Persevering Through Word Problems

The key to unlocking the mystery of word problems is to slow down and work on it step by step!  Often times we panic and throw our hands up and give up too quickly. I find it helpful to go through mental checklists, similar to this one we pasted into our notebook the other day. 

Step-by-Step Videos

I have included some videos below that go through a few word problems we have done in class, step by step with explanation.  This is a great reminder of what we did in class. The videos I found follow the strategies we do in class, very closely. 

The two videos below break apart lesson 7 into the two parts, we did not focus on part 2 in class but I have included it as reference..

Part 1: goes over different types of word problems such as, using remainders in quotient, increasing quotient, and multi-step problems. They also show the importance of finding meaning in each step and labeling.
Click Here: Part 1 of Lesson 2.7 (Practice 7)         

         

Part 2: goes over comparing models and finding the unit amount, as well as using organized charts to solve problems.
Click Here:     Part 2 of Lesson 2.7 (Practice 8)

                                                 

The video below follows two other examples of word problems.

One example was Mandy and Nacha's age comparison using a table.  The other example is figuring out the price of a washer when knowing the total of refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

Organized Chart and Bar Model Comparison example

           (click link above)

Lastly, this last video is more for parents.  Hi Parents! Hopefully you're reading this post.  Comment below and let me know if this video helps.  It compares the basic standard way you and I probably would have solved a problem when we were in school.  It then compares the same problem to how our Math In Focus (Singapore Math) program will approach it. I know sometimes it feels as though as this math program is a foreign language.  Sometimes it is! However, I found it helpful to see the connection between the two methods.

Comparing "Old Math" to "New Math"

         (click link above)

Common Core Standards:

5.NBT.5 Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.

5.NBT.6 Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models

Was this helpful??

Comment below and let me know if these videos helped you with your homework or studying.

I look forward to hearing from you :)

Mentor Sentences in Word Study

  "Richard gave me one of his extra-rotten, weasel-eyed, green-toothed grins."  

  Last week we read the story, "My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother", by Patricia Polacco.  We used it to discuss story elements as well as well as using it to focus on some grammar activities. The sentence above was known as our 'mentor sentence'. We used it to discuss parts of speech, types of sentences, author's craft.   One of my favorite parts of this activity was the last day of analyzing the sentence.  Students had to imitate the sentence using the same structure Patricia Polacco used.  They came up with some great sentences!  We started some grammar centers in Rti and then continued them later on in the day in ELA.  In our grammar centers we worked on mentor sentences,  parts of speech BrainPop, parts of speech task cards, and a grammar board game we tend to play in Rti.      

Math Workshop

We officially started Math Workshop this week!  We rotated through four stations correlating to what we are learning in Chapter 1- Place Value.  I was so proud of the hard work everyone showed and am excited to see it continue next week!

T- Technology: Practicing  Xtra Math 

I- Independent: Working on MIF Extra Practice 

M- Making Meaning: Playing a Mystery Number Game

E- Extension: Problem Solving 

COMMENT BELOW AND SHARE:
WHAT CENTER WAS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?

First Few Days...

The first few days have flown by!  I hope you guys are having as much fun as I am. We have spent some time to building our classroom community.  It is important to get to know each other and establish some familiarity in the start of the school year.  I love learning new things about everyone.

On the first day of school we played played an activity where students had to get into groups and form new words with the letters of their names.  It wasn't as easy as it sounds... but after a while they figured it out.  :)

We also played "Scoot".  There were cards on everyone's desks and you had to read it and do what the card tells you to do. It was important for everyone to participate, because someone else's card could have depended on what you did on your card.  For example card #1 said to yell "I'm #1" as soon as you read the card, and then another card said something along the lines of "when you hear someone say' I'm #1' say 'I like to move it move it' and dance".  Then someone else had to yell 'SHH I'm working'.   It was a little nerve wracking in the beginning but it was so cute to see everyone come out of their shell and get excited about it :)

Last week,  we had a very challenging activity!  Everyone was in groups and had to recreate a design I made out of paper.  You weren't allowed to touch it, and you had to work together.  I went around the room and noted some things people were saying such as...

 "I can't do this!"     "I'm so confused"      "I messed up"      "Don't do that"   "You're doing it wrong"

These kind of things tend to be examples of a 'fixed mindset'. We will be working on how to change our way of thinking to a growth mindset, to see that challenges help us learn. It is okay to get frustrated and not understand things, but we want to look at the challenge in a more positive way.

Along those lines, I also heard things like....

"Ohh I see.."  "I know what you're trying to say.."  "Well, this part I understand..."   "So close!"

This shows me we are on our way to thinking positively and learning from mistakes!

Use the acronym, 'GROUPS' to remember some important ideas when working together. 
Give thoughtful feedback: We will use accountable talk. 

Respect Others: We will listen to everyone.

On Task: Are you doing your job? Are you on task?

Use Quiet Voices: Only your group should hear you. Participate: Do your part- don't let others do your work.  Stay in your group: Raise your hand, ask 3 before me!

 I'm excited to see what the next few weeks will bring!

What was your favorite part of the first weeks of school?  

Comment below and let me know! 

(Don't forget to leave your name)