Feathers' Math Facts

Math Activities-Plug into Math!

Looking for some great on-line math activities?  Then 

Plug Into Math!

There is an activity here for everyone!

McCleskey Informational Meeting

Rising 6^th Grade Parent Night – Monday, May 4th

Parents of rising 6^th grades are invited to McCleskey for an informational meeting on Monday, May 4^th at 7:00pm. Please come to the theater by the front entrance. Packets will be given out containing important information for your future McCleskey 6^th grader.

Standards for 3rd Quarter - Grade 5

The objectives listed below will be used to lead your child to mastery of the concepts covered in the 3rd Nine Weeks Unit of study. 

Measurement (volume and capacity)
•    Understand that the volume of a prism tells you how many cubes of a given size (unit) it takes to fill the prism.  Volume is measured in cubic units based upon the units used to measure the length, height and width of the prism.
•    Identify the units in computing volume such as cubic centimeters, cubic meters, cubic inches, cubic feet, and cubic yards
•    Derive the formula for finding volume of a cube and rectangular prism using manipulatives (fill a container with cubic units)
•    Compute the volume of a cube and rectangular prism using formula:
Length x width x height = volume
•    Estimate the volume of simple geometric solids
•    Understand the similarities and differences between volume and capacity (liquid volume)
•    Use milliliters, liters, fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons to measure capacity
•    Compare one unit to another within a single system (1 cup = 8 ounces)

Decimals and Percents
•    Understand the meaning of percentage
•    Model percent  on 10 by 10 grid
•    Apply percentage to circle graphs

Data
•    Analyze data presented in a graph
•    Compare and contrast multiple graphic representations (circle graphs, line graphs, bar graphs, and stem leaf plot) for a single set of data
•    Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each
•    Collect, organize, and display data using the most appropriate graph

Multiplication and Division of Fractions

•    Estimate products and quotients
•    Understand division of whole numbers can be represented as fraction (a/b = a ÷ b)
•    Model the multiplication and division of common fractions
•    Use variables to represent unknown quantities in algebraic expressions
•    Substitute of numbers for the unknown in simple  algebraic expressions

Here are some suggestions as to what you can do at home to help your child:
•    News Making Graphs
Look for bar graphs, line graphs, and other graphs in newspapers and magazines.  Focus on the graph by talking about the title and labels.  Then ask your child to state three or four facts presented by the graph.
•    Sales: are they worth it?
As you are shopping during a store sale, figure out how much you would save if you bought an item “on sale”.  For example:  If a shirt regularly costs $30.00 and it is on sale for 5% off, figure out how much you would pay and how much you would save.  What if that shirt was 20% off?  
•    Wages
Your job pays $10 per hour on weekdays and time and a half if you work on weekends.  If you worked 6 hours on Friday and 5 hours on Saturday, how much would you earn? 

Survey For Parents - Participate in Net Day Speak Up!

Please participate in Net Day Speak Up!
Cobb County School District has committed to having at least 10% of our students and teachers take the online survey. Because we will have access to our aggregated school and district data, this is a great opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to join in a local and national dialog about significant and timely issues impacting education today.  The survey may be accessed until Dec. 19 at

http://www.cobbk12.org/instructionaltechnology/speakup/speakup_survey.asp

Family Math Feature on First in Math

If you haven't discovered it yet, you need to check out the Family Math Link on First in Math.

The First In Math® Online Program’s Family Link feature involves family members in the process of their child’s education in a groundbreaking way. It was designed to provide a bridge of communication between school and home. helping to involve parents and and families in Math education in a positive way.  A family member becomes an engaged participant in the education process.

Family Link provides students’ family members with a First In Math User ID/Password—enabling them to log on and play the games, learn and refresh math skills 24/7, just like students. Student and family member scores are combined for a Family Link total score, providing a mechanism for students and families to spur each other on to greater mathematics achievement.

When a school or school district subscribes to the Family Link feature, First In Math User ID’s and Passwords are made available for one family member per student (parent, sibling, aunt, cousin, etc.) via the student’s home page.

1. Student logs on to the First In Math site and enters her User ID/Password. The student’s home page will be pre-programmed to display the FL feature.

2. The family member User ID will be displayed. To obtain the family member’s Password, “mouse over” the ID and it will be revealed.

