Thursday, January 20, 2011

1.19.11

I am so sorry to not have posted yesterday!  I really want to make sure there is a blog post for EVERY day we are in school, but I got sidetracked working on other projects yesterday after school!


Yesterday, we had some very special guests from the Lexington Children's Theater come and present a play about recycling and preserving our environment to the best we can.  The play was entitled, "Heap it on" and it was so fantastic!  We are each responsible for the preservation of our planet and must do our own part.  It really was informational and very entertaining.  Therefore, because it was at 9:00 a.m., we did not have Reading class, but were able to transition to math afterwards.


Math:
We are working on using what we have learned about basic multiplication to move onto related and more advanced equations that elaborate on this concept.  The "commutative property of multiplication" is: it does not matter which number is first when you write the problem.  The answer is the same. 
  • 3 x 5 = 5 x 3  (The numbers can be switched around and the answer is the same.)    
  • 4 x 7 = 7 x 4  
  • 1 x 9 = 9 x 1

We are also working on "fact families" to show how multiplication and division are related and we can use multiplication to help develop and enhance our understanding of division.  Generally, the word, "family" means: certain people are related. Likewise, "fact family" implies that certain numbers and facts are related. 

For starters, they are only (at most) three numbers in each fact family.  In my example fact family, the members (numbers) are 3, 8, and 24.  The product (multiplication answer) is 24 with the facts 8 x 3 = 24; and 3 x 8 = 24.  The quotients (division answers) are 3 or 8: 24/3 = 8; and 24/8 = 3.  As you should see, these facts are all connected and therefore, related.  From basically ONE multiplication fact that we started with, look how many additional facts we learned!  WOWee!!!
Finally, we have also started working on multi-digit multiplication.  For now, we are computing these equations without regrouping: 123 x 2; or 444 x 2; or 202 x 4, etc.  
**Homework was completing a multiplication quiz at home with an adult.  There are 49 problems and only 90 seconds to be given for the quiz. Please circle ALL problems not completed or incorrect and REVIEW ALL as well.  Repetition promotes fluency and these facts MUST be learned. Adults, you MUST sign the quiz to verify that this was practiced at home and so your student can get full credit for completing this very important task at home.

Finally, we finished all of our Brazilian animal project presentations.  I have NEVER (and I mean, absolutely NEVER) been more impressed with my students in any previous year of my teaching.  :)

xoxo,
Mrs. Thomas 

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