I have asked each student to bring a math game to class on Thursday. This game can be a real math game or one they made up. We will spend Thursday having a class party and playing each others games. Some of the students asked if they could bring treats. I said they are welcome to bring a healthy treat but they are not required to. :)

What we did in class today:

• Collected data and filled out graphs according to the data
• Completed a worksheet (Learning how to read a graph)
• Completed addition facts and color by number pages

Homework: Little math book 

What we did in class today:

• Counted by 2s, 5s, 10s
• Reviewed 1-10 doubles
• Flashcards against teacher
• Learned Greater than and Less than (with an alligator example)
• Reviewed homework
• Played math games

Homework: Little math booklet

I forgot to mention in my last post that we finished our Life of Fred book. The students have all seemed to really enjoy listening to Fred's adventures. We will begin book #3 next semester.

What we did in class today:

• Counted by 2s, 5s, 10s
• Sang the doubles song
• Reviewed Fact Families (Kinesthetically) 
• Centers

Homework: Doubles and Doubles+1 worksheet. 

What we did in class: 

• Introduced "Even Steven" and "Odd Todd"
• Played an Even/Odd game
• Centers

Homework: Even Stevens/Odd Todd game, 100 chart

Mr. Owl, our "class pet", has been making the rounds to each student's home. When your child gets his/her turn please practice time with Mr. Owl and then return him to school the next class day.

What we did in class today:

• Reviewed the homework that was set home today
• Sang our "doubles" songs (1+1=2, 2+2=4, etc.)
• Center activities (timed tests, place value, addition stacking cups, Poof math board game, doubles practice on the white board)

The kids have been doing great in class. Doing different "Centers" has really been great for their attention span and they seem to love them. Please keep practicing flash cards at home. Your student can tell you what test they are on. Practice those math facts.

What we did in class: 

• Reviewed Odd and Even (played a game to practice)
• Split into groups and went to "centers" 

Homework: Place Value worksheet

I sent home an extra worksheet with double digit addition and an odd/even sort for some of the students who need a challenge. 

What we did in class this week:

• Read Chapters 15 and 16 in Life of Fred
• Ordinal numbers
• Cardinal numbers
• Whole numbers
• Whole numbers are infinite. They never stop. There is always a bigger number. 
• Practiced math addition facts with flash cards
• Took timed tests (1 minute) 
• Played math games

I will be shifting our focus to more MATH FACTS each Tuesday and Thursday. (In addition to Life of Fred) I will be giving the students one minute timed tests each class day and they will be coming home with homework. I will also be having a reward basket that the students will be able to choose from when they pass off their timed tests. Please send your child to school each Tuesday and Thursday with simple addition flashcards. Also, please help your child remember to complete and return their homework. They will be rewarded for this in class.

"Math facts fluency leads to higher order mathematics.  

Through automaticity students free up their working memory and can devoted it to problems solving and learning new concepts and skills (Geary, 1994).

Quite simple, a lack of fluency in basic math facts will significantly hinder a child's subsequent progress in problem-solving, algebra, and higher order math concepts.  Math fact fluency not only affects our students' future success in math, but also in science and geography.

I need a parent volunteer for Thursday from 10:30-11:00

What we did in class today:

• Quickly reviewed place value
• Read Chapters 12 and 13 in Life of Fred
• a.m. vs p.m.
• Learned the term orthogonal lines 
• Counted by 5's. Introduced the concept of multiplication
• Reviewed how many in a dozen
• Simple addition
• Divided into two groups
• Group 1- Practiced writing numbers and counting by 2s and 5s. Then practiced simple addition
• Group 2- Introduced re-grouping and carrying with two digit addition

When we get back from "fall break" we will be learning to count money.  I have some fun activities planned but I need your help collecting the supplies. We need empty frosting containers and play coins. I have a couple packages of coins already but it won't be enough for 12 kids. Your help with these items would be greatly appreciated.

