February Update

What a crazy week and it is only Tuesday.  Since we have such a short week, I will not be assigning any homework.  We will be working on a project over the next couple of days that I hope students might work on outside of class.  On Friday we have winter carnival so no math or any other classes that day.  There will be no assigned work over break but I encourage students who are still learning their multiplication facts to practice.  We are in the home stretch of our work with fractions and will end with some work with fractions and division after break.  The trimester ends this Friday and report cards will go home the week after we return from break.
Wishing you all a relaxing February break!

January Update

We are well into our study of operations with fractions.  Our study of fractions is one of the biggest units in 5th grade.  Students have been learning how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (1 3/4 + 3 2/3).  Students have done a lot of work with models so that they conceptually understand why and how we use equivalent fractions to create common denominators so that we can add and subtract fractions.  Students are currently using Educreations to create screencasts to teach others how to subtract fractions.  Be sure to ask your student to see their screencast once they are finished and their project is saved.  During the next week, we will move into multiplication with fractions and our study will end with dividing whole numbers by fractions.

As for homework, we have been in a routine of having two nights of xtramath in addition to a set of review problems.  I have done things a little differently this year by assigning both at the beginning of the week with due dates on Friday.  My hope is to give students flexibility to work around busy nights while also giving them the responsibility of planning ahead to get the work done before Friday.  Due to the short week and the fact that their screencasts are due this Friday, I will not assign computation practice this week but plan for computation next Monday again.

November Update

We are well into our investigation of volume.  Students began the unit with a problem solving task that asked them to figure out if a truck that had a capacity of 4 tons is the right truck for carrying crates of milk. Students developed their own strategy for finding the volume of the truck in terms of milk crates.  Every student came to a conclusion that you need to know three dimensions when considering volume.  Next they used their learning from our first unit, multi-digit multiplication, to determine the weight of the crates.  Work was very hands-on.  Students were "creating" the truck, measuring, and using their critical thinking skills to solve the problem.  We have intermixed some math practice days with additional problem solving tasks involving volume.  The last couple of days, students have been working on a design and engineering task that asks them to create a shipping box to ship products such as yogurt, shoeboxes, cereal etc.  Students have completed their work and are now deciding what to present and how best to communicate their thinking in the form of a google slideshow.  Ask your student to share their presentation with you!

You may have noticed that I have begun to enter scores under proficiency.  Be sure to look to see whether the score is a pre or post assessment.  I included the pre-assessment scores with some comments so that you can see the growth and learning that took place this fall.  I will be adding more soon and throughout the year.  Please email with any questions you may have about these scores.  

The Wizards teachers look forward to seeing you at the student-led conferences next Monday evening.  Please be sure that your child will be there since they lead the conference.  Thanks in advance for making time to attend.

Update

We have finished our first unit of study this year and will have a formal assessment tomorrow.  The big push over the last couple of weeks was with increasing efficiency in division.  Students continued their study of menu division while dealing with larger numbers.  Students also made sense of remainders in terms of the context of the problem.  I will continue to send home division and multiplication problems as homework and practice.  Students can use calculators to check their work but I will be looking to see if they showed their thinking throughout their assignment.  We have not taught students how to do the traditional algorithm for division (the way many adults learned to do division).  I encourage you to ask your student to explain how they have learned to solve multi-digit division problems.

I have also introduced a very important component of our math program here at CBMS, self-reflection.  Research shows that reflection increases student learning and engagement.  Students began formally reflecting and self-assessing their work today.  We will be using our proficiencies based on what the math department calls Habits of Learning.  These important "habits" are problem solving, advocacy, self-control, and communication.  The explanation of the proficiencies based on self-control and problem solving can be viewed below.  You will see this proficiencies along with the math content standards on student report cards.

Habits of Learning: Self Discipline/Self Control

4	3	2	1
Does not distract self or others and you are focused and on task.  Did not need a reminder.  You use all of class to make progress toward the goal.	Does not distract self or others and you are focused and on task.  Did not need a reminder.  You use most of class to make progress toward the goal.	May distract others.  You are on task and focused for most of class, but need at least one reminder.  You used most of class to make progress toward the goal.	You were distracted or distracted others during class.  You needed multiple reminders.  You use very little class time to make progress toward the goal.

