Quiz 2, Trimester 2, as a Word Document:
Question #1: Fractions. Everyone was able to solve this problem correctly! This is huge. Fractions matter.
Continue reading Looking at Quizzes- Part 2 … How are we doing?
Looking at Quizzes- Part 1 … How are we doing?
Quiz #1 as a Word Document:
Question 1, Fractions. 90% got this one right now. The 3rd example below is one of three students who are still confused. At this point, this can be remediated in one 15-minute session. Continue reading Looking at Quizzes- Part 1 … How are we doing?
Galaxies, Pennies and Grains of Rice
Learning is an emotional pursuit. A teacher’s most powerful ally is success. Students who can see (“feel”!) their own progress will bring up the perseverance needed to master each new concept.
However, there are times when math should just be fascinating. When we should all step back and say “Wow”.
Group and Independent Practice: Multiplying and Dividing with Powers of Ten
Activity #1: Moving digit cards
There was still confusion after the activity described in our last blog. Normal, but corrigible! We had students draw a Place Value Chart on an 11 x 17 piece of paper. Something like this: Continue reading Group and Independent Practice: Multiplying and Dividing with Powers of Ten
Multiply and Divide by Powers of Ten
Interestingly, this was one of the most difficult lessons we’ve taught this year, both for teachers and students. There are several possible reasons:
Starting the Multiplication Unit
We believe there are 3 non-negotiable skills for fifth graders moving on to sixth grade:
- Fractions
- Multiplication
- Division
Accordingly, we spend more time on these 3 units than most schools do, although we work in a handful of additional topics as well. The payoff comes later — middle school (and high school!) teachers don’t have to reteach these topics. A goal in itself! Continue reading Starting the Multiplication Unit
Review Lesson: Fractions, Word Problems and Patterns.
These 4 problems actually took a whole period! Problem-solving takes time.
We did this review in groups of 3, with some students rotating after each problem, but the rotation is not necessary. (See Alpha Beta Gamma post from Sept) Rotation breaks up the period with a little movement, and decreases group competition.
Problem #1: Claire has 4 cookies more than Max. Max has 3 times as many cookies as Oliver. Altogether they have 81 cookies. How many does Claire have?
VERDICT: The kids have got it now. Continue reading Review Lesson: Fractions, Word Problems and Patterns.
WHAT IS A SANDWICH UNIT?
We teach 5th grade fractions using a “Sandwich” strategy.
One Review Lesson
Time for a review lesson. Alpha Beta Gamma is a game we introduced in a September post:
Here are the PowerPt slides: Continue reading One Review Lesson
3 Investigations and 3 Homeworks – Investigating Patterns
INVESTIGATION 1: Visual Patterns
We spend one lesson investigating patterns we choose from this website:
http://www.visualpatterns.org/
It is best to start with patterns like #2, #15, #18, that add a constant number of objects at each step.
Concrete/pictorial students will spend the time they need to build or draw the next few steps in a pattern, and count the new totals at each step. Watch for leaps of intuition when a student gradually begins to see a pattern emerging, and takes the risk of predicting the 10th or the 43rd term. Continue reading 3 Investigations and 3 Homeworks – Investigating Patterns