This week the 5th grade classes will be working on deepening their understanding of multi-digit multiplication. Each student is entering this unit at a different place, so the focus and progression for each student throughout this unit will be based on each individuals needs.
The 6th grade classes this week are wrapping up our work with LCM and GCF and exploring how prime factorization can be used to find these. We will be moving into some work with the distributive property of multiplication and order of operations this week and next.
Homework
If you are checking your child's gradebook in Schoology (they have a password and Tom Drake will be distributing parent passwords in early October) you will see that scores are based on a 4 point scale. Homework is meant to be either review or practice. Below is the scoring system we will be using for homework assignments with the corresponding criteria.
1-Did not complete homework
2-Finished homework late or incomplete. A 2 could also mean the student shows little thinking/notation.
3-Finished homework on time with clear and concise notation.
4-All of 3 and goes above and beyond what was assigned.
Homework for both 5th and 6th grades for at least the next few weeks will be on xtramath.org and is working toward multiplication fact mastery. This will remain homework for each individual until all math facts are automatized and recalled within 3 seconds.
Grades
Grades will appear this year on a scale of 1-4 as well based on mathematical topics. As students become more proficient with a skill or topic, their score should reflect this. As we move through the next few weeks a category called proficiency will appear in the Schoology gradebook. Each unit focuses on students becoming proficient with different concepts and skills. The goal for being proficient with a concept or skill will be a 3. As a general scale, the following will apply.
1-The student's understanding of the concept or skill is emerging. This might include many inaccuracies, inefficiency in solving, or a fragile understanding of the topic.
2-The student is developing understanding of a concept of skill. The concept or skill is being developed, but more work toward becoming efficient and flexible might need to be done.
3-The student's understanding of the proficiency is established.
4-The student's has a broad and deep understanding of the proficiency and has extended his/ her thinking.
There will not be a final grade in which the proficiencies are combined as a percentage. There will be, however, separate categories for work habits and work completion.
As a math team our intention is to give students and parents more information about the specific strengths and struggles for each student, as well as help guide specific instruction for individuals based on their current level of understanding.
I am excited to be moving in this direction, as it puts more focus and emphasis on each students growth as a person and a learner, as well as empowering each child to focus on individual growth. I will continue to post information on this topic in future posts. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at eeley@wwsu.org, and don't forget about back to school night this Thursday.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Week of September 14
September 15
Over the course of this week and next students should be coming home with homework most nights for math. The fifth grade classes will continue work on math fact fluency, and the sixth grade will have some content homework from the book and will start fact fluency tomorrow (Wednesday). I've added some links in the resources about the importance of fact fluency as mathematical ideas become more challenging. You can begin checking your child's Schoology account through his/ her account. On the left side of the screen in each course is a grade book. Missing assignments will show up not having a score of 1-4. I'll be uploading my homework rubric later this week to Schoology so you can pair the number to performance on homework (a 3 is meeting the expectations).
This week the 6th grade classes are working with factor strings and prime factorization for numbers. We will be building on the knowledge from last week's work with multiples and factors, but we will move toward more efficient strategies, and using a numbers prime factorization will be one of those approaches. Students will have some choice this week as to their starting point based on their comfort with the content.
The 5th grade classes will begin working more intensively on multiplicative thinking, with a focus on flexible thinking in solving multiplication problems. Varied approaches will be offered, though groupings and instruction in class will be facilitated by me as I continue to look at growth through classwork and each student's exit question at the end of class.
As always if you have any questions feel free to contact me by email. eeley@wwsu.org
-Eric
Over the course of this week and next students should be coming home with homework most nights for math. The fifth grade classes will continue work on math fact fluency, and the sixth grade will have some content homework from the book and will start fact fluency tomorrow (Wednesday). I've added some links in the resources about the importance of fact fluency as mathematical ideas become more challenging. You can begin checking your child's Schoology account through his/ her account. On the left side of the screen in each course is a grade book. Missing assignments will show up not having a score of 1-4. I'll be uploading my homework rubric later this week to Schoology so you can pair the number to performance on homework (a 3 is meeting the expectations).
This week the 6th grade classes are working with factor strings and prime factorization for numbers. We will be building on the knowledge from last week's work with multiples and factors, but we will move toward more efficient strategies, and using a numbers prime factorization will be one of those approaches. Students will have some choice this week as to their starting point based on their comfort with the content.
The 5th grade classes will begin working more intensively on multiplicative thinking, with a focus on flexible thinking in solving multiplication problems. Varied approaches will be offered, though groupings and instruction in class will be facilitated by me as I continue to look at growth through classwork and each student's exit question at the end of class.