Habits of Learning: Problem Solving

4	3	2	1
Is a 3 and also does the following:  Looks for various approaches to problems solving.  Looks to solve problems in multiple ways.  Tries to find most efficient solution.	Initiates a problem solving task independently.  Considers what the problem is asking, creates a plan, and identifies a strategy  OR develops questions to move forward.  Has perseverance when challenged.	May have difficulty initiating a problem solving task independently. Has difficulty generating questions he/she may have.  May not persevere when met with a challenge.	Does not try to initiate a problem solving task independently.  Does not generate any questions about the problem.

Lastly, please continue to check Schoology for missing work.  Due to the fact that most math assignments are submitted using pencil and paper you will have to look at your student's grades.  If you see any scores of 1, your student has not completed the assignment.  They can make up work with me.  Please encourage them to do so!

Parent Night Handouts

Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to parent night.  I know how busy my household can get so for those of you who couldn't make it, I wanted to provide you with the handouts.

I provided parents with a general overview of the year.  Click here for that handout.  I didn't get a chance to talk much about how best to help your students with homework but strongly encourage you to read the handout Math Homework:  How parents can help.  When you ask questions that require your child to think deeply about the math they are doing their learning will benefit.  Simply showing a student how to do the math can create a procedural understanding absent of any conceptual comprehension.   The questions provided on this handout give you some ideas of ways to help when your students asks. 

Speaking of conceptual understanding, we are deep into multi-digit multiplication.  Most students began solving problems using an area model and have done extensive work around understanding the model.  Many students are at a point where they are visualizing the model in their head and no longer drawing the model.  Ask your student to show you how to solve a 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problem!

In terms of homework, expect to see xtramath.org homework for the next week or so.  This online program is tailored to each student based on their knowledge of multiplication facts.  They will continue with this program until they learn their facts.  Please continue to practice these facts with your student.

Homework and Multiplication Fact Fluency

You may have noticed that students have begun to have homework.  Research has shown that math homework is most useful after students have learned the concepts.  In other words, it should be practice only.  If you notice that your student seems to be trying to figure out a concept and is needing a lot of help on a homework assignment, please have them see me or email me.  Homework will be assigned when students are ready to practice and therefore it will not be every night.  That said, I will provide some online tools that can be used if you prefer to have your student doing math every night.  The first tool will be xtramath.org.  Students will be set up with their accounts by the end of this week. You should see the first xtramath assignment next week. 

A big push for homework right now is multiplication fact fluency.  It is really important for students to have these facts memorized.  Knowing their multiplication facts frees up their brain to focus on the bigger concepts we will be exploring.  We will be using xtramath.org as one way to support this effort.  Please find time to practice multiplication facts for 0-12.  Students can also check out Meteor Math which has a link on this blog for some practice.  There are numerous free flashcard apps that are useful when you have a few minutes here and there.

At this point, students will be writing math homework assignments in their assignment books.  Most assignments will also be posted on Schoology (our new Learning Management System) so students may want to check out their accounts if they are not sure if they have homework.  Students can also see if they are missing assignments using Schoology as well. 

Stay tuned for more information on Schoology and assessments.  

Week 2

This week we finished up our expectations for working together this year.  Our class was very thoughtful as they worked together to finish this task.  Here are the classroom norms they came up with:

We will be kind and think about how we can help others

We will go with the flow and not flip out

We will cooperate and work as a team

We will be responsible, focused and have self-control

We will have a growth mindset and persevere when things get hard

We will listen to each other

We also spent some time thinking about our math mindset.  It is extremely important for all students to recognize that they have the ability to learn math when they put forth effort.  This will be a conversation that I will continue to have with students throughout the year. 

Today we began our first unit of study on factors and multiples.  You will see a link to the factor game which you could have your student show you or they can play independently against the computer.

Enjoy your long weekend with your family!