Writing:
This past week, my writing group has been working on character and setting development. The biggest question I ask the students is, "Why?". "Why is the character clumsy? How does this move the story forward?" "Why is the hallway important in your story?" Asking "Why?" has the students see themselves as writers, creating a compelling story.
Math:
We continue on with Division this week. Students are exploring the relationship between division and multiplication, and equal groupings. They are using a variety of strategies to solve the problems, such as using a multiplication chart, using counters and dividing them up, as well as drawing it out in arrays. Students are learning the importance of keeping their math writing organized, as it helps them make sense of things, as well as it is easier to see patterns, keep place value in line, and, one of my favorite words, subitize, which is the ability to see how many there is of something without having to count each item individually. Consider dice. When we roll 5, we automatically know it is five, because of the organization of the dots. This helps students develop their mental math sense.
Have your children, at home, help you when you need to divide things.
This past week, my writing group has been working on character and setting development. The biggest question I ask the students is, "Why?". "Why is the character clumsy? How does this move the story forward?" "Why is the hallway important in your story?" Asking "Why?" has the students see themselves as writers, creating a compelling story.
Math:
We continue on with Division this week. Students are exploring the relationship between division and multiplication, and equal groupings. They are using a variety of strategies to solve the problems, such as using a multiplication chart, using counters and dividing them up, as well as drawing it out in arrays. Students are learning the importance of keeping their math writing organized, as it helps them make sense of things, as well as it is easier to see patterns, keep place value in line, and, one of my favorite words, subitize, which is the ability to see how many there is of something without having to count each item individually. Consider dice. When we roll 5, we automatically know it is five, because of the organization of the dots. This helps students develop their mental math sense.
Have your children, at home, help you when you need to divide things.