First off thank you for the many well wishes that I get better soon. I was able to sleep an entire day on Tuesday, broke my fever and I feel somewhat back to normal.
Things we are focusing on this week:
- Our US Constitution. Today we had a nice recap of our reading exercise regarding the Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Students are working on answering further questions about the Constitution.
- We had a great discussion on Monday regarding density, sugar-free and regular soda and ice coolers.
- Properly labeling work that we submit. We have been having a surge in no-names and papers not labeled what exactly the assignment is for.
- www.scootpad.com had a complete “extreme makeover” during the weekend. It looks much fancier and more modern so we are seeing how the changes influence the student’s learning.
Today’s math…..
Many students, despite 2 to 3 times per day, where I strongly recommend they take notes, many students are not taking notes.
Why?
- They do NOT yet own a solely dedicated math notebook therefore they are taking random notes on random graph paper. Lord knows if they keep those notes for future reference or add to them to help them on quiz and test days.
- They really need something like this item.
- They are choosing simply not to take notes and follow my explicit examples. However as the year progresses, similar to today’s experiences, homework will be expected to follow a common core best practice that may not be shown in their book. Similarly it is a way that unless you attended school in Singapore, you were not exposed to when you took math.
- I prefaced this to the kids and reminded them 15 minutes afterwards that the book and their parents most likely wouldn’t be able to complete the homework as I am requesting.
In a nutshell -- they should be bringing home their math notebook every single Monday through Thursday evening. That really should be their number one resource and they should be referring to it as their reference.
Having said all that…..while many of the kids were choosing to either just begin their homework and “go rogue” and/or simply choosing not to take notes and/or try to solve by themselves; we were attempting to complete our math during the 1:20’ish through 2 p.m. time period of the day. Therefore it was quicker than I would have liked and doing math after lunch is less than ideal. If though the situation was not ideal, they can still choose to take better notes and utilize their notebook.
- If you don’t have Amazon or if you don’t want to go searching for the graph paper notebook, send in a check or money for $6.60 and I’ll order the one like the link above.
Regarding why I have been showing them (we have done and I have modeled 4 previous fraction problems similar to tonight’s during our daily math review) to first prime factor the numerators and the denominators PRIOR to multiplying or dividing fractions is that they end up dealing with much smaller numbers. It puts further emphasis on knowing your multiplication facts however students will be much ore successful finding products and/or quotients with the remaining factors. Furthermore using the “power of 1” with similar factors in the numerator and denominator is the EXACT same way they will reduce expressions when working w/ variables during algebra.
What the heck am I saying?????
I would point out two things from the example:
- the fractions they are simplifying are much larger than what we expect 5th graders to work through however the strategy is still the same. Numerator is broken into prime factors and so are the denominators. Then through the “power of 1” we simplify.
- Note the final example, see how this strategy of simplification of fractions is the exact same one used during algebra.
There really is a method to this “new” method that many other countries are having success with. Their students begin simplifying and working w/ fractions much sooner since the emphasis is on prime factoring which is directly linked to “knowing your math facts” well.
Also why enlarge your fractions when every fraction in the world ALWAYS has to be simplified (i.e. shrunk) for your final answer. It makes sense to remove the common factors (through the “power of one”) and end with the final answer already simplified.
The whole new and improved strategies towards understanding and working with fractions is all predicated on being able to prime factor numerators and denominators so your son/daughter still has about 25 weeks more of practice with this so we will get this down.
Now if your son/daughter did not do well on the math fluency assessments (on Engrade Math) and you believe it is due to the fact they still don’t quickly recall their 3rd grade standard math facts, then you should be concerned and your child should own some old-school flash cards because you can’t easily prime factor without that foundation knowledge.
I’m sending home the field trip forms tomorrow. For some kids their field trip will be on Monday, some on Wednesday and some on Thursday. If you can sign and return the field trip form ASAP, I promise to inform you the day and with who your child is getting their safely with.
Also don’t forget that the Jawsathon is NEXT Friday. PFC has not been lucky to have won the fireworks lottery the last two summers therefore this is an important and fun fundraiser. So don’t forget to get your kids fired up for running, being healthy and getting more oxygen to their brains!!(they learned last week that our brains are our #1 oxygen hog).
This Friday is “run club” -- students earn “dawg tags” or is it “dog tags”?
This Friday is also Scoop Night. I’m scooping that evening. If you or your child want to take out revenge regarding my particular fraction strategies, it would be a great opportunity to purposely put me to work and boss me around as I make your custom ice-cream.
We also should receive some rain!!!!
Kind regards,
Mr. Hubbard
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.”
- Napoleon Hill
Homework for the remainder of the week:
Math:
252-253 (1-24 all) due Thursday
204-205 (1-28 all) due Friday
Spelling Test is on Friday. Words and practice can be found on www.spellingcity.com
Vocabulary Test on Friday. Words and vocab practice can be found at www.spellingcity.com
Read 30 minutes every night.
Please bring in the READING AROUND THE USA on Friday. (the thing that you and I sign off on every 100 pages).
Our Living Constitution is due on Friday.
The free-write due Friday
Let me tell you about my teacher that is on steroids and takes too many energy drinks……..
20 minutes or 1 full page.
Students turning in typed out work are asked to use:
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