Our fraction test will be on Thursday. There will be two standards covered: Number Systems and Expressions and Equations. The difference is a variable is included in Expressions, but the same type of problem.
Here's the interactive practice test:
Practice Test
Also, if you want a head start on checking out the new book we'll be using after Christmas Break, here is the link
http://www.bigideasmath.com/
We're in the Green Book and if you select Home Edition you have access to almost everything. Enjoy!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Dividing Fractions
Skip
Flip
Multiply
Reduce
Today we talked reciprocal and how to divide fractions. Before starting, make sure you convert all mixed numbers into improper fractions and add any 1's under whole numbers. Basically, you don't divide them, you skip the first fraction, flip the second one, change the division sign to multiplication, then multiply and reduce. It's that easy.
To wrap up the week we played a variation of count to ten, but I re-named it "Survivor Edition" so students could choose another to remove from the game. It was fun and the students thought it was fun. Also, we talked about the aspects of sportsmanship, game play, and not over-reacting to getting removed. Great life skills.
Next week, pod seating and finishing up the Chapter. The test will be on Thursday now due to the snow day.
Hug your loved ones and cherish the time you have with them.
Flip
Multiply
Reduce
Today we talked reciprocal and how to divide fractions. Before starting, make sure you convert all mixed numbers into improper fractions and add any 1's under whole numbers. Basically, you don't divide them, you skip the first fraction, flip the second one, change the division sign to multiplication, then multiply and reduce. It's that easy.
To wrap up the week we played a variation of count to ten, but I re-named it "Survivor Edition" so students could choose another to remove from the game. It was fun and the students thought it was fun. Also, we talked about the aspects of sportsmanship, game play, and not over-reacting to getting removed. Great life skills.
Next week, pod seating and finishing up the Chapter. The test will be on Thursday now due to the snow day.
Hug your loved ones and cherish the time you have with them.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Reducing Fractions
This is a review skill, but still something we struggle with at times. Today we are multiplying fractions, and that goes pretty well, but simplest form is where we need to reduce.
Review of today's lesson
Review of today's lesson
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Chapter 5A quiz
With the snow day we did a half and half day. Half was review with a game and the other half was the eight point quiz that covered the four topics we've done so far this chapter. This quiz was graded as follows:
80-100% 3
70-80% 2
0-69% 1
Since it's all the same content there was one grade for the quiz, but entered into both NS and EE standards.
I've noticed a lack of effort in some and it showed in those who did the practice sheets scored 2's or 3's. That's awesome, that's learning! Those who did not do the practice (I sent an email on Friday to check the comments by the grade) struggled to demonstrate their knowledge of the topics.
There are at least fifteen minutes provided for the students to work and ask questions daily, those who get to work get the assignment done in class most of the time.
A big area I see a struggle in is lack of a pencil. Please make sure your child has two sharpened pencils per class per day and also a small handheld sharpener to be successful. I've personally handed out more than 100 pencils this year and it's usually the same students who need them. Just do a quick check up on school supplies at the almost half way part of the year.
Jumping into section 5-5 tomorrow: Multiplying Mixed Numbers
It's that easy! Lots of practice tomorrow in class.
80-100% 3
70-80% 2
0-69% 1
Since it's all the same content there was one grade for the quiz, but entered into both NS and EE standards.
I've noticed a lack of effort in some and it showed in those who did the practice sheets scored 2's or 3's. That's awesome, that's learning! Those who did not do the practice (I sent an email on Friday to check the comments by the grade) struggled to demonstrate their knowledge of the topics.
There are at least fifteen minutes provided for the students to work and ask questions daily, those who get to work get the assignment done in class most of the time.
A big area I see a struggle in is lack of a pencil. Please make sure your child has two sharpened pencils per class per day and also a small handheld sharpener to be successful. I've personally handed out more than 100 pencils this year and it's usually the same students who need them. Just do a quick check up on school supplies at the almost half way part of the year.
Jumping into section 5-5 tomorrow: Multiplying Mixed Numbers
It's that easy! Lots of practice tomorrow in class.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Homework Grades
I've entered homework grades for the week. Simply put if a student doesn't practice on the assignments they may or may not be learning. From my experience those who do the work each day are prepared and ready for the assessments.
Next week we're doing the following:
Monday: Chapter 5 Sections 1-4 review
Tuesday: Quiz (will be entered into gradebook)
Wednesday: Section 5-5 Multiplying Mixed Numbers
Thursday: Section 5-6 Dividing Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Friday: Section 5-7 Solving Fraction Equations: Multiplication and Division
I've had a few students come in a lunch for extra help, but I'm still available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school from 3:00 - 3:30 if you're interested, please let me know. john_flaten@msd.k12.wi.us
Next week we're doing the following:
Monday: Chapter 5 Sections 1-4 review
Tuesday: Quiz (will be entered into gradebook)
Wednesday: Section 5-5 Multiplying Mixed Numbers
Thursday: Section 5-6 Dividing Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Friday: Section 5-7 Solving Fraction Equations: Multiplication and Division
I've had a few students come in a lunch for extra help, but I'm still available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school from 3:00 - 3:30 if you're interested, please let me know. john_flaten@msd.k12.wi.us
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday update
I'll be posting homework and effort grades this weekend. Also, I will email or contact the parents/guardians of those who showed a lack of effort.
