Super-short week!  As we gear up for Thanksgiving break, we are going to focus on reviewing skills learned so far this semester.  We will be playing some games and working on bonus packets as time allows.  There will be one grade taken this week on Tuesday.

Multiplication Test (5’s) – Tuesday, November 24

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My apologies for not having posted this on Monday.  I saved it as a draft instead of publishing it! 

I am going to be out Tuesday-Thursday (Nov. 17-19) at a conference in Springfield, MO.  While I am out, students will be working on improper fractions and mixed numbers.

Monday: Candy Bar Fractions; Pick up HW#6 – due Thursday

Tuesday: Classwork grade – 1/2, More, or Less

Wednesday & Thursday: Improper Fractions & Mixed Numbers

Friday: Multiplication Tests 3’s & 4’s; Bonus Packet Workday

Looking ahead – more fractions!

I have created a page for my Multiplication Masters program.  Please reference it for information regarding tests on each fact family.

We have started this week off with a bang by taking a 100-point decimal test on Monday.  After grading them, many students were given the opportunity to correct several careless errors for partial credit.  We are getting ready to move on to fractions, which should be quite fun!

Monday: Decimal test – No homework this week.

Tuesday: Complete or correct test

Wednesday: Introduction to fractions – concept of 1/2 (a half)

Thursday: Fractional representations – reading and creating

Friday: Multiplication test – Fact Family #2; continue with fractions.

Looking ahead: We will continue working with fractions through the month of November.

Bonus packets were handed out Wednesday of last week.  These packets are NOT to be worked on at home until permission has been given.  The purpose of the packet is for students who finish early in class to have something math-related to work on.  I call it brain exercise.  The more they practice, the better they will become.  Bonus packets are due on December 14, 2009. 

Please do not work on the packets at home with your child.  These are for IN CLASS work only. 

This week is going to go by very quickly.  We are getting ready to move into fractions – YAY! )

NO homework this week.

Monday: Review of decimals, function tables

Tuesday: Study guide for Decimal Test

Wednesday: Study guide for Decimal Test – go over in class.

Thursday & Friday: No School!

Monday, November 9: DECIMAL TEST 100 points possible.

No homework this week!

Monday: Multiplication with decimals

Tuesday: Multiplication with decimals

Wednesday: Dracula play at CHS – alternate schedule – no math class

Thursday: Division with decimals

Friday: NO SCHOOL

Remember: Student-led conferences are Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00PM – 7:00PM.  See you at CMSS!

Occasionally, you will see a yellow star stamped on your child’s paper and no grade. This means they received a completion grade for this assignment (full credit). I do this on occasion when the whole team turns in their work on time.

After grading the tests from over 2 classes, I am not pleased with the scores on this assessment.  I will be taking a different approach with multiplication for the 2nd 9 weeks.  Students will be given a test on each of the multiplication fact families.  The test will consist of 60 problems involving ONE fact family only.  Students must make a 90%  (which means the most they can miss is 6) or above for it to be considered mastery.  If a student does not make a 54/60 or better, they he/she will re-take the test until the expected score is reached.  Upon mastering each fact family, the student will be given a sticker to place on the chart in my room.  The goal is for each student to MASTER his/her multiplication facts.  This skill is essential in every aspect of 5th grade mathematics, so I hope you will continue to help me at home.

We will start with fact families 2 & 3 the first week of the 2nd 9 weeks.  We will get through all fact families (2-12) by the end of the semester, and a final, TIMED test will be given before Christmas break.  Students should be able to answer 100 multiplication fact problems in 5 minutes – so that is my goal.

Stay tuned to the blog for more information.

Conference forms were sent home Monday, October 12.  PLEASE read the letter, fill out your conference time preferences, and return the form to school with your child.  Conference times are filled on a first-come/first-served basis.  Conferences are going to be held in 15-minute increments on both Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 4:00-7:00PM.

Thank you for your attention.