The fifth graders have shown incredible growth during this first, very challenging unit in Bridges Math. They each need to complete some portion of their unit 1 test before we move onto our next unit. I have corrected what they have done so far, and I am very pleased with everyone's understanding of number relationships and progress they have made. As a math teacher it is very exciting to see the leaps of understanding students make using this program.
Our next unit will focus on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. This program is rigorous, but will support understanding of fractions in ways most of us were never taught. I will try to add info to this blog with images of how the students are thinking about fractions in order to help those at home understand what we are doing here in the classroom. I think you'll be impressed with the ways your child will be able to think about fractions, decimals and percentiles!
Currently we are only meeting 4 days a week due to the Starbase program. (I know for sure students are applying their math skills and knowledge at Starbase though!)
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Week of October 17
The fifth graders will be finishing up their first unit in Math this week and taking their unit test on Thursday. Next Monday (Oct. 24) they will have the opportunity to assess their growth and compare their pretest to posttest knowledge and proficiency. Bridges 2nd edition has a great format that allows students to clearly see their increased skill level and view areas they still need to work on. It really puts the student in the driver's seat owning their education. There are so many online opportunities for increasing skill level in any given area. Our students all have IXL accounts and Khan Academy is a great resource for reteaching/relearning just about anything!
We are still at our beginning stages of division and will continue to delve deeper throughout the year.
Below are some pics that show how students are using the area model to solve division problems. The manipulatives we are using are called base ten pieces.
Liz Steventon is accompanying our 5th graders to Starbase each week. She graciously and diligently is taking pictures (which is hard to do when we're all so busy during the Starbase day I might add) and I will share some on this blog.
We are still at our beginning stages of division and will continue to delve deeper throughout the year.
Below are some pics that show how students are using the area model to solve division problems. The manipulatives we are using are called base ten pieces.
Liz Steventon is accompanying our 5th graders to Starbase each week. She graciously and diligently is taking pictures (which is hard to do when we're all so busy during the Starbase day I might add) and I will share some on this blog.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Week of Oct. 11
Week of October 11:
This will be a three day week for Math instruction due to Monday's in-service and the fifth graders attending Starbase on Friday. We have begun the final part of Unit 1 and are working on using area models to represent division. I will add pictures to show this work tomorrow as students continue to delve deeper in this skill.
Parents, please bear with us as we learn how to divide. It doesn't look like the "system" we were taught, but it actually is very similar, yet adds a dimension of understanding that we were not privy to in our instruction as fifth graders. Students will eventually learn the standard algorithm (like we know) but not for a while. Students have my phone numbers and are welcome to call me if they need help. (They know by 8 p.m. is best.)
I have also attached PDF copies of homework on the website just in case you get the old "I left my homework at school" excuse. If you don't have a printer, your child can just put their work and answers on a piece of paper and label the page number and problem numbers on it.
As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
This will be a three day week for Math instruction due to Monday's in-service and the fifth graders attending Starbase on Friday. We have begun the final part of Unit 1 and are working on using area models to represent division. I will add pictures to show this work tomorrow as students continue to delve deeper in this skill.
Parents, please bear with us as we learn how to divide. It doesn't look like the "system" we were taught, but it actually is very similar, yet adds a dimension of understanding that we were not privy to in our instruction as fifth graders. Students will eventually learn the standard algorithm (like we know) but not for a while. Students have my phone numbers and are welcome to call me if they need help. (They know by 8 p.m. is best.)
I have also attached PDF copies of homework on the website just in case you get the old "I left my homework at school" excuse. If you don't have a printer, your child can just put their work and answers on a piece of paper and label the page number and problem numbers on it.
As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Week of October 3:
5th Graders will continue to work on new multiplication strategies this coming week. They are in a new learning curve that does not feel completely comfortable yet, but will save them so much calculation time as they familiarize themselves with these strategies. Below is a sample of four of the strategies they will be using. Perhaps you and your child can try these out using various numbers.
The new strategies are:
Using Partial Products through a ratio table:
Doubling & Halving:
25 x 36
50 x 18
100 x 9 = 900
Over time, students will become more fluent with these strategies and more proficient mathematicians as they calculate larger numbers.
The new strategies are:
Using Partial Products through a ratio table:
Over Strategy:
Doubling & Halving:
25 x 36
50 x 18
100 x 9 = 900
Five is Half of Ten:
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