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Can You Make Change?

Today we talked about money!  Well, making change in particular.  We only began our discussion today... we'll continue it on Monday when we return.

Have a great break!

Adding/Subtracting Decimals

Today we just spent some time practicing adding and subtracting decimals.  They needed to complete Adding - EVEN and Subtracting - ODD.  Whatever they didn't finish in class, I'd like them to complete for homework.

Can you say those decimals?

Man, did we have fun today!

We started with a warm up on comparing and ordering decimals.

And then we checked our homework...

And then we played a game!

Today focused primarily on SAYING all of those numbers correctly, without hesitation.

For example, to avoid any confusion, to say the following it goes like this:

42.847 = forty-two AND eight hundred forty-seven thousandths

Note that the AND is what you would use to denote the decimal, not "point" -- I was corrected a few years ago and now I make sure to teach the AND to my kids!

I'll have you know that they did magnificently!  Have a great weekend!

Answers to HW

Decimals!

First I must apologize for not posting yesterday. (And not just not on-time... not at all!) So this post will cover yesterday and today.

We've wrapped up fractions and we are totally in Decimal-land!!  We've processed our tests, done corrections, and we're rolling up our sleeves in our next unit.

Yesterday and today have all been about review... and man have we taken some notes!  You'll see pictures of all of them below.

Tonight they will have a sheet for homework called #80 First Decimal HW -- on place value and comparing decimals.  We'll check that tomorrow, as well as wrap up all of our more "review" skills. :)

Warm up

ALL the notes

Exs 1-2

Exs 3-4

Decimals Notes

Line up the decimals!

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Getting on the same page

Getting back on the same page...

Today we just needed to all get back on the same page.  I took up their Decimal work from yesterday (yes! we're on to decimals!), and we went over the transition from Trimester 1 to Trimester 2... and a new, NEON green Checklist!

Plus, and probably the most exciting, the kids got their Fractions test back today and their homework was to make corrections to the questions that they missed on a separate sheet of paper.  Close to half of the kids made their corrections and won't have any homework tonight.

Test Day!

Today we took our test on Fractions!  The kids will get this feedback on Monday--and you will see it on their first trimester evaluation.  Enjoy the weekend!

Borrowing, borrowing!

Today was just a practice day... borrowing from one fraction and then another. :)

Homework was just to finish the SIDE of the sheet they were working on.

Test Tomorrow!!

Tomorrow we will have our Fractions test!

Today?  We checked our reviews.

If you've been wondering about using some practice problems, check out our online (summer) review packet at http://www.cfsnc.org/units/MS/math/summer/m6.html -- it's a great place to start.

Or you can make your own at: http://www.aplusmath.com/Worksheets/Fractions.html or http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/fraction/

Warm up

Fractions Skills Check-in

Hey all--

Late post on the Fraction Skills Check-in sheet.  I've just posted it on my wiki: http://cfsmatthew.wikispaces.com/classdocs

Now, it's not as good as the real thing (the REAL thing has examples on it! :)) -- but it's better than nothing and should help you know what's coming on this next test (Wednesday).

Gettin' Ready for the Test!

Today, after another confusing warm up, the kids were asked to complete two tasks:

(1) Continue working on their review WHILE updated their Fraction skills check-in sheet

and

(2) Cleaning up/organizing their notebooks.

They could choose to work on either one, knowing that BOTH must be completed when they walk in the door tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will review... Wednesday is the test and notebook check!  I'll post a list of skills this evening (most likely late evening).

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Week overview

Those stinking borrowing fractions...

After our warm up we took more notes today, trying to wrap our minds around this idea of borrowing from the whole number to solve subtracting fractions problems.  Most of us are on the way there, or there already--but there are some who have lost their map, compass, and shoes.  We're working on it. :)

No homework over the weekend.

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Borrowing notes

Borrowing ex 1

Ex 1 answer

Ex 2

Checking In

We used part of our time together today to check in skill-wise on fractions.  The kids completed a rubric of sorts that let them plot where THEY felt they were with regards to mastering the skills for the fraction unit.

Afterwards, they began working on a review that they SHOULD NOT work on tonight that we'll continue to work on in class tomorrow.  Fractions final coming soon!

Election Math!

Many of you may not know that while I am trained as a math teacher, I am also trained as a social studies and language arts teacher -- and I could not pass up the opportunity to use today's election to talk about the electoral college and the math behind the elections.

The highlights of today were talking about the ins and outs of the electoral college and playing with the electoral map of the United States.  Here are some websites that we used:

• 2008 Electoral College Ball... Go Team! (a blog by a dad!)
• The New York Times Interactive Map

Tonight's homework is to pay attention to one of the most important events in your child's life thus far!

All Operations with Fractions!

Today we processed my absence and all the work they did, and review all that they know now... they know how to do all of the operations with Fractions!  How cool is that?

Now, its just time to fine tune. :)

For homework, I asked the kids to finish the Dividing Fractions work that they were working on during class on Friday.

Warm up

Operations chart