Math: P.68 7-10
Parents, we are working on double digit multiplication problems, specifically: DD x DD and DD x DDD. I have shown the class a few different ways that multiplication can be represented. DON'T PANIC! My goal is to teach them the way that you grew up learning. I just wanted to show that there are many ways to do what we're doing. It helps reinforce how simple our system is. There is a video showing the "Lattice" method of multiplication, in case you're interested.

Math: P.61 15-22. Copy the problem, think, write the answer. This should be "mental math."
Language: No vocab or spelling. This week is a review of the last five weeks. We will have a unit test on Friday.
Science: Some kids still owe me vocabulary pictures. If they're not done tomorrow, they will do them during recess. If they're still not done, they will not participate in the best, most fun lab of the year. Yikes!

Math: Test today on adding and subtracting decimals and whole numbers. This is review material dating back to kindergarten, so I'm hoping for the best. I'll get these graded and returned ASAP.
Language: Spelling and Vocabulary test tomorrow!
DARE: Drug Abuse Resistance Education. The DARE program will probably begin in January, but the permission slips have been sent home already. There are still a few that have not been returned. Please sign and return this slip so your child can participate in this excellent program!

Math: P. 47 #6 - draw a picture when solving this problem! If it helps, here is the Math Blocks website I showed you in class the other day: http://www.mathplayground.com/ThinkingBlocks/thinking_blocks_modeling%20_tool.html. Parents: here is an explanation of Singapore Math Models: http://e2math.weebly.com/3/post/2012/08/bar-model-singapore-math-model-method.html
Language: New spelling and vocabulary lists, test Friday.

Today was a busy day! Expect more of the same tomorrow. Don't forget to study those vocabulary and spelling words! We started the IOWA Test of Basic Skills today. We will continue the test tomorrow, and finish on Monday. Parents can expect the results at the first parent/teacher conference. We are ready for a test in math, but the kids escaped before I could assign any homework or test. I have a color-by-number chart where the kids get to color in a section each time I get 18/20 (90%) homework completion. They color two sections if there's 100% completion. When the sheet is completely colored in, the get a bonus recess. So far, they have not colored a single section. Does your child have homework? If they do, I can guarantee that they don't have much! I'm getting tired of the "I did it, but left it at home" excuse. Let's get it done and get that bonus recess!!

Math: P. 35 4 & 5 Read the directions, don't just do the problem. This isn't about finding the answer, this is about how you get the answer.
Language: New spelling and vocabulary lists, test Friday.

Have a great weekend!!

Math: P.31 9-12
Language: Spelling & Vocabulary test tomorrow.
Parents: Tonight is the Watch Dog Dad Pizza Night. Dads, please come on down with your kids and have some pizza and have some fun! Please don't send kids without a parent in attendance. The idea is to get more dads involved in our school. Also, we took the make-up math test today. You can check your child's score by logging into their Pearson account. The link to the login screen is the same one used to view an online version of the textbook (below on the left).

Math: P.29 15-18. Retest tomorrow on Place Value!
Reminder: I will have a substitute teacher, Mrs. Leydsman, in the AM. She is recently retired from teaching at our school. She knows all the routines and procedures. She is awesome. I'm attending a training on the new report cards and will be back teaching in the afternoon.

Language: New Spelling and Vocab, test Friday
Math: Test Remediations, with parent signature!!
Parents: This is how I do math tests. After completing a unit in math, I give a test. This test is meticulously gone over by me, making comments when I can, in the hope that the student reads what I have written and learns from their mistakes. This is very time-consuming. Taken seriously, this is a powerful learning tool. No grade is given. Test remediation is then assigned, where the student must:

• Explain their thinking (why did you put the answer you gave).
• Do the problem correctly
• Explain why this is the correct answer

They must do this for EVERY problem that they got wrong. Then they must get a parent signature and turn it in to me. I usually allow 2 to 3 days to collect these, then a retest is assigned. The retest is usually given on the computer and parents can see this grade when their child logs into the math book website.

Questions? Email me or click below to add a comment (all comments go through my email before being posted. If you expect a personal reply, include your email address).