Multiplication Sundaes

This week we began our unit study over multiplication. We will focus on various strategies for solving multiplication problems. These include drawing a picture, using repeated addition and making an array. The students will also learn the Commutative, Associative, Distributive, Identity, and Zero properties of multiplication. To help promote mastery of the facts (0-12) we will be having a classroom incentive. Each week students will take a timed quiz over the selected fact for the week. The quiz will consist of thirty questions and students will have three minutes to complete each quiz (this allows approximately six seconds per problem). With each quiz, students will be building ice-cream sundaes for the facts that they master. Students will not be able to retake a fact test. The multiplication table for the week will go home on Wednesday and the students will take their test on Tuesday (with the exception of this week...the multiplication table will come home tomorrow and the test will be on Tuesday). I urge you to practice the multiplication facts at home with your child. This is one skill that will take repeated practice and memorization to master. Flash cards, oral repetition, and games on the computer are great ways for students to study their facts. If they know a fact easily, move on to more difficult facts to practice. Facts should also be practiced out of sequence. When you practice them, don’t just do 1 x 2, but also 2 x 1; this demonstrates the Commutative Property and helps them realize that once they have learned one fact, they have actually learned two! If you have any questions please let me know.

Math Homework

Beginning on Monday (9/23), there will be a change with the Math homework.  Previously the students have completed a spiral review that touches on each of the standards presented in our Math curriculum.  While students will continue to complete a spiral review for Math homework, the format has changed.  Beginning on Monday the entire homework for the day will be on one side of the paper.  Students will bring home a Math homework packet that has 2 pages (front and back).  Monday will be side one, Tuesday will be on the back etc.  It is my intention that this will enable students to complete their Math homework in it's entirety.   Many students were forgetting to turn over the paper and thus not completing all of their Math.

Ocean Habitat

On Friday we went to the Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island. Students learned about the swmap/marsh habitats as well as the ocean habitat and ocean ecology. We learned about the rack line, high tides and low tides and the different zones found on the beach. The class enjoyed a day at the beach, the marsh and looking a zoo plankton through a microscope. While on the beach, the students learned how the sea oats stop the sand and deposit it on the ground. When enough sand is deposited a dune is formed. The students played a sea oats/sand game to how them ensure their understanding of how this works. Ask your child about the different zones found on the beach.

Technology in the 21st Century Class

Each week we progress monitor reading and math. In previous years my students had to go to the media center and use the lab for their progress monitoring. This year we are fortunate enough to able to complete our weekly progress monitoring using the mobile Ipad lab. We are striving to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.