February Updates

A couple notes about within the classroom:

1.    23/26 kids are at the end-of-the-year school goal of 70% or better on our Math SLE quiz.  This goal must be reached by the end of the year (the three that didn’t meet it were less that 5% away!), and I am expecting us to meet a goal of 80% or higher!

2.    Our last 50-facts quiz produced wonderful results.  The class averaged 91% correct, which is up from 85% last time.  So far there has been no plateau, and I hope that continues until we reach 100%!  Continue playing those great math games!

3.    I’ve been conducting fluency checks this week and last.  Our class average is around 139 correct words per minute.  The goal is to have all students above 123 by the end of the year (equivalent to a ‘3’ on the report card).

4.    Khan Academy is a huge success!  I have 16 students who have added me as a coach, and we have earned close to 2 million points (that means students have answered an average of 426 math problems on their free time!).  If you need more information, are curious on how to set it up, or just need more help, let me know as soon as possible!

Thanks again for all the support at home – this has been a truly enjoyable class to teach.

New England Breakfast

As part of our culminating project for the Northeastern region of the United States, the kids indulged in a New England breakfast. This breakfast featured some of the goods shipped from the New England region. These products include blueberries, maple syrup, cranberries, and apple juice/cider. While we enjoyed consuming some of these foods, the kids also completed an activity as a group. This activity required the kids to match the edible goods (as well as other goods such as granite, marble, and ball bearings) to the state that most commonly makes/grows/produces these products.. Additionally, a special thanks goes out to all the families that were able to provide either their time or particular foods for this. It wouldn't have happened without you! *Pictures coming soon!*

Khan Academy - Coaching Update

So far, seven students have signed up for Khan Academy!  Some have spent a lot of time with the website, fulfilling their mathematical curiosities.  I mentioned this website at conferences, but I wanted to send you a reminder.  This is a free, not-for-profit website, and it allows your child some choice with what and how much to learn during a particular session.  Again, take a few minutes to observe the site, and if you're interested, add me as a coach.  My coach name is brandonjamesbauer@gmail.com.  Let me know if you have any questions about signing up.

Multiplication Game of the Week - Time for a "Change"

Great news!  The class averaged 82% on their last 50-facts multiplication test.  That is an 8% increase from three weeks ago!  Additionally, this is the earliest one of my classes has scored over 80%!  Keep it up!

This week's math game is called Diaper Derby from multiplication.com.  You have the option to choose any multiple or a range of multiples (i.e. 2-9 or 3-12).  To begin, customize your baby racer.  Next, answer the questions correctly and quickly to advance your racer.  Simply finish the race in first place to win!

Diaper Derby

As we prepare for the coming weeks, students will be learning and practicing how to solve multidigit multiplication problems. Again, the more fluent students are with their facts, the easier solving problems like this will be.  Best of luck, and keep practicing!

Multiplication Game of the Week!

Even though the kids have been dilligently working on mastering 4th grade concepts involving decimals (including ordering them, comparing them, adding them, and subtracting them), we still have multiplication on the brain.  As we work through 4th grade, I expect students to be completely fluent with all of their facts by the end of the year.  It is SO important that the students even have a "Team Achievement" card that could be earned by showing proficiency.  Take a look at this week's game to help motivate your child to practice.  After all, I've heard once or twice that practice makes perfect.

PENGUIN JUMP!

This game is fantastic for three main reasons.  First, the kids are able to race against each other if they wish, or they are able to play against the computer.  Some kids LOVE challenging their friends while other prefer challenging themselves.  Second, this mixes several different facts rather than just multiples of a specific number.  (for those who are ready).  Last, the facts are a little bit more difficult, involving numbers times 10-12 as well as 0-9.  Enjoy this game, and check back soon for another featured math game!

Ping Pong the Panda: Multiplying Action!

This week's math game of the week is Ping Pong the Panda.  Similar to Sketch's World, this game allows you to choose which factor to practice with, and it also include a range of factors.  After answering a certain number of facts, you play as Ping Pong.  He is out for sticks of bamboo, but watch out for the fighting rabbits!  How many math facts can you master? How many levels can you complete?  Find out in Ping Pong the Panda!

Link:  http://multiplication.com/flashgames/pingpong/Pong.htm

Data Folders + Math Facts = Progress

By kids learning their basic math facts, more difficult concepts will be easier to learn.  Adding/subtracting factions, finding lowest common denominators, or balancing algebraic equations all rely on fact knowledge.

While facts are so important, that's not all we do in math (actually we take a mere 10 minutes or so working on math facts and computation each day!).  Here's a look into these 10 minutes:

1.  Mental Math:  During this time, we review previously learned concepts, using it as a warm up time.  This unit, mental math has revolved around factors, multiples, fact families, and even prime numbers.

2.  ATTACK OF THE 6020s!:  Students have 60 seconds to answer 20 facts; each fact has a common multiple.  These are completely optional, as students who aren't ready to take them will not benefit from an impossible struggle.  However, if they opt out, those students will spend time practicing those particular multiples.  Once a student defeats a 6020, s/he gets to fill in that number on a data folder sheet.  It's a sweet one minute that is differentiated to meet each child's level!

3.  50-Facts Test:  This is the grandaddy of them all!  We only do these even 2/3 weeks, and it is more of a progress tracker than anything else.  Students are given 50 facts to answer and three minutes to do so.  During the first minute, they cannot skip any problems.  In the last two minutes, they can work on problems they choose.  We then score and graph these in our data folders as well.  However many facts students answer correctly in the first minute is how much they will shade in green.  Their total score for the entire three minutes is  scored in blue.  I've posted a link to an "ideal growth" example.  Again, we do this quite sporadically, but it a perfect way for students to see their growth over a longer period of time.

Include these three aspects with lots of fun math games, and I'm expecting all students to exceed their goals with math facts (and concepts!).  All of this, in turn, adds to their love of learning!