Students do have the opportunity to work with me during the last block of the day on their self assessment if they don't have band or chorus.  For most students, this means they have at least 1 or 2 days a week to work on this at school.  If your child is struggling at home with this task, remind them to take advantage of this opportunity.   I do take notes on individual students throughout the course of a day to compare to self assessments.  Self assessment grading, which measures a student's progress toward the content math goals, will account for 80% of the overall grade, and homework completion will make up the remaining 20%.  The homework portion will be calculated at the end of the trimester based on homework completion.  Homework completion also has to do with reading and following the directions of the tasks.  This week I will not mark as completed assignments that do not follow the directions (usually this means only part of a question was answered or part of the directions were skipped).  

As I stated in the last blog, math fact fluency is crucial to noticing patterns in mathematics.  One strategy to try with your child is to give him/ her a product and then recall a fact.  For example, give the product 24 and your child should be able to recall 2x12, 3x8, and 4x6.  An example of the value of this concept occurs when two fractions have denominators of 6 and 8.  Knowing that 24 can be a product of both of these numbers makes creating equivalent fractions with a common denominator about the concept rather than struggling with math facts.   The asteroid game on the right side of the blog is a great game to practice this skill.  

As always, if you have any questions feel free to email.