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!