Well, I'm typing this post from the eighth floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver, Colorado where I'm busy preparing for two presentations that I will be leading with Toni at the National Middle School Association's Annual Conference. And, as you can imagine, it took quite a bit to pull everything together to leave this morning!
So, for the last few days, you've seen tons of pictures pop up on here without any explanation as to what we've been doing! Ha!
Well, overall, the kids and I have been engaged in a conversation about adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators--in fact, that's what they'll be working on while I'm gone. When I return, obviously, expect much more detailed blogs updating you on all I've learned and what's on the horizon for First Year Math.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
More practice with common denominators
After a warm up on like fractions, we spent our entire time working together on some adding unlike fractions problems. We'll likely be spending a great deal of time together on this in the coming weeks!
No homework!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The promised land!
We reached a bit of the promised land today! Finding common denominators. It looked like taking a lot of notes with tons of examples and butterfly metaphors. :)
There's no homework, as I'm not 100% ready for them to tackle them on their own just yet. :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
On like denominators...
We spent our time today starting the conversation of what it's like to work with fractions that have the same denominator. We did a bit of individual practice, but still, no homework. :)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Reducing!
Today we practiced some more reducing, checked our homework, and watched a video explaining more about reducing fractions.
Tonight's homework is a sheet, front and back, on reducing and equivalent fractions.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Equal Fractions!
Today we talked about equivalent fractions and how they relate to reducing fractions. :)
It was quite a full day!
We completed our warm up, took notes, did some practice problems, ran a lap around the building, did a worksheet, and then started work on a sheet of HUGE fractions to reduce that the kids themselves created yesterday! They will need to finish these for homework... which is due THURSDAY. (Due to block schedule, they will not see me tomorrow.)
Onward!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Making our own fractions
Our warm up today was created by Benjamin... and it was a HUGE fraction that the kids had to reduce. SO, we spent the rest of the period creating our own huge fractions to reduce. We'll work on those tomorrow during our block. :) NO HW
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Reducing Fractions
Today we talked about reducing fractions... or "fractions shedding their skin"!
Our main rule for reducing fractions to their lowest terms is to divide the top and bottom of the fraction by the biggest number that will go into both of them evenly.
To practice? The kids are to complete the 8 problems in the middle of the sheet I gave them. A few kiddos have a handful to complete tonight. :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Rehabilitating Fractions!
Rehabilitating? Well, I wanted a much cooler word for "converting" and that's what we came up with.
Today we converted improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa. AND we did LOTS of problems to help us remember these semi-new skills.
There may be a few kids who are still working through their problems... 20 minutes of hard core, focused working tonight for homework would be appropriate. If there's time for more to get all those problems done? Hooray!
Monday, October 6, 2008
All about the fraction
Today, as you'll see below, was all about the fraction and getting reacquainted with what we already know: how to read fractions and how to represent them in a drawing.
Tomorrow we'll move to converting those bad boy improper fractions to mixed numbers and back again. :) NO Homework.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Math Potatoes :)
The kids FINALLY got their stickers for their review work today! And I gave out the most stickers I've EVER given out before... check with your children. :)
Afterwards, we did a "Math Potato" - a very interesting book that you should take a look at that emphasizes counting and grouping strategies. Just something a little different to mix things up a bit. :)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Hershey's Fraction Day!
You may see the pictures posted below and wonder, why in the world are my children scarfing on chocolate in math class?!?!?!?!
Because those blasted Hershey folks wrote this book that does a fabulous job of introducing fractions, using a Hershey milk chocolate bar. :)
So today? We played with our food! I mean... fractions! Yea, that's right! :)
Absolutely no homework tonight, but ask your children about 1/3 of their chocolate, or 10/12 or 12/12 or 6/12!!
I hope you enjoy the pictures below!
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