Practice Makes Predictable

My son's baseball coach used to say that practice didn't make perfect.  He said that practice makes predictable -- how you practice, is how you will perform.  I also heard Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the Super-Bowl-Bound San Francisco 49ers, tell the press this week that he was not stressed about performing in the Super Bowl.  He says that stress comes from lack of preparation.  

When learning any new skill, practice makes that skill predictable and less stressful.  This is the premise behind our new addition and subtraction rubric and practice log.  Your scholar will improve and be more confident in their mathematical abilities if they aren't worried about the basic process of addition and subtraction.  

Thank you for helping your scholar in their quest for mathematical fluency and mastery of this important skill.

Engineering Roller Coasters

After a week of learning, our scholars engineered their own roller coaster. We learned about forces:  push, pull and gravity are all forces.  We learned how the force of gravity affects how fast the marble rolled down the track by pulling it down. The angle of the incline also affected how fast the marble rolled.  Gravity  affects how quickly the marble slows down while going around a loop or a hill by pulling down on the marble. Did you know that after the first hill of the roller coaster, no other hill can be as tall without a force (like a chain) pulling the car up the hill? Check out the iMovies by clicking on the links below.

 

 

 

Draw to Subtract

Students have learned a new strategy to help with subtraction called "Draw to Subtract".  The basic strategy includes drawing the first number using Base 10 blocks and then crossing out the second number to represent the act of subtraction. Students can use the picture to represent breaking up one ten into ten ones in order to subtract in the ones place, or breaking up one hundred into ten tens in order to subtract in the tens place.

Here is a picture of this strategy:

A blank copy of the form is below that you can print and use with your child at home.  Happy Subtracting!!

Think Through Math

This week students began working on a web based program called "Think Through Math".  The program begins with a pre-assessment quiz which we did in our new Media Lab on Tuesday. The students will then progress through a series of lessons that follow our math curriculum.  Each lesson begins with a pre-quiz, a short lesson, practice and a post-test.  Students who do well on the pre-quiz will advance to the next lesson.  Those who progress through the entire lesson and do not pass the post-quiz will repeat the lesson.  This will be a great resource for your students to use as extra practice at home. Click  Think Through Math  for the link to this website. Your child will bring home a small card that shows their username and password. 

I encourage you to make time for your child to utilize the website to help increase their math knowledge.  I would appreciate hearing back from you on what you think about this website and how you and your child have used it.

Lego Robotics Club

I certainly enjoyed a relaxing break with family and friends. I hope you also had a great time home with your children.

Watch Monday Folders for an exciting opportunity for our students - Session 1 of our Robotics Club!!  This flyer will be in Monday Folders:

 Don't miss out - our Robotics Club is limited to the first 18 students who sign up. Sign and return your child's permission slip first thing Tuesday morning!!