Dear Parents,

Today, I read a bit of our class read-aloud to the class and then we did a Math Minute. In a minute, students are encouraged to answer as many multiplication questions as possible out of the 50 questions. This is not meant to be a stressful exercise or a comparison to other students in the class – I’m not even marking it for their report card (we take up the answers together for students to self-reflect). I explained that this will allow students to practice their multiplication and see their own progress throughout the unit, so they should not be discouraged, but see it as a baseline/starting point in their practice. Then, we talked about some patterns in multiplication charts in the 0, 1, 2, and 10 times tables. I’m hoping that pointing out these patterns will help students with their multiplication automaticity. We also talked about how a number multiplied by another number is a factor x a factor to get the product. We reviewed this Math vocabulary in an equation e.g. 4 x 3 = 12, 4 and 3 are both factors, and 12 is the product. We also talked about arrays and how this is a grid of dots that represent 2 multiplication equations and 2 division equations. I am trying to explicitly show how multiplication and division are closely related.

I highly recommend practicing single-by-single digit (but including 10, 11 and 12 as well) times tables with your child. This will help their automaticity with these equations, which is a necessary foundation for long division and more advanced equations. Students are encouraged to practice a bit each night in order to help them memorize these equations.

These resources are great for students to study on their own as well:

https://quizlet.com/307291156/test – using the ‘match’ and ‘test’ game settings.

https://www.multiplication.com/quiz/multiplication-self-correcting-quiz-up-through-twelves

https://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_PenguinJumpMultiplication.html – really fun game, you can create a public room to play against people on the internet (no chat function or anything, just Math practice).

https://www.mathplayground.com/index_multiplication_division.html – a bunch of other multiplication/division games

I have made a page on our blog dedicated to Math game links for students to practice at home :): Click here

After snack, desk check, and recess, we read more information about Arctic/Tundra Biomes and students filled in a fill in the blanks about the Tundra. This is due tomorrow if not finished in class today.

Then, students had a chance to work on their Group of Seven Piece of Artwork.

After lunch, we learned about “Five Senses” Poems and students wrote their own rough and good copy. Then, we did planners, cleaned up, and had Gym. In Gym, we practiced shooting from in front of the net, beside the net, some more passing, and played the game “Sharks,” where students have to protect their basketball within the game boundaries.

Have a good night!

Sincerely,
Ms. Wilks