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)