Decimals and Fractions Re-Teach

Here's what we're working on today.  It's an in-class assignment, but you can practice more if you wish.    

Also, check the next post to see Mr. Nelson's links, they are great!

Chapter 4, one more time with feeling!

Well, the rollercoaster of WKCE schedules is over and a short week for Thanksgiving.  We took the Chapter 4 test before we left.  It was mostly on factors and GCFs.  As I corrected them I noticed that some areas we did pretty well on, but not as well as I would have liked as a whole. 

Therefore, we are taking this week to review, re-teach, and re-learn the missing pieces from our educational puzzle.  Today I went back over GCF and some various math review that is due tomorrow. 

I noticed that my esteemed teaching counterpart on the blue side, Mr. Nelson, found many, many, cool links to help and I will direct you to his page as well to see them and try them out.  They can be found here:

http://mrnelsonmath624.blogspot.com/

Check out "GCF revisited" 

Sometimes we need to slow down to go faster.  I'd rather take the time to do it right this time than do it over again.  The schedule for this week is:

Tues: GCF
Wed: Fractions to Decimals and vice versa
Thurs: Reducing, Reducing, and more Reducing
Friday: Retake for those who scored a 1 or a 2. 

I will post those grades this weekend, so be sure to check them out.  Also, tests will be back to them on Monday of next week. 

There may be a few minutes of work to do at home as we have more repetition this week, but not a ton, expect 20 minutes or so a night on the top end. 

See you tomorrow!  Any questions about math, please email me. 

LCM

We start Least Common Multiple tomorrow (LCM) you may remember how to find it, if not, we're learning it tomorrow.

Here's a little snowball throwing game I found if you want to practice before tomorrow:

Snowball fight!

I hope all had a great Thanksgiving and awesome job to both Lylen and Connor who passed a level on www.xtramath.org

Two pictures we'll talk about on Monday:

Chapter 4 Test Tuesday

Here's the Interactive Practice Test

We used clickers today, a system that allows each student to use a remote control device to select an answer and then see if they are correct.  At the end we checked out how the class did and went through each example so we have a better understanding of how to do each thing. 

Factoring, Prime Factorization, Greatest Common Factors, Equivalent Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Improper Fractions. 

Also, keep doing the xtramath.org if you finish all four levels I'll be getting you some kind of reward.  Email me if you forgot/lost your pin number. 

Wednesday is an Early Release day, so we'll be doing some kind of math game or Thanksgiving based math lesson. 

End of the Week

1. Math Test Tuesday about factors and fractions

2. All students have their log-ins for the my.hrw.com

3. All students are encouraged to go to xtramath.org daily and master their basic facts.  They also have log in and password information.

Common Denominators

One of the most frustrating things is trying to order fractions from least or greatest or vice versa.  We use common denominators to make it easier.  I tell the kids it's like comparing apples to apples (then they say "like the game?" then I say no.  :) ) or oranges to oranges.

Let's say we have 3/4 and 2/8.  We can either count (find the LCM) by each number and find out the easiest option is 8.  So, 3/4 = 6/8 and we keep 2/8 the same.

However, it's tough for them to do that sometimes, so another method is to multiply the denominators and find equivalent fractions.  So, 4 x 8 = 32, we then write 3/4 as 24/32 and 2/8 as 8/32.  Doing this we can easily see that 24/32 is greater than 2/8.

Also, one of the math students, Anthony showed me a website that is really neat and I will be turning it into a "page" on the top menu soon.

Friday is a computer day, so students will be reminded/given their log in information for both my.hrw.com and xtramath.org

Until tomorrow!

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

First, TEST TUESDAY!, now that that's out of the way, today we looked at moving and transitioning from mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper fractions to mixed numbers. 

Improper Fractions have larger numerators than denominators, in plain terms, bigger number on top and smaller number on bottom. 

Mixed numbers have a whole number AND a fraction.  The process of moving from one to the other was what we practiced today.  Last day to WKCE testing is tomorrow.  Computers on Friday and I will be reminding the students about log-ins and passwords for the my.hrw.com site and also xtramath.org. 

Last thing: I thought it was cool that fractions or fracture have the origin in Latin from the word "fractus" which means broken.  Pretty cool fact.