Finally we get to move on past long division!  Most students have caught onto the concept pretty well, and are ready to move on to discover Algebra operations and equations.  This coming week we will be learning about exponents and the order of operations.

Here are a couple of great videos your student can watch to reinforce what we are going over in class.

Math Playground Video - Please watch!

http://www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic/basic-exponents/v/understanding-exponents

Level 4 division

We are continuing division this week, but with a new twist!  We are dividing larger numbers by two-digit divisors.

If your child is still having difficulty have him or her view this video on Wonderhowto.com:
Divide by two digit divisors.


Keep practicing, my friends!

Mrs. Lee

Click here to visit Multiplication.com and Practice 3's times tables:

STAR binder

This is the assignment board in my classroom.  Students are to write their assignments in their STAR binder each day.  Home work in math is assigned Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Students may take science interactive notebooks home each night to study what we went over in class.

Lab Safety

Our Science class has gotten off to a great start.  My students have created their ISN's (Interactive Student Notebooks), and today we had our first lesson about safety in the science lab.  The students were very aware of the hazzards of working with scientific tools and chemicals.  I found a great website that has many of the same resources we are using in class, and a great video to go along with the lesson.  Just go to the following website,  click on "Scientific Method", and then "Lab Safety." to view a presentation, worksheet, and review. 

http://www.myscience8.com

Khan Academy

I've been researching the flipped classroom.  A flipped classroom uses internet based video lessons to introduce new concepts to students.  This frees the teacher to be able to circulate around the room and help students at their desks.  Students benefit by having more one-on-one time with the teacher, and increased opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback.  Using video based instruction also allows the student re-watch or rewind sections of the video that may be more difficult for them to grasp, and they can watch the video as many times as needed. 

I am excited to share with my students and parents a wonderful resource I have found called the Khan Academy.  This website contains videos explaining thousands of math and science concepts in detail, and is already being used in schools around the world.  I hope to use many of these videos in class.  Struggling students will benefit from being able to review, while students who grasp concepts quickly can move on to watch and practice more advanced concepts.

This tool will be an awesome way for kids to practice at home, or anyplace they have access to the internet.  It's easy to track their progress using a login and password of your choice.  It's absolutely free, too!  Follow the link below to set up an account and get started!

http://www.khanacademy.org/

Watch a sample video:

Clip Chart - A simple discipline strategy for promoting positive behavior.

This year I will display a chart in my classroom that looks like this:

 Students will start off with their clips on the "Ready to Learn" section each morning.  When students are making good behavior choices, they have an opportunity to move up the chart and earn rewards for their good behavior.  If they are caught being good - helping without being asked, following directions, working quietly, cleaning up without being asked, or receiving a compliment from another teacher - they will be given a "thumbs up" hand signal by me.  They may then go to the chart and move thier clip up one step.  If they move their clip all the way up to "Super Student" in one day, they will receive a note to take home to proudly show their parents.  They will also be rewarded by having their name included in a drawing at the end of the week.

On the other hand, if a students is not making good choices - not on task, not completing work, not prepared for class, talking when not appropriate, not respecting rights of others, not practicing self-discipline, or not following instructions - they will be given a "thumbs down" hand signal which means they must move their clip down the chart one level.  The "Make Better Choices" section is simply a warning from the teacher.  If a student moves their clip to the "Teacher's Choice" section, I will choose the course of action I think is best such as loss of privileges, restriction from a favorite activity, or a note home are just a few options.  The final section is "Parent Contact".  If a students moves their clip to this section, I will make a phone call to the student's parent to discuss the matter.  If a student has to move their clip down more than four times during a grading period, their conduct grade will go down a letter grade.

To learn more about this simple and effective strategy go to http://www.newmanagement.com/ebooks/clip_chart.html and let me know what you think!

Discipline is teaching,

not punishment.

—T. Berry Brazelton