Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Partial-Quotients
Please watch for two papers coming home that will help you with the partial-quotients algorithms for division. We have done the 1 digit divisor, but not the 2 digit. Another paper will come home when we learn column division.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dear Parents,
Hopefully, everyone is staying warm through this cold snap! Unfortunately, the children can't go out to recess and and some of them are getting rather 'antsy'. Others have taken it upon themselves to do a little extra learning during our indoor recesses. They have been involved with an Art club, research of NH skiing, and reading up on some history. It is great to see them so eager to learn.
We have begun to write persuasive letters. The children might have told you about choosing their topic and now they are going to try to convince you of something that is of interest to them. Please support them in their quest to make our planet a better place to live.
Speaking of which, the administration has asked that we try to conserve as much energy and resources as we can in all parts of the school day. One initiative is to limit the amount of paper we use, so I will be doing my part by running off as few papers as possible. Please, keep checking the website and cubby's corner for the latest information. Also, we have been told that any rubbish coming into the school needs to go home with the child. Just like camping! I am encouraging the children to use containers, such as Tupperware, for their snacks and lunches, so that they aren't throwing away plastic bags everyday. Earlier in the year, I asked the kids to bring in water bottles that could be washed and used again, such as sports water bottles. Most of the children are doing that. As far as heat is concerned, our room is not cold, but just in case we have a change in temperature (Mondays are usually colder than the rest of the week), please put an extra sweater or sweatshirt in their backpack.
We have spent some time on the Civil Rights movement and its effects on our present day events. This is a favorite topic of mine, since I lived through that era and I can tell the children what I remember from that period of time. On Tuesday, I hope that we can spend some time discussing the inauguration. This will lead up to studying some more presidents next month.
I know some parents are teaching their children to divide the standard way, but I would prefer you wait until they understand the partial quotients that I have been teaching them. They are getting confused with different teaching methods. Believe me, this is the best way for them to understand the meaning of numbers and they will learn the standard way soon. What you can do to help is make sure they your child practices his/her multiplication facts every night. I asked the children how many studied, and only a handful did. When we were trying to problem solve this situation, one child suggested that I give written problems nightly. That may work, but when you consider the paper shortage, it isn't the best solution. Please, let's get these multiplication facts memorized!
Sincerely,
Ms. Hamilton
Hopefully, everyone is staying warm through this cold snap! Unfortunately, the children can't go out to recess and and some of them are getting rather 'antsy'. Others have taken it upon themselves to do a little extra learning during our indoor recesses. They have been involved with an Art club, research of NH skiing, and reading up on some history. It is great to see them so eager to learn.
We have begun to write persuasive letters. The children might have told you about choosing their topic and now they are going to try to convince you of something that is of interest to them. Please support them in their quest to make our planet a better place to live.
Speaking of which, the administration has asked that we try to conserve as much energy and resources as we can in all parts of the school day. One initiative is to limit the amount of paper we use, so I will be doing my part by running off as few papers as possible. Please, keep checking the website and cubby's corner for the latest information. Also, we have been told that any rubbish coming into the school needs to go home with the child. Just like camping! I am encouraging the children to use containers, such as Tupperware, for their snacks and lunches, so that they aren't throwing away plastic bags everyday. Earlier in the year, I asked the kids to bring in water bottles that could be washed and used again, such as sports water bottles. Most of the children are doing that. As far as heat is concerned, our room is not cold, but just in case we have a change in temperature (Mondays are usually colder than the rest of the week), please put an extra sweater or sweatshirt in their backpack.
We have spent some time on the Civil Rights movement and its effects on our present day events. This is a favorite topic of mine, since I lived through that era and I can tell the children what I remember from that period of time. On Tuesday, I hope that we can spend some time discussing the inauguration. This will lead up to studying some more presidents next month.
I know some parents are teaching their children to divide the standard way, but I would prefer you wait until they understand the partial quotients that I have been teaching them. They are getting confused with different teaching methods. Believe me, this is the best way for them to understand the meaning of numbers and they will learn the standard way soon. What you can do to help is make sure they your child practices his/her multiplication facts every night. I asked the children how many studied, and only a handful did. When we were trying to problem solve this situation, one child suggested that I give written problems nightly. That may work, but when you consider the paper shortage, it isn't the best solution. Please, let's get these multiplication facts memorized!
Sincerely,
Ms. Hamilton
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year
Dear Parents,
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, we are ready to settle down and work hard for the rest of the year. This is the most productive time of year, because the children have built some background knowledge and are ready to build upon it.
Our Social Studies unit will be focusing on New Hampshire, but also, the Civil Rights era and Martin Luther King. The children will probably come home with a lot of questions and new knowledge that they would like to share with you.
In Science we will be studying about Matter and catagorizing gasses, solids and liquids.
We will also be working on some persuasive writing. It will be interesting to see what is important to them and how they go about arguing their position.
Math will be difficult because they will be learning about partial-quotients for division. Please read the parent letter that goes with Chapter 6.
In closing I would just like to remind you that snacks with peanut products are not allowed in the classroom at all. Please save those snacks for home.
Sincerely,
Ms. Hamilton
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, we are ready to settle down and work hard for the rest of the year. This is the most productive time of year, because the children have built some background knowledge and are ready to build upon it.
Our Social Studies unit will be focusing on New Hampshire, but also, the Civil Rights era and Martin Luther King. The children will probably come home with a lot of questions and new knowledge that they would like to share with you.
In Science we will be studying about Matter and catagorizing gasses, solids and liquids.
We will also be working on some persuasive writing. It will be interesting to see what is important to them and how they go about arguing their position.
Math will be difficult because they will be learning about partial-quotients for division. Please read the parent letter that goes with Chapter 6.
In closing I would just like to remind you that snacks with peanut products are not allowed in the classroom at all. Please save those snacks for home.
Sincerely,
Ms. Hamilton
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