Sunday, January 29, 2017

Rounding Decimals in Math, Problem Solving in Number Corner, and Reading about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rounding Decimals in Math
Students are learning about decimals in math. This week they spent time learning how to round decimals to the tenths and hundredths place values.  To help them better understand rounding to tenths, they played a game called Round & Add to Tenths.  Along with rounding, they also practiced their skills in adding decimals.









To reinforce what students learned about rounding to the hundredths place value, they played a game called Target One. Working with a partner and using a deck of number cards, they each had to form two decimals to the hundredths place value and add them together to see who could get closest to 1.  Their score was determined by using subtraction to figure out how far away from 1 they were.  I really liked this game as it reinforced many math skills including rounding decimals, and adding and subtracting decimals with regrouping.  









Problem Solving in Number Corner
During Number Corner time, students worked on their problem solving skills using math manipulatives.  I put them into 5 groups and had them work on a problem involving volume.  I recorded the answer from each group on the white board to show that sometimes the problems have more than just one answer.









Reading about Martin Luther King, Jr.


I have continued to discuss the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. with the students this week. I have been reading aloud the book Martin Luther King, Jr. by Rob Lloyd Jones.  It's a nice timeline of his life and the things he did to resolve conflict without violence.  We have had some very good discussions as I read each chapter and how the things Martin Luther King, Jr. did has had an impact on our world today.  Be sure to ask your kids what they have learned from this book.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Colony Status Reports and Learning About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Colony Status Reports
Students are continuing to learn about colonization and they have been making great strides as their colonies grow.  When the Native American chiefs are feeling generous, the students have been able to claim more land.  Take a look at the map below to see how their colony flags are spreading to show the land they have claimed.  Students are learning that being a colonist is not easy.  Their destiny depends on fate cards. Sometimes the cards bring good news... such as they had beautiful weather that allowed their crops to grow which made for a bountiful harvest.  Other times the news is not good.. such as their hunters got lost for 2 months and all but 2 survived!  Last week each colony presented a status report to let the other colonies know how they are doing.  Each colony did a wonderful job giving an overview of the highs and lows of being a colonist.




The Wake Colony

The Illuminati Colony

The Jayville Colony

The New Blondon Colony

The River Woods Colony

The New Burton Colony

Learning About Martin Luther King, Jr. 
In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, the students have been sharing what they know about Martin Luther King, Jr. and learning about the gifts he gave to the world; especially solving conflicts without using violence. I shared the story Martin's Big Words with them and then had them write about a gift they would give to the world. Their ideas are very heartfelt and thoughtful.  Please take a look at the pictures below to see what they wrote. We also listened to the "I Have a Dream" speech which they found to be very moving. 



















Thursday, January 12, 2017

Fact Fluency Fun!

This week students learned a new game in math called Going to Boston to help them with their fact fluency in addition.  Mr. McGee, our school's math coach, taught us the game. This game is a nice complement to the decimal unit we just started, as students have been learning how to add decimals.  The students especially enjoyed using the 20 sided dice Mr. McGee shared with us! Every Monday students will be learning a new math game to help with their number fluency.  Be sure to ask your child about the game.