Friday, December 4, 2009
Annual Christmas Cruise - Southern Caribbean this year!
Heading for Florida on Sunday December 20th for our annual family Christmas Cruise! Warm weather here we come!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday's Multiplying Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Today we continued our work with fractions only now we are multiplying them. I started the session differently than previously. After our meeting last week about setting up our virtual classroom like a brick and mortar room, I thought I would incorporate some suggestions. One was to have something for them to work on when they enter and the other was to list the rules for them. I explained these changes to our room and the students had no problem with them.
After the housekeeping parts it was on to the actual lesson. This went extremely well. I explained to them that multiplying fractions was like looking at the problem as 2 multiplication sentences on top of one another. This really seemed to help them understand. Everyone wanted to work a problem and all did very well with this. The challenge came when we started to talk about using Mixed Numbers. Since we cannot multiply them like they are we have to convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. I demonstrated this since most of the lcass presented me with confused faces. Once I went over how to do it, they reeally caught on. We continued on to the multiplying part. In the end, I mentioned they would need to simplify the new fraction. This meant they needed to create a new mixed numbers. Since I had mentioned this last week, we reviewed how to go about it. There were some students who were still confused. I mentioned they can come back to class tomorrow when we go over everything once again.
I was very pleased with today's lessons. Once again, if they do not understand something they will not hesitate to tell me and we work it out together. They feel very comfortable with making errors and learning from them.
Til tomorrow!
After the housekeeping parts it was on to the actual lesson. This went extremely well. I explained to them that multiplying fractions was like looking at the problem as 2 multiplication sentences on top of one another. This really seemed to help them understand. Everyone wanted to work a problem and all did very well with this. The challenge came when we started to talk about using Mixed Numbers. Since we cannot multiply them like they are we have to convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. I demonstrated this since most of the lcass presented me with confused faces. Once I went over how to do it, they reeally caught on. We continued on to the multiplying part. In the end, I mentioned they would need to simplify the new fraction. This meant they needed to create a new mixed numbers. Since I had mentioned this last week, we reviewed how to go about it. There were some students who were still confused. I mentioned they can come back to class tomorrow when we go over everything once again.
I was very pleased with today's lessons. Once again, if they do not understand something they will not hesitate to tell me and we work it out together. They feel very comfortable with making errors and learning from them.
Til tomorrow!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Finally Friday!
Well, it is finally Friday. No scheduled teaching classes today. Several parents missed their conferences when I called so I scheduled them for makeups today. Of course one person read the message and they were not even there (or answering the phone) when I called. That part is so frustrating. I did successfully make contact with 2 of them.
The rest of the day was spent completing my notes and other miscellaneous administrative tasks. It will be nice to relax this weekend.
Next week, we continue working with fractions. This time we will be multiplying fractions and even multipying fractions and whole numbers. It will be interesting to see how well they pick up the concept presented in these lessons.
Until Monday!
The rest of the day was spent completing my notes and other miscellaneous administrative tasks. It will be nice to relax this weekend.
Next week, we continue working with fractions. This time we will be multiplying fractions and even multipying fractions and whole numbers. It will be interesting to see how well they pick up the concept presented in these lessons.
Until Monday!
Thursday - Reviewing this week's lessons
Thursday ended up being quite a busy day. I had a meeting about using our Elluminate classroom in a similar fashion as the brick and mortar building. Then, I reviewed with the students Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Uncommon Denominators. Finally, the day ended with conferences with some parents. I was so exhausted that I didn't get a chance to post.
In our meeting, they really reinforced how we need to make sure we have things set up just like in a brick and mortar building. They even provided some examples. I know now I have to get some things set up, but quite a few of them I already incorporate in my room.
The math lesson was a huge success. It was more of a review of what we covered this week. In fact, I did notice several students who have come to all the sessions this week. We reviewed the steps and then I provded practice problems for them to work out on the board. They love working on the whiteboard. Some of the students made minor calculation errors, but this provided a wonderful opportunity to point out how we can use these as a learning opportunity. As I was going through the problem, I would gently point out where an error has occured. In the end, I asked the student if going through this helped and received quite a few smiley faces. :-). I was also greeted in the chat window with several messages saying "Hugs for the Teacher".
Although it was a packed day, I couldn't help but smile from receiving my virtual "hugs". What a great group I had on Thursday.
In our meeting, they really reinforced how we need to make sure we have things set up just like in a brick and mortar building. They even provided some examples. I know now I have to get some things set up, but quite a few of them I already incorporate in my room.
The math lesson was a huge success. It was more of a review of what we covered this week. In fact, I did notice several students who have come to all the sessions this week. We reviewed the steps and then I provded practice problems for them to work out on the board. They love working on the whiteboard. Some of the students made minor calculation errors, but this provided a wonderful opportunity to point out how we can use these as a learning opportunity. As I was going through the problem, I would gently point out where an error has occured. In the end, I asked the student if going through this helped and received quite a few smiley faces. :-). I was also greeted in the chat window with several messages saying "Hugs for the Teacher".
Although it was a packed day, I couldn't help but smile from receiving my virtual "hugs". What a great group I had on Thursday.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday's Work - Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers!
Today was challenge day in the class. It was a smaller than usual class, but I anticipated this since the topic was a challenge. We reviewed how to add and subtract fractions since this was part of what is needed. Regrouping was also reviewed since with some of the problems they needed to regroup fractions. I received quite a few confused faces (icons they can use) when mentioning regrouping with fractions.
I just did what I have done previously and broke it down for them in simplier terms so they could get what I meant. Since it was a smaller class, this allowed almost every person to try a problem. If for some reason, they were incorrect with setting up the problem we worked it out so they could see how to accurately solve the problem.
I enjoy working with smaller groups and posing a challenge to the students. All of these students were up for it and even though at times they were confused they immediately spoke up so I could offer any assistance. Did not have anyone in class today who only wanted social hour. They were here to work and it was obvious. Great class today!
Tomorrow (Thursday) is a review session over Adding and Subtracting fractions. The more they practice this skill the better they will get at using it when necessary.
I just did what I have done previously and broke it down for them in simplier terms so they could get what I meant. Since it was a smaller class, this allowed almost every person to try a problem. If for some reason, they were incorrect with setting up the problem we worked it out so they could see how to accurately solve the problem.
I enjoy working with smaller groups and posing a challenge to the students. All of these students were up for it and even though at times they were confused they immediately spoke up so I could offer any assistance. Did not have anyone in class today who only wanted social hour. They were here to work and it was obvious. Great class today!
Tomorrow (Thursday) is a review session over Adding and Subtracting fractions. The more they practice this skill the better they will get at using it when necessary.
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