Math for Monday, October 31, 2011

1. Today’s Lesson: Chapter 1, Lesson 2 - Number Patterns (Pages 10-12)
2. Learning Goals:
• A number pattern may be described recursively. That is, the pattern rule is applied successively to each term, rather than to input numbers.
3. Classwork: Practice Questions 1 – 6 (3 a,c, 4 a,b, 5 Hand in)
4. Homework Book: Pages 4-5 (Due on Wednesday!)

A Ghost Story for Halloween

Thad, The Ghost, and Me by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a short story from the Guys Read anthology (ed. Jon Scieszka).  As I read the story, you can use the polling service below to ask questions and make connections to the story.  The questions will appear in (almost) real-time behind me.

What questions are going through your mind about this text and/or what connections can you make (to self/other texts/the world)?

Language for Friday, November 28, 2011

Today we completed an assessment on determining importance related to an article about how watching TV can affect your lifespan.

Then we worked on our spelling assignments and book reports.  Spelling list two and First Nations list 1 are due today!

Math for Friday, October 28, 2011

1. Today’s Lesson: Chapter 1, Lesson 1 - Input/Output Machines (Pages 6-9)
2. Learning Goals:
• A pattern rule can be illustrated with an Input/Output Machine
• The input and output can be recorded in a table. This table can be used to illustrate two types of pattern rules.
3. Classwork: Practice Questions 1-7
4. Homework Book: Pages 2-3

Bell Work–Word Grid

1. Go through the tutorial to understand how the game works.
2. Play the timed game. 
3. At the end of 2 rounds (10 minutes) we will check to see who has the high score.

Word Grid

Book Report Rubrics

Newspaper Book Report Rubric

Interview Book Report Rubric

Math and Language for Thursday, October 27, 2011

In Language, we worked on our book reports by developing the rubric that each group will use. They will be posted online later this evening or tomorrow. Students received a paper copy in class.

In math, yesterday's tests were handed back and we took them up, before starting Unit 1. Luckily (for students), there was not enough time to get fully into the lesson and no new work was assigned today.

AMD Mathletics 2011

This may be of interest for some of you  .  You will have to sign up individually.

Click here to read the brochure.

School Pictures

Proofs are in and were handed out this afternoon.  Packages with order form and payment are due back to the school on or before November 3, 2011.

Reminder: Math Test Tomorrow (Wednesday)

We took the language period today and used it as a math review period (since I only see you once today). 
Tomorrow’s math test will cover:

• Order of Operations (BEDMAS)
• Adding and Subtracting 3 and 4 digit numbers
• Multiplying by 2 digit numbers
• Dividing by 2 digit numbers
• Prime numbers (again!)

You will need to be able to do some problem solving using the above skills.

Math Test Review

Mrs. Sheardown left some notes that many students were having difficulty with the Order of Operations and Prime and Composite Numbers.  Please ensure that you review these areas before the math test on Wednesday.

Order of Operations:

• Blog Posting
• Order of Operations Tutorial
• BEDMAS tutorial (remember that in this example they use the word indices for exponents and that you won’t see any with exponents until grade 7)
• BEDMAS practice
  

Prime and Composite Numbers

• Prime Numbers Tutorial
• Prime and Composite Numbers and Practice

Science Test–Air and Flight Tomorrow

Just a reminder of your science test tomorrow.  You will be writing it first thing in the morning during the Language block to allow you up to two periods to finish.  Don’t forget to bring a book for if you finish early.

Language for Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Today in Language we worked on strategies for determining importance as a group and individually.  We then began working on the spelling activities (new colour group lists and First Nation lists) that are due next Friday.  Remember to go to the Teacher Page, then list before trying the activities and practice spelling tests.  You only get one shot at the “real” spelling test.

Math for Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Today we worked on Show What You Know (page 76 and 77) in the text book.  There is no associated work in the homework book BUT many students need to continue practicing basic operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing).  We will continue working on the Show What You Know work tomorrow in preparation for our math text next Wednesday.

