January
8
December
9
Long Division – Math Quiz
We mentioned the new Math curriculum when discussing memorizing multiplication facts. Another new section within this unit is that students are now required to learn 3-digit by 2-digit division. In the past, learning 3-digit by 1-digit division was a new skill. Therefore, with this change, there’s a bit of a gap with the progression of learning, and our students need to learn both 3-digit by 1-digit division AND 3-digit by 2-digit division.
In the best of times, long division can be confusing. Therefore, we have made a few choices in terms of how we will be teaching and assessing this skill this term.
- Students have learned 2 different long division strategies — standard algorithm and division with repeated multiplication (see videos below). They have the choice to use whichever strategy they are most comfortable with.
- For our quiz on Tuesday December 15, students will also have the choice of which skill they demonstrate their understanding of. The truth is, that if you know how to do long division for 3-digit by 1-digit numbers, you likely will be able to do 3-digit by 2-digit as well. But we understand that it can feel overwhelming and tricky, and that’s the last thing we want to induce! Therefore, there will be 2 quizzes for students to choose from. Quiz A will focus on 3-digit by 1-digit division. Quiz B will focus on 3-digit by 2-digit division. Throughout the term, students who choose to do quiz A will have other opportunities to practice and demonstrate their mastery of 3-digit by 2-digit division.
To help review for this quiz, students already chose a practice worksheet to bring home as part of their homework this week. There are 9 questions in all, and we recommend they do 2 – 3 each night. We have also been checking in one-on-one with each student throughout the week to help them make the best choice as to which quiz they will be completing next Tuesday. This is a great step in independence and owning their own learning.
If you would like to see some of the strategies we have been learning, please watch the following videos. Students can also access extra practice worksheets here, and use IXL as a study tool.
3-digit by 1-digit Standard Algorithm
3-digit by 1-digit Repeated Multiplication
Checking Division with Multiplication
3-digit by 2-digit Standard Algorithm
3-digit by 2-digit Repeated Multiplication
December
3
Parashat Vayetze
December
1
Scholastic Book Fair – Get Your Read On!
Even COVID can’t stop our love for reading and the Scholastic Book Fair! The only thing it will stop is us having the fair in person…and perhaps a few less cat posters and ice cream erasers purchases 😜
This year, our Scholastic Book Fair will be held completely virtually. To access the sale, please click here. You will find hundreds of books to choose from, and we are always happy to help make recommendations for your child.
Enjoy!
November
30
Blogging Bingo Challenge
Every year, students participate in a Blogging Bingo challenge to inspire them to write on their blogfolios more often. Right now, all students posts things to their blogfolios that their teachers ask them to; some students independently write posts of their choosing; and some students want to write more but don’t know what to write.
In an effort to inspire and spark creativity while also building new tech and media literacy skills, we have created this Blogging Bingo Challenge.
Students can work on this challenge throughout the whole year. There are some rules, though….obviously!
- All posts must follow our guidelines of what makes a quality post in order to be counted towards the challenge
- All comments must follow the guidelines of what make a quality comment
- Writing and drawings cannot be rushed just to complete the task
And for added incentive, here are the prizes!
|
5 posts – free Gotcha! 10 posts – Homework Pass or Teacher for the Period Whole board – Chapters Gift Card] |
Happy Blogging!
November
28
Hebrew Quiz – Pronouns
November
24
Math Quiz – 2-digit by 2-digit Multiplication
Over the last few weeks the students have been working hard on mastering the Standard Algorithm for multiplication. We will be having a short quiz on Tuesday, December 1, as a check-in before moving on to long division.
Here are some of the strategies we’ve been practicing so far that students have found helpful:
Using a sheet of paper to cover the number in the 10s place of the bottom number (multiplier) has also been helpful in reducing confusion as they multiply the top number (multiplicand).
Every student received a review package in their homework this week. They can also access MANY review worksheets here. IXL continues to be a great place for review, and tasks specifically related to multiplication have been assigned.