Here are some practice sheets you can print out at home and work on:
Section 5-1
Section 5-2
Section 5-3
Section 5-4
Review of all sections on Monday and Quiz on Chapter Five so far on Tuesday.
Here are some practice sheets you can print out at home and work on:
Section 5-1
Section 5-2
Section 5-3
Section 5-4
Review of all sections on Monday and Quiz on Chapter Five so far on Tuesday.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Classroom Updates
Greetings to all, if you're like me, your Christmas tree has already fallen over because the base is too small and you've been trying to mathematically figure out how big the base really should be to hold it up while one or two cats try to drink the gross tree water. :)
Here's an update of all things math.
Grades: All of the second term assessments have been added to the online grade book. Please log in to your Family Access to check them out. You'll see the first test and the second. The goal was to have everyone get a 2 or 3, but we still had some 1's. Although, after the re-teaching last week we saw big percentage improvements, just not enough in some cases to get that 2. I will continue to quiz those skills and keep working towards mastery with each student.
Homework: If you compare it to sports, homework (which is usually finished in class during work time) is meant to work on the skills and progress towards mastery (80% of material learned on the quiz/test) and the tests are entered into the gradebook. At times though, students do not complete it, lose it, or forget to turn it in. I will be entering a homework grade from this week on and if it's below a 3, it will mean that they are really struggling with the skill(s) or else they are not turing it in. It's a huge task to come up with quality assessments and also keep track of interventions needed, but it is impossible if I have no work to guide the process.
Chapter 4 Retest: There are still a few students to finish, but most of the 6th graders that need to retest have done so. For the most part, improvement has been shown! We'll keep plugging away at these concepts until everyone gets it.
Extra Tutoring Time: Please let me know if you would be interested in having your 6th grader stay after school to get extra help with their Math. I am available from 3:00 - 3:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Some students could benefit from more one-on-one time, or small group work, which they really don't get a lot of during regular Math class. Think about it and let me know if you're interested. I'm almost always am available for 5 or 10 minute mini-practice sessions after school or lunch as well. This can help answer that one big question that makes the rest of the work make sense.
New Unit: Chapter 5 focuses on many review and new skills combined. We're adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions.
Visit my.hrw.com to see practice sheets and online practice for Chapter 4.
Also, I'm highly encouraging ALL STUDENTS to go to xtramath.org daily to re-affirm or re-learn their basic math facts. It sends me emails when someone passes a level or even logs on to work. Those students who are using this are more confident and I've noticed they have done better on recent assessments.
This week's schedule is:
Monday: Pre-Test Chapter 5
Tuesday: 5-2 Adding and Subtracting Fractions with uncommon denominators.
Wednesday and Thursday: 5-3 Regrouping to Subtract Mixed Numbers
Friday: 5-4 Solving Addition and Subtraction Fraction Equations
Quiz on 5-1 through 5-4 is on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Here's an update of all things math.
Grades: All of the second term assessments have been added to the online grade book. Please log in to your Family Access to check them out. You'll see the first test and the second. The goal was to have everyone get a 2 or 3, but we still had some 1's. Although, after the re-teaching last week we saw big percentage improvements, just not enough in some cases to get that 2. I will continue to quiz those skills and keep working towards mastery with each student.
Homework: If you compare it to sports, homework (which is usually finished in class during work time) is meant to work on the skills and progress towards mastery (80% of material learned on the quiz/test) and the tests are entered into the gradebook. At times though, students do not complete it, lose it, or forget to turn it in. I will be entering a homework grade from this week on and if it's below a 3, it will mean that they are really struggling with the skill(s) or else they are not turing it in. It's a huge task to come up with quality assessments and also keep track of interventions needed, but it is impossible if I have no work to guide the process.
Chapter 4 Retest: There are still a few students to finish, but most of the 6th graders that need to retest have done so. For the most part, improvement has been shown! We'll keep plugging away at these concepts until everyone gets it.
Extra Tutoring Time: Please let me know if you would be interested in having your 6th grader stay after school to get extra help with their Math. I am available from 3:00 - 3:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Some students could benefit from more one-on-one time, or small group work, which they really don't get a lot of during regular Math class. Think about it and let me know if you're interested. I'm almost always am available for 5 or 10 minute mini-practice sessions after school or lunch as well. This can help answer that one big question that makes the rest of the work make sense.
New Unit: Chapter 5 focuses on many review and new skills combined. We're adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions.
Visit my.hrw.com to see practice sheets and online practice for Chapter 4.
Also, I'm highly encouraging ALL STUDENTS to go to xtramath.org daily to re-affirm or re-learn their basic math facts. It sends me emails when someone passes a level or even logs on to work. Those students who are using this are more confident and I've noticed they have done better on recent assessments.
This week's schedule is:
Monday: Pre-Test Chapter 5
Tuesday: 5-2 Adding and Subtracting Fractions with uncommon denominators.
Wednesday and Thursday: 5-3 Regrouping to Subtract Mixed Numbers
Friday: 5-4 Solving Addition and Subtraction Fraction Equations
Quiz on 5-1 through 5-4 is on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
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