Math Tests

The first math test for unit 2 went home today.  You may find that it is scored a little differently.  I have tried to score the students using a rubric that reflects their progress along a continuum instead of just converting a raw score into a percent and into a grade.  I think that this is more accurate, in that it eliminates wild changes in marks because a student do well on a certain section of the test.  It also eliminates un-realistically high marks (i.e. students who get perfect on topics like knowing how to use place value properly may be level 4 students, but aren’t necessarily perfect).  Taken together with marks for questions assigned in class and projects, I believe that they will accurately reflect each child’s progress. 

At the back of the test you will see a rubric with levels in Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking, Application, and Communication.  Each area is scored based on the student’s achievement on the corresponding section of the test and there is an overall level. 

Levels roughly correspond with the following marks.

 

Level	Percent Score	Letter Grade
4+	90% and higher	A+
4	80 – 89%	A
3	70 – 79 %	B
2	60 – 69%	C
1	50 – 59%	D
R	Below 50%	R

Please ensure that you sign your child’s math test indicating that you have seen it.  If you or your child have any questions about the test, I encourage you to have them ask me directly, because I think that is a good skill for students to develop, and I think I’m open to listening to their concerns and taking the time to explain.  You are also welcome to contact me.

We will have a second math test with and emphasis on Lessons 2.7 through 2.11 (Order of Operations – Division), next Wednesday, October 26.

Math for Monday, October 17, 2011

Tools for practicing long division:

• iPad/iPodTouch/iPhone App:  http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/long-division-mathematics/id341041204?mt=8
• Dividerama:  http://cemc2.math.uwaterloo.ca/mathfrog/english/kidz/div6.shtml

Lessons

• Math is Fun Division Lesson
• How to do Long Division Video Tutorial

Today we did two sets of math questions in class.

• Today’s Lesson: Chapter 2, Lesson 11 - Dividing by a 2-digit Number (Pages 68-71)
• Mnemonic – Dracula Must Suck Blood, Daddy, Mommy, Sister, Brother
• Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Check, Bring Down
• Learning Goals:
• Different strategies can be used to divide by a 2-digit number.
• Multiplication and division are inverse operations.
• Multiplication can be used to check division.
• Additional Resources:
• http://goo.gl/b0iLC - Steps to Long Division Video
• Classwork: Practice Questions 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
• Homework Book: Pages 30-31

 

• Today’s Lesson: Chapter 2, Lesson 12 - Another Method for Dividing (Pages 73-76)
• Learning Goals:
• The standard division algorithm is based on place-value concepts.
• A quotient can be estimated by thinking multiplication.
• In a division problem involving metric measures, the remainder is reported as a decimal fraction of a unit
• Classwork: Practice Questions 3, 5 , 7, 9, 11, 13
• Homework Book: Pages 32-33

All math homework is due on Wednesday!

link

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/06/changing-climate-alters-fish-behavior/

Language for Monday, October 17, 2011

1. Bell Work:  Our focus for the next little while will be narrowing the focus of your writing.  This can apply to whole stories or essays as well as paragraphs.  When you complete the examples in class, think of the questions below:
• ◦Have I chosen a topic that I really like?
• ◦Do I have something new to say about this topic?
• ◦Am I writing about what I know and care about?
• ◦Have I gathered enough information so that I’m ready to write?
2. Please hand in your Unlikely Diary Keepers projects.  Mark the four dates you would like me to pay attention to by circling/highlighting/starring the date.
3. DRA – There are 5 students who need to complete the written portion of their DRA.  Please complete this now.
4. Reading Strategies:  Determining Importance
• Climate Change
• You will be placed in groups and each given 3 sticky notes.
• We will read a non-fiction text about chocolate.
• You will use the sticky notes to mark the most important ideas about the article.
• You will discuss your choices in your group.
5. Time for reading your book or working on your book report.

Language for Friday, October 14, 2011

Today we worked on APE answers and spent some time working on Diary Entries.

Math for Friday, October 14, 2011

Today we practiced 2-digit x 3-digit multiplication and dividing by 2-digit numbers.  You should continue to practice these skills for those times when you don’t have a calculator to help you out.

If you want practice problems and worksheets you can check out the links below:

• 2 by 3-digit multiplication
• 2-digit division

You can also check out a video and do some practice with long division here.

