Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Week of October 15 - 18, 2013

Friday HW
1.  Problem of the week (It's All In The Game) is due on Monday.
(It's All in the Game:  Four years ago, the Kimura family's DX3 gaming system cost $320. Now it's
worth $140. If the system depreciates (decreases in value) by the same amount each year, how much will it be worth when they plan to sell it, two years from now?)
2.  Long Division and Multiplication quiz on Monday.
3.  Spelling dictation # 3 on Monday.
4.  Photo retakes are on November 5.

There was some concern expressed over the instructions for the MMS homework on pages 32 and 33.  The short division model was requested in these instructions and I neglected to inform students that they should rewrite the problems to use the Long Division place value style we've been practicing.  Sorry about that.

Although I know there are several division techniques, I tend to show the students only the multiples of ten technique and the the standard, place value-based DMSB algorithm.  Inevitably the students opt for the latter style.  Short division, which is very useful for some students, is not a style I encourage through modeling since there are more complex pencil-paper calculations coming next year with two digit divisors.  Short division will be a tough technique to use in that context, so I choose to model long division almost exclusively.

I would expect students to present their quiz and test answers in the long division and multiplication styles we've been using in class in our modeled demonstrations.

Thursday HW
1.  Summer reverie anecdote in Writing notebooks.  We introduced it yesterday and reviewed it again today.  Student had the opportunity to make a mind web of possible topics and then of best vocabulary in a guided format.  I want students to complete at least 15 lines of a rough draft tonight.  We are following regular organization of text conventions (lined up along the margin, using indentations, writing on each line, adding a personal title) and trying to develop our audience awareness while telling a meaningful story of an event that students witnessed or participated in over the summer.  It should be a significant event but not necessarily 'life-changing'.  It should be something a student is willing to share (happy or otherwise) rather than a private story.
2.  Long Division and Multiplication quiz on Monday.
3.  Spelling dictation # 3 on Monday.
4.  Photo retakes are on November 5.
5.  Parent Donation letters.
6.  Flu Shot letter went home today.
We will have our final Terry Fox fundraising award tomorrow.  The afternoon periods only will be for electronic use if students are caught up with their homework.  No movies or saved videos please.  As well, it will be an all-day pyjama day should students wish to wear them.  Thank you once again for your excellent fundraising efforts.

I wanted to also thank my class for their great behaviour during yesterday's tree plaque ceremony for Alex Shapiro. They were terrific!  Here is a tweet from the Toronto Star's reporter, Kristin Rushowy:

 Wednesday HW
1.  MMS pages 30-31.
2.  Parent Council donation envelopes.
3.  Return Photo Orders -- due Thursday, October 17.
4.  French test on Friday "etre".

 Tuesday HW
1.  MMS pages 30-31.  Students are struggling with the idea of estimating in long division.  Estimation is a useful skill both in adult life and to check now if answers are reasonable when precise calculations are done.  We continue to reinforce the importance of times table control while building on earlier exposure to concepts such as rounding, compensation and multiplying by multiples of 10
2.  Parent Council donation envelopes.
3.  A new Problem of the Week was handed out today.  Only two students were absent for it, but four others did not have it ready in class.  I will check again tomorrow, but not after that.
4.  Return Photo Orders -- due Thursday, October 17.
5.  French test on Friday "etre".

Music on a Monday (which is Tuesday):  Science Nation Army  

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