Math

Numbers...addition-subtraction, multiplication-division,place value, base 10 units, area models...ooh the list could go on. I have only been at the Northwest Mathematics Conference for one day and my head is already swimming, but what great ideas I have for Monday.

Be expecting lots of wonderful tips on how to help your child with math concepts at home to be coming soon.

Thinking of math all day reminded me of something I wanted to discuss after a parent asked me about "extended notation" during our conference.

The students and I have talked about the fact that math has 3 languages-words, symbols, and models. For example- numbers and mathematical operation signs [+, -, x, division(my computer won't let me do the division sign)] are all symbols. Have you ever thought of numbers that way? Think about it what does a 3 really represent. It represents a number of items. You can't really "touch" 3 (abstract), but you could touch the items (concrete). There are a lot more ma thematic symbols, but these will do for now.

We can write numbers as words, twenty-nine, and we can also write mathematics word problems. If Megan had 5 books and her friend Veronica had 5 books, how many books would they have altogether.

We can draw models of our mathematical thinking, which really helps us find answers to math problems. If my computer would let me, I would draw a group of 5 books and then a second group of five books to show 2 x 5=10. I could also draw an area model with 2 x 5 dimensions (I can't draw it on the computer, but your child should be able to draw it for you because we have been working on area models a lot lately).

The students have played a game called Circle and Stars that helps them to make the connection between math languages.

Here are some other ways numbers can be represented and you may have seen homework that asks for one of the following math language for numbers:
Numbers in word form: three thousand four hundred ninety-two
Numbers in standard form: 3,492
Numbers in expanded form: 3,000+400+90+2

Hopefully this information will help you and your child on future math homework.

Parent-Teacher Conference

Right now I am sitting in my car on my to Canada for a math conference. No, I am not the one driving. =) Hopefully I will learn a lot of strategies and information I can bring back to the classroom.

While I have a moment, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate "my parents." I told my students, this morning, how lucky I feel to have such a wonderful class and how great all my parent-teacher conferences went. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and talking to you about your child. I learned several new things about many of my students and I was able to share how well they are doing.

If you ever have any questions about homework, school work, or you are just wondering how your child is doing please email or call me at school. I am there to work with you and your child so they can learn and grow as much as possible.

Thank you for such a great turn out.