Language Bell Work–Letter Scramble

Click here to play Letter Scramble

Language for Thursday, October 13, 2011

Please spend some time working on your diary assignment.  I have extended the due date until Monday, October 16.

Math for Thursday, October 13, 2011

Math homework book:  Page 30 only  (three questions)

Class Photos Preempted Math

Sorry folks.  No math homework today. 

Math for Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Today’s Lesson: Chapter 2, Lesson 10 - Multiplying Whole Numbers (Pages 64-67)  (Use your YRDSB username/password to log into Moodle)

Learning Goals:

• Multiplication of whole numbers is based on place-value concepts.
• Multiplication and division are inverse operations. Division can be used to check multiplication.

Classwork: Practice Questions 1-12  Hand in #11

Homework Book: Pages 28-29

Picture Day Tomorrow

A last reminder that tomorrow (Wednesday) is picture day!

Picture Day–Wednesday, October 12

Just a quick reminder that picture day for our Grade 6 class is this coming Wednesday, October 12!

Tuesday, Oct. 11 will be a Monday Timetable

With our new Monday to Friday timetable, next Tuesday will be an odd day where we follow a Monday timetable.

Math for Thursday

Today’s Lesson: Chapter 2, Lesson 9 - Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers (Pages 60-63)

Learning Goals:
Addition and subtraction of whole numbers are based on place-value concepts.
Estimation can be used to check the reasonableness of sums and differences.
Addition and subtraction are inverse operations.
Estimation can be used to check the reasonableness of sums and differences.

Additional Resources:
Subtraction Tutorial: http://goo.gl/5iAHr
Addition and Subtraction Review: http://goo.gl/2DW17

Classwork: Practice Questions 1-10 (Work on these in class. Hand in 7, 9, and

Homework Book - pages 26 & 27

Due Date for Unlikely Diary Keepers

Your diary entries for your Unlikely Diary Keeper assignment is due next Friday, October 14, 2011.

I will give you feedback online through Google Docs as you work instead of handing in a rough draft this time.

Reminder! Math Test Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that we have a math test tomorrow on lessons 2.1 through 2.7.  Practice tonight!

Study Tools Page

At the top of the blog you will find a link to a new page called Study Tools.  On this page, I will put links to tools and games that can help you with some of the things we may not have time to cover in class or that you might need to review (from previous years).

For example, many students really need to practice their multiplication facts, so I have links to a couple of sites with tonnes of multiplication games.  Also, several parents noted that their child needed more typing practice, so I added links to a few typing lessons and games.  I also put my scores on a couple of typing speed test sites so you have a target to aim for.  Who can be the first student to get a higher speed (in words per minute) than me?

Language for Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Most Embarrassing Moment

• Final drafts and rubrics were handed back along with feedback today.
  
  
  
  • Overall Feedback for the Class
    
    
    
    • Generally significant improvement between 1st and final draft
    • Don’t write 3 or 4 identical drafts (especially by hand)
    • Read out loud
    • Move big chunks
    • First draft shouldn’t look like final draft (or graphic organizers)
    • Double check words that I circled as spelling errors in a dictionary or online

Unlikely Diary Keepers

• Handed out rubric

Reading Time

We will go to the library for some silent reading time and/or to choose a book if you haven’t got one.  Please consider a book that you would like to complete a book report on.  The two options for October’s book report are below:

• Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you.


• Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in another, do a feature story on one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an editorial and a collection of ads that would be pertinent to the story.

For today (and as homework), please write a response to the questions below on your blog or on paper.

• What book are you thinking of doing a book report on?  (It can/should be one that you have already begun so that you have time to finish it and work on the report)
• Why did you choose this book to read?  (Minimum 3 sentence answer!)
• At this point, what is the book about?
• Why do you think this book is a good choice for a book report?

Math Homework

Don't forget you've got to finish page 24 and 25 in your math homework book.

Test on Wednesday!

Additional Resources:
http://goo.gl/3oD6I - BBC Bitesize
http://goo.gl/EDgtu - Tutorial 1
http://goo.gl/CKa8w - Math Goodies - Tutorial 2

Happy Birthday CBC!

For those of you who don't know, I'm a huge fan of the CBC! Got to meet Peter Puck!