What we did in class: (this week)

• Read Chapters 9, 10, and 11 in Life of Fred
• Astonomy
• What is a light year
• Sets and groups
• Time
• Money (nickels)
• Count by 2's and 5's
• Reviewed time (had a pretend snowball fight activity)
• Learned the beginnings of double digit addition (no carrying yet)

Thank you to those who loaned us your abacus for the day.

What we did in class: 

• Read Chapter 8 in Life of Fred
• Learned what Ordinal numbers are: First, second, third...
• Counted by 5s (in a money situation) 
• Completed simple addition and subtraction in our heads or with our fingers
• Introduced place value to the Thousands
• Completed a place value worksheet (some children are still reviewing place value to the hundreds) 

Two announcements:
        1- Will you please send your child to class with a pencil in his/her book bag.
        2- If you are willing and able I would love for you to send your child to class with an abacus. They are such great learning tools. I can even store them for you so you don't have to remember each time. Ikea and amazon are great places to find them.

What we did in class:

• Read Chapter 7 of Life of Fred
• Time
• Sometimes there are many possible answers
• Reviewed Place Value
• I feel like each student now understands place value to the hundreds. Hip hip hooray! 
• Reviewed using a number line with a worksheet. 
• I gave each student a worksheet that I believed was at his/her level. If you feel the worksheet he/she brought home was too hard or too easy please email me or comment on this blog. 

Homework: If your child did not finish the number line worksheet in class then it is homework. 

What we did in class:

• Read Chapter 6 in Life of Fred
• Introduced Astronomy and the term collinear 
• Reviewed the commutative property
• Reviewed Place value
• Played a place value game with a partner

Don't forget to have your child bring back their homework.

What we did in class: 

• Read Chapter 5 of Life of Fred
• Counted by 5's
• Briefly introduced fractions
• Reviewed time
• Counted by 10
• Introduced an abacus 
• Taught place value

Homework: Place value worksheet (started it in class) 

Please remember to have your child bring in a picture of themselves. We will use these pictures on and off throughout the semester.

Today each student received a laminated ruler for measuring. Please have them put this in their notebook along with the laminated clock.

What we did in class today:

• Reviewed time
• Measured ourselves on the wall 
• Learned about estimation and measurement
• Completed a measuring activity worksheet
• Read life of Fred Chapter 4
• Counted by 5's and 2's
• One yard equals 3 feet

Homework: Measuring activity measuring things around the house. Please bring this back Tuesday.

I could really use some help in the classroom. Plan on me contacting you to see when you can come in and help. :)

What we did in class: 

• Read Chapter 3 in Life of Fred
• Counted by 2's
• Counted by 5's
• Simple addition

• Learned how to use a number line
• Learned how to read a clock

Homework: Please have them complete the time worksheet and bring it back Thursday. 

Today was another great day in class. I gave each child an assessment to gauge what level of ability they were at. I will review the assessments and make decisions on what to teach and what homework to assign based on these. Because I am trying to teach each child on their individual level I could use help in the classroom. Teaching 12 students all on different levels is tricky. I don't want to short change anyone. If you could volunteer to help in the classroom once or twice a month I would greatly appreciate it.

What we did in class:

• Completed an assessment 
• Read chapter 2 of Life of Fred and completed questions
• Time
• Counting by 2's
• Sets
• Learned about fact families 
• Small groups: using a number line, tracing numbers, commutative property (all groups completed a worksheet. If your child didn't finish they were asked to bring it back finished on Tuesday.) 

Wahoo we had our first day of school! I loved meeting the students and I look forward to getting to know their personalities better each time we are together.

Our first day was spent getting to know each other and learning how class will work. We have several different levels of ability in our small class. I will do my best to accommodate each child's abilities. On Thursday I will be giving each child a short assessment to help me gauge their ability. Please let me know if you feel your child is not being challenged correctly.

I realize that two hours a week is NOT nearly enough time to teach math.  There is a lot that we will not be able to cover in class. I recommend khanacademy.org and/or readingeggs.com (It has a math program) to supplement both your teaching at home and my teaching on T/TH.

What we did in class: 

• We read chapter one of the Life of Fred (Butterflies) and completed the questions at the end of the chapter.  
• Time
• Yard = 3 feet
• Commutative property