I have one big announcement, report cards will not be going home on our track out day, September 10. They will be going home when we track back in, the week of September 30th. Wake county has transitioned to a new computer based grading system....
In math this week we leaned various methods of multiplying one by two digits and one by three digits. I know that these methods are VERY different than how we were taught but it really does help the grasp the concept of what we are really doing when we get to "the shortcut method". The various strategies are basically deconstructing the problem into smaller, easier place value problems. Here are some examples:
All the problems shown have the initial problem written down. The first step is breaking down the larger number into ones, tens, and then hundreds. Each of those numbers then gets multiplied by the remaining number. So rather than 324x6, you solve (300x6) + (20x6) +(4x6). The methods all vary after this step, but this is the main step I want the class to understand. Then when they look at the "normal way" we were taught, they will understand when they multiply the 4x6, it is the ones place, that 2x6 really is 20x6, and the 3x6 is 300x6. Throughout most of the week, the class understood the various methods we were working on, but some had trouble on Friday when we got into the shortcut method.
We also take notes each day on the different methods and i have been encouraging students totals home their notebooks to help them out. Pus we do go over homework each day and answer questions the class may have had.
In reading this week we focused on character traits and adjectives. We discussed ow the two are related, searched for them in our reading, and added them to our writing.
We read the book No David! And used it as a jumping off point for describing character traits.
The class came up with some great traits that described David. We also noticed that all the traits we shared were not traits that you could look at someone and know. You had to really listen and watch the character in order to learn their character traits.
In writing we wrapped up our first narrative. We looked at how to revise and how to edit our own papers. They were then turned in and we had one on one conferences to share ideas and suggestions. Then students worked on their final copies.
This coming week we will have our writer in residence, Tony Peacock, spend the week with our class teaching more about details and descriptions. He is an amazing writer and teacher, we are very lucky to have him and you will be pleasantly surprised how he inspires the class to write!
We just started in with Social Studies and are learning about the effects the Europeans had on the early American Indians. We are learning about background and will be jumping into a project in the lost colony of Roanoke.
I will, be holding conferences on September 11-12, so please either send in a note on your child's planner, or email me the best times for you and we can get those set up.
Have a great weekend!
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