Beverly Cleary School

Hello Parents/Guardians,

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  Here's the latest content in math.  We are covering fractions, fractions, fractions.  I'm teaching the students how to add and subtract fractions with unlike demoninators, reduce, find equivalent fractions, and how to change improper fractions to mixed numbers.  We use common multiples to do most of this and this means mulitplication facts are key!!!  Students are seeing that connection and really understanding why I'm pushing for such mastery.  Everything with fractions connects to multiplication and division.  Next I'll show students multiplication and division of fractions and then we'll transition into changing fractions to decimals, percents, and in between all three.   

These concepts are pretty new to most of the students and developmentally a hard one for students to "get".  I've seen the light bulb go on with a few students and they are seeing the numbers in their head and the connections.  It does take time.  This might cause some stress, tears, and conflict at home.  Be aware....this is normal.  :-)  I've had students who understand it when we do it as a class, understand the steps when they practice individually in class, and then get home and lose it.  They may even seem to get it with you one minute and the next they are stuck and not sure what to do.  Have no fear, they have notes to refer back to.  I've had students write down step by step what to do.  If you don't feel comfortable in this content area, I'm happy to work with students at lunch or after school when they don't get it.  This will take practice and I've noticed the expectation is it should be mastered by the second example we do in class.  Please continue to encourage your child to master their mulitplication facts, slow down and show their work, and be patient with themselves.  They will see this concept again next year.   

Math is a subject that requires practice and studying and this is the first time students might have to do that.  I've noticed a trend in homework and that is the thought that it is optional or you can skip problems you don't understand.  Students can expect homework Monday through Thursday anywhere from 10--20 minutes.  My expectations is that all problems will be tried, even if they get an answer wrong.  I want them to be ready for 6th grade math and the homework expectation/routine next year.   

This is one of my favorite parts of math and we'll incorporate some art and some other fun projects to help reinforce real life examples of where we find use of fractions, decimals, and percents.  Until the next update, keep working on multiplication tables!  :-)   

Cheers,

Liz

January 20, 2012

Hello Math Parents,

It has been too long since a math update.  Here's what's happening in our class and what to look forward to.   

Last week was OAKS math state testing.  Test scores weren't as high as I'd like.  Part of this is attributed to the timing of the test because fractions and volume has not been covered yet.  The trend I noticed is that many students who were "Nearly Meets"  are low in number and operations.  I think some of this is knowing the multiplication tables by memory within a reasonable amount of time.  We practice this in class once a week, but it is expected that these are mastered.  I still see a few students counting on fingers or taking 7-8 minutes to finish in class.  My philosophy is not to teach to a test, however I do want my students to be successful in a strong math foundation.  Many concepts in Connected Math (the middle school curriculum) relies on the mastery of basic computation skills and this includes multiplication facts.  Having taught both 6th and 7th grade math, I know the students who struggle are the ones with a weak foundation in computation skills.  My plan is to continue to teach the Bridges curriculum and let your child know the breakdown of their scores in each OAKS reporting category.  We have 3 opportunities to test.  Our next round is mid March.  I have no doubt that all students will meet on the next round of testing.   

Below you'll find the Bridges math program website.  The website has games for multiplication and division along with books, vocabulary, and the home connections.  Click on Grade 5 on the left hand side.   

http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/resources/materials/parents 

We're wrapping up Unit 3 with the post test on Tuesday, January 24th.  One home connection I asked students to notice over the weekend is the volume and surface area of rectangular prisms of packaging like cereal boxes, crackers, granola bars, etc.  We'll start Unit 4 on Wednesday, which is fractions, more multiplication and division.  I love fractions!  This is a great opportunity to have your child help you in the kitchen with cooking.  Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.   

Have a nice weekend.   

Sincerely,

Liz Kobs

Hello Math Parents/Guadians,

At the beginning of the week, I sent home a letter outlining Unit 3 (measurement & geometry) and what you can expect to see in math the next 2-3 weeks.  Right now we're working on the basics of geometry with finding the area of rectangles, squares, and triangles.  We're also learning about the different types of angles, their degree measures, and the angle sums of shapes like triangles and circles.  

I read a picture book this week called "Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland".  Knight Radius went on an adventure to save a king and had to use geometry to help him solve a riddle.  It was like following a treasure map to get through the maze to find the king.  Today we worked on our own geometry treasure maps/puzzle.  Students will apply what they know about angles and create a treasure map using only geometry vocaulary.  Students are creating a written puzzle with partners using geometry, modeling their puzzle/treasure map after the book "Sir Cumference".  Next week students will exchange their puzzles and another group will use a protractor and the clues to work their way through the treasure map/puzzle.   

Math next week is only 3 days because of Caron/Robertson OAKS testing schedule.  Math will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.  Wednesday is late opening next week and we wouldn't have had math anyways.  Instead of math being in the morning, it will be in the afternoon right after lunch from 12:45 to 2 pm.   

Have a happy holidays and winter break.   

Sincerely,

Liz Kobs

November 14, 2011

Hello Math Parents/Guardians,

This week we're wrapping up Unit 2 with our post assessment quiz on Wednesday, November 16.  We spent the end of unit 2 learning division with decimals and not remainders.  This is something they need more practice on, so all the homework this week is reinforcement worksheets with 1--3 dividends divided by 1-2 divisors.  Some of the quotients (answers) are nice and neat with no remainders and others require the students to take the problem out to the hundredths place.  Students can use a calculator to check their answer, but not to solve their work.  They should all their steps and work, please.   

Next week is conferences, if you're child is not in my homeroom class and you'd like to meet for 10 minutes, I'd be happy to meet with you.  Please check the webpage for the conference schedule and let me know a date and time you'd like.  Otherwise, I'll give some bullet point notes about your child's progress to Ms. Caron or Mr. Robertson. 

 After conference and Thanksgiving week, we'll start on Unit 3 which covers geometry and measurement.  I'll send home a parent letter about unit 3 at the end of this week.  Students will have no homework over the long break, but they can ALWAYS be practicing their multiplication fact fluency and/or making up double digit multiplication and long division problems.  :-) 

 Enjoy the holiday and time off. 

Sincerely,Liz Kobs