3. Student writes down information and gives to family member.

Family Members: When you get stuck, ask your student-partner for help! It’s a great way to encourage communication and help your child learn and gain confidence. If you need to learn how a game works, ask your student-partner or click the DIRECTIONS button.

More Fun With Fractions

Have you seen any good math lately? 
Here are some ways to help your child practice fractions at home:

Fractions can be part of a whole (pizza pie), or a set ( of cookies).  But, it doesn't have to be food related. It can be anything with equal parts that your child enjoys. Whether you're baking a cake, making a puzzle, building with blocks or stringing a necklace with beads, you can create a fraction activity.

First, help your child identify how many pieces are in the “whole” (the denominator). (Ask them to tell you about the DENOMINATOR!) Then name, add or subtract fractional parts of the whole. (How much of the necklace is blue beads? What percent of the puzzle have we completed? Let’s take away a third of the third and start over.)

Preparing and eating dinner is another great time to discuss fractions.find a family recipe you and your child enjoy and increase the amounts to make enough for the whole class.  Or if you are having trouble getting a clean plate, try, “You may not be excused from the table  until you have eaten three fifths of your garbanzo beans!”

Make a “Less Than One” Museum

Set up a “Less Than One” museum on a bulletin board in your home. Acknowledge fractions, decimals and percents whenever you encounter them in daily life. Every time you encounter or use a fraction, decimal or percent add it to the board. It may be a coupon from the paper, the weather report, or a recipe. At the end of a week, arrange the items from your museum from least to greatest. Challenge your child to find a way to determine if a number is greater than, equal to or less than another.

Fractions, decimals and percents are everywhere, and the more easily your child can identify and compare them, the greater success they will have adding, subtracting, and converting them. Soon enough you child  will think fractions are a piece of cake!

Fractions & Decimals

As we wrap up our study of decimals, we will now focus on how decimals and fractions are connected.  In the coming weeks, students will be asked to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.  Here are some activities you can try at home to assist with this unit of study.

Fractions in the Real World

Collect example of fractions from books, magazines and newspapers.  You can
find many examples in recipes, business listings, and craft instructions.
When you find a fraction, add it to a chart with columns labeled: less than 1/2;
between 1/2 and 1; greater than 1.  Ask your child to explain how he or she knew
where to put each fraction in the chart.

Compare fractions. Have your child put them in order from least to greatest. 

Working with Fractions
Your child is learning to add, subtract, and multiply fractions.  To add or
subtract fractions such as 1/3 + 1/2, you have to find an equivalent for each
fraction that has the same denominator.  Here is an activity you can try
to help your child practice this skills.

Renaming Game

Step 1    Begin by stating a fraction, such as 1/3.
Step 2    Take turns naming equivalent fractions (2/6, 3/9 and so on).
Step 3    When neither player can think of an equivalent fraction, start again
              with a new fraction.

First in Math Update

Can you say #28 ?  Yes, Keheley Elementary is # 28 in NATION of all schools (grades 3-8) competing in First in Math!  That can only mean one thing, the First in Math program is off and running.  All of our students in fourth and fifth grade have logged in and started competing.  This marks our third week of the program and our fifth grade is already 15th in the nation, (of all competing 5th grade classrooms) and they are 3rd in the state of Georgia.  Six of our players are currently ranked in the top 100 students in the state!  Just a reminder, the rankings change daily based on student activity, so let’s keep playing! 

A big, “Thank you!” to all the parents and staff members who contributed to this program.  Your support of our Math Instruction is what made it possible.  Next time you are at school, make sure to check out the bulletin board outside the computer lab for weekly updates. 

Get Plugged in to Math!

Here is a great site to help you in every area of math!  It is organized by strand, grade level and even has links to the current GPS.  All the sites have been pre-screened by Cobb Instructional Technology.

Plug In To Math

You can also access online activites to develop math understanding at:

Think Math grade 5

Think Math grade 4

Think Math grade 3

We are still gathering funds and organizing for First in Math.  I hope we can be up and competing by September 1st.  If you have not sent in your funds, please do so as soon as possible.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to school! I hope you are as excited as I am about beginning a new year. We have many changes this year with new faces and new routines, but one thing remains constant. That one thing is high expectations for student success and a guaranteed curriculum based on the Georgia Performance Standards. (Also known as the GPS, you will hear a lot about that this year!)

I look forward to working with all of you in my new "Math" role. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.