As always if you have any questions feel free to contact me by email. eeley@wwsu.org
-Eric
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Week of Sept. 8
Wizards,
Over the course the of the next week be sure to check in with your child about their Schoology account. This is a venue we will be using in class for some work, as well as a place to post assignments. We have only used it a few times in class, but most students can get on and access their classes independently. Both my 5th and 6th grade groups have played some factor and product games that will continue to be good review, and these are still accessible on each student's Schoology home page. I've also posted the games in the resources link. Upcoming assignments and late work can be viewed on each course page in the account. You can link to the Schoology site here. Parent log in information will be sent out from the office in early October, as this will also take over the role of Powerschool for progress reporting.
The 6th grade groups are moving into the unit Prime Time and will be analyzing the relationships between factors and multiples in a variety of contexts. These concepts will be vital in moving forward later in the year with fractions and proportional thinking.
The 5th grade group will be working with factors and multiples, and will move into their first unit later this week which focuses on properties of numbers and defining area in terms of multiplication. We will be exploring prime, composite and square numbers.
Both groups will be starting homework this week. The 6th grade will start with some problems from their Connected Math book, while the 5th grade will work on multiplication and division fact fluency using xtramath.org. For the 5th grade, a sign in and parent letter will be coming home on Tuesday for this site, and daily practice will be the expectation over the next few weeks.
If your child seems to be having a difficult time at home with the passing of Mandy Drake please feel free to let myself or any of the school staff know. I am going to offer my class as a place that maintains a consistent routine as I feel that is what some students, and myself, will need. If you feel your child will need time or supports at school please let us know. If you have any questions feel free to email.
-Eric Eley
Over the course the of the next week be sure to check in with your child about their Schoology account. This is a venue we will be using in class for some work, as well as a place to post assignments. We have only used it a few times in class, but most students can get on and access their classes independently. Both my 5th and 6th grade groups have played some factor and product games that will continue to be good review, and these are still accessible on each student's Schoology home page. I've also posted the games in the resources link. Upcoming assignments and late work can be viewed on each course page in the account. You can link to the Schoology site here. Parent log in information will be sent out from the office in early October, as this will also take over the role of Powerschool for progress reporting.
The 6th grade groups are moving into the unit Prime Time and will be analyzing the relationships between factors and multiples in a variety of contexts. These concepts will be vital in moving forward later in the year with fractions and proportional thinking.
The 5th grade group will be working with factors and multiples, and will move into their first unit later this week which focuses on properties of numbers and defining area in terms of multiplication. We will be exploring prime, composite and square numbers.
Both groups will be starting homework this week. The 6th grade will start with some problems from their Connected Math book, while the 5th grade will work on multiplication and division fact fluency using xtramath.org. For the 5th grade, a sign in and parent letter will be coming home on Tuesday for this site, and daily practice will be the expectation over the next few weeks.
If your child seems to be having a difficult time at home with the passing of Mandy Drake please feel free to let myself or any of the school staff know. I am going to offer my class as a place that maintains a consistent routine as I feel that is what some students, and myself, will need. If you feel your child will need time or supports at school please let us know. If you have any questions feel free to email.
-Eric Eley
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Great Start to the Year
Welcome to the 2015/2016 school year. Over the past week and a half we have spent some time developing our community on the 5/6 Wizard wing, and one focus we have emphasized is developing our community group norms. In my class we developed and solidified the following 6 norms to be used on the Wizard team.
- Take responsibility. Have self control/discipline. Be prepared and on time.
- Communicate in a positive way and have patience.
- Agree and disagree respectfully.
- Be considerate and respect others and materials.
- Encourage and help others
- Cooperate and use teamwork while working with others.
Through the process of developing and setting these norms over 40 students placed the first norm above (self discipline) as a priority for themselves and their classmates. Over the course of the year we consistently refer to these norms as expectations on our team, and these expectations would be a great way to have a positive conversation with your child.
The 5th grade classes will be using the Investigations curriculum this year, and will be starting with a focus on factors and multiples. We will then move into working with area and multiplication.
The 6th grade groups will be using the Connected Mathematics 3 Program, and will also be starting with a focus on factors and multiples, after which they will move into analyzing these concepts with a deeper focus on number theory and relationships.
I'll use this blog to communicate curriculum, expectations, as well as online tools and resources you can use with your child. If you have any questions the best way to get in touch with me is at eeley@wwsu.org.
Have a great long weekend.
-Eric
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