November
9
The Facts About Multiplication Facts
As some of you may know, Ontario released a new math curriculum in 2020. There are a few new strands, such as financial literacy and coding, but one major philosophical change is the requirement for students to memorize their multiplication facts. In grade 5, students are required to learn their facts up to 12 x 12.
I have written about memorizing facts before, and have participated in workshops on online webinars to learn other strategies for helping students learn their facts. I personally believe that there is a balance between memorizing and learning the “why” of multiplication. I don’t believe it’s an all or nothing, you just know them or you don’t, kind of thing. There may be some facts that come more easily, and others that are more difficult. Using strategies to make those more difficult ones make sense seems so much more beneficial than simply just memorizing it.
With all that being said, the one common strategy, whether you are learning or memorizing, is practice! Talk about multiplication, think about multiplication, practice multiplication, make it a part of your daily routine, and it will get easier! Therefore, over the next number of weeks, in addition to reading daily, students will be required to practice their multiplication facts until they are mastered. Some may already be there, some may need until the end of the year. Either way is perfect! Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery whenever they are ready, fact by fact.
Think About Multiplication
I highly recommend watching this webinar (it’s about an hour long) for some ideas about how you can talk about the facts to help your child learn those trickier ones.
Read About Multiplication
Here are some strategies from a book I got at the Scholastic Book Fair two years ago, Math Hacks by Vanessa Vakharia (if you follow the link, there are some suggestions for online sites and games for practice)
Practice Multiplication
- Make Flashcards. This is much better than buying them premade! Writing the facts down is in itself a form of practice. Students can cut the cards, write the multiplication sentence on one side, and the answer on the back.
- Math rap songs. For our auditory learners, listening to songs about multiplication and adding a beat to it can be helpful. Students can learn all the newest pop songs by heart…why not their multiplication facts? YouTube has tons of options. You just need to find the one that appeals to you. Here’s a site with 30 fun ideas that play on your musical, artistic, or kinesthetic learning style.
- Online multiplication practice. These are a few suggestions but there are TONS to choose from.
- Printed practice sheets. I have heaps of practice sheets that students can take home.
- Find tricks to help you remember your facts.
- Mrs. Cleveland has also created a list on her math blog, to many different useful math practice sites, not only just for multiplication.
If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you! Happy multiplying!
November
8
Commenting Rules!
Every year since we have launched student blogfolios at OJCS, I look forward to the Student Blogging Challenge. It is such a great way for students to become familiar with their blogs and see the power of connecting with students all over the world (as I blogged here).
Due to COVID-19 creating unpredictable classroom environments for so many, the Blogging Challenge has been put on hold for this year. But that hasn’t stopped us from continue to add new posts to our blogs, showcasing the various things we’ve been working on in class. Some students have even gone above and beyond to blog about their personal interests on their own.
One important aspect of blogging is recognizing that the things you say and share have a global audience. Commenting helps us feel heard and appreciated and adds value to our work. It also helps to hold us accountable for the things we’re posting online, and increases motivation to post something we have edited and are proud to share with the world.
This week, we began to discuss what makes a quality comment. We’d love to share this with you so that you can begin checking in regularly on our student blogfolios and leaving your own quality comments!
To find all our student blogfolios, scroll down on our sidebar until you see them all listed. 
We’d also like to remind you of our commenting rules:
- Address the author by their blogging name (that means use their alias if they are using one, even if you know their real name)
- Be polite
- Be appropriate
- Agree or disagree with the blog and tell the author why
- Add an opinion or thought that could help the blogger improve
- Give details and ask questions
- If you are a parent of the blogger, please comment with your first name only to help continue keeping our students’ identity safe.
Feel free to share these blogs with your family and friends. It is so exciting every time someone gets some love and attention on their blog 🙂
November
3
5A Homework
Last week the students were working on comprehension questions for the first section of Wonder. For homework, they need to finish these questions and the vocabulary section at the end. Some have typed their responses, some have written them on paper. Both are acceptable.
Here are the questions, just in case.