What's Up with Matthew not posting??

Well, I'm typing this post from the eighth floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver, Colorado where I'm busy preparing for two presentations that I will be leading with Toni at the National Middle School Association's Annual Conference.  And, as you can imagine, it took quite a bit to pull everything together to leave this morning!

So, for the last few days, you've seen tons of pictures pop up on here without any explanation as to what we've been doing!  Ha!

Well, overall, the kids and I have been engaged in a conversation about multiplying and dividing mixed fractions--in fact, that's what they'll be working on while I'm gone.  When I return, obviously, expect much more detailed blogs updating you on all I've learned and what's on the horizon for Math 6.

Have a great weekend!

Warm up

Fractions, comparing

Warm up

Mult mixed numbers steps

Ex 1

Ex 2

Ex 4

Ex 3

What happened to our brains??

Today we discovered something anew about being away from each other for so long... sometimes we forget things!  So today was all about, YES, you actually DO remember how to multiply fractions! Ha!  No homework tonight but lots of practice coming tomorrow. :)

Warm up

Word problem

Practice problems

Warm up

Multiplying Workday

Today, after returning some aging papers, we worked individually and in groups on some problems practicing multiplying fractions... and using cross-canceling to help us.

It might have been slightly unclear to some kids what I want them to do following the work they did in class today. There were two sheets.  Everyone should have completed the front and back of the first sheet.  And everyone one should have completed at least THE FRONT of the second sheet.  If they did not, they will need to complete up to this point over this long break. 

See you next week!

Multiplying Mixed Numbers

We first checked our homework on multiplying fractions and then moved quickly to some notes on how to multiply two mixed numbers.

However, tonight's homework is on subtracting fractions -- at least the common denominator is fractions... HAHAHA!  (I know, bad joke...)

Warm up

Ex 1-2

The steps to multiply mixed numbers

Ex 3 DIY

Ex 4-5

More multiplying...

Today after our warm up we watched Part II of the Multiplying Fractions video we watched yesterday (I'll post them in a bit) AND the kids got a sheet covered in multiplication of fractions problems... where they will need to do some reducing/cross-canceling beforehand.  They were asked to do only #s 1-9.

Warm up

Of means multiply

HE

"Four over one!"

The kids will get the reference of the title. ;) We did our warm up, checked our homework problem, and then watched a video online (posted below) of a professor explaining another way to think about multiplying fractions.  I think the kids really enjoyed it and we'll watch part two tomorrow. :)  No homework!

Warm up

Checking HW

Warm up

Multiplying Fractions :)

Remember weeks ago when I said we'd be on to multiplying fractions soon?

Well, that finally happened today with our long period. :D

After checking our work from yesterday on adding/subtracting mixed numbers (which we're still working on...), we moved ahead into multiplying fractions, took a WHOLE lot of notes with many examples, practiced some problems, and I even gave them the TOP SECRET about pre-reducing (you'll have to ask them about this one because I was censored from posting that picture below by the students!).

And, they only have ONE problem for homework.  Two huge fractions that are multiplied together!  This ONE problem is due Thursday (due to block schedule this week they will not see me tomorrow :( )

Ex 1-2

Ex 3-4

Ex 5-6

Ex 7-8

To turn a whole number into a fraction...

The One Problem HW

Mult Fractions Part I

Multiplying Fractions Video

A little alone time...

After feeling the energy of the kids today and taking a look at where we are at, I decided that today needed to be a work by yourself day.  We started with our warm up, checked our work from Thursday, and had some independent practice with adding and subtracting fractions (mixed numbers).  The kids are getting there with this skill -- and I can see it in class.  Those who did not finish will need to finish tonight for homework.

Notes on Equivalent Fractions

Ex 5

Taking a step back

Taking a step back today, we turned and shifted our focus to reducing/simplifying fractions.  The kids got to work in class on some practice problems after taking notes, and a few kids will want to finish those problems for homework.

Warm up

Reducing fractions 1

Reducing examples 2

Breaking it down now...

Today we tried to break down the reality that is mixed numbers.  How'd we do this?  By plotting those bad boys on a number line, that's how!

Plus, we all decided that the best way to solve adding/subtracting mixed fraction problems is by far much easier to understand when you convert them to improper fractions.  We'll worry about that borrowing stuff later in the year. :)

Warm up

Making Mixed Numbers Real

Mixed Numbers + First Period = Match Made in Heaven

Now, I do not know if your children would agree with the title of this post, but they will soon, dangit!

Today was another adding and subtracting mixed number/fractions day.  The kids started with four on the board and were given another 8 afterwards -- any of which that didn't get completed should be completed tonight.

We've GOT to nail down this skill before we can move on, and right now we're kind of stuck.  Any over the shoulder looking or helping would be welcomed. :)  And calculators?  Why not!  (They still have to show their work and most calculators below $50 can't perform operations with fractions.)

I'll post answers to the eight problems later. :)

Warm up

1-2 from board

3-4 from board

Answers to boardwork

HW

Warm up

HW worked out 1

HW worked out 2

Take 2 maybe isn't what we thought it was...

We spent much of our time together this morning going over our homework and me working out problems on the board.  It seems that neither way of adding/subtracting mixed numbers agrees with the kids. :)  (That's why you'll see the pictures of my boards covered in numbers!)

I think that we've isolated ONE of the issues: converting mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa.  SO, homework over the long weekend (including Advisee Outing) is a sheet covered in those kinds of problems... EVEN.  For Monday.

More soon!

You mean there's another way to do this??

We talked today about an alternative way to add and subtract mixed numbers... without all that nasty borrowing from the whole number. :)  What's this way, you ask?  Just convert those mixed numbers to improper fractions and poof!  Do the problem like normal!

So, with this new way on their minds, the kids embarked on some problems to practice this new way.  :)  They are to do #s 1-4 of the adding and #s 1-4 of the subtracting.

Warm up

Some examples...

Take 2...

HW