We had some ghostly fun today as the students worked on creating their own little ghost that they can bring home on Friday.
Today was a very important lesson on multiplying fractions. There was a significant amount of time and examples dedicated towards the importance of breaking the composite numbers in the numerators and denominators into their “prime numbers.” This allows the students to first use the “power of one” (in the olden days we called this cross canceling) to simplify the numerator and denominators PRIOR to doing the multiplication.
It really makes the most sense because:
- most students have enough multiplication sense to factor tree composite numbers down to their prime factors
- simplifying BEFORE multiplying ensures that unless the product is an improper fractions then the final product will already be in its simplest form
- logically and from observing 5th graders, it puts them into a great possibility to succeed when they deal with removing common factors and multiplying the smallest numbers possible than the 80’s way of just multiplying AND THEN look to cross cancel and simplify. Why make the largest product possible only to have to then simplify the maximum product.
We literally did 6 examples of this today and I walked around and ensured everyone was participating and practicing this important concept.
As we have been doing throughout the week we also worked on our narrative writing skills. Today we discussing transitional phrases, why we use them, how useful are they and and how to go back and add them into our narratives. If curious ask your son or daughter to explain what one of their three narratives is all about.
Kind regards,
Mr. Hubbard
Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.”
- Author Unknown
Homework for the week:
Math:
260-262 (1-41 odds only) 11-4 due Friday
Vocab and Spelling Test tomorrow.
Read 30 minutes every single night
Free write due on Friday:
My happiest Halloween memory was……..
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