November Calendar and Newsletter

I have uploaded the November Specials/PLC calendar and newsletter.  Take a moment to look at the Home School Letter for Chapter 1.  It gives a short synopsis of what students will be working on in Unit 1.  Unit 1 contains only one chapter, however, it has 12 lessons within the chapter, so it will take a good part of November to complete, especially with days off.  

Math Time

We have spent the past 7 weeks working on becoming fluent in multiplication!  They have learned how to use repeated addition, make arrays, skip count on a number line, make equal groups, and use properties of multiplication (Commutative, Distributive, & Associative).  Students are working with square tiles to help them make arrays to solve problems.  In the pictures below, they are using square tiles to make arrays to help them solve for an unknown factor in an equation.  

This concept can be taught at home, using any small objects (buttons, coins, cereal, etc.)  Any object that can be easily used to make straight rows and columns, can be used.  Students know that in multiplication, the first factor is the number of groups (rows) and the second factor is the number in each group.  So, if the equation was 6 x 4, students should have 6 rows (each row is a group), with 4 objects in that row (group).  If they line up their array straight, then they should easily be able to find the product.  In this case, the product would be 24.  

If you do not have objects at home for your child to use, they can always use this same concept by drawing arrays on a sheet of paper. The process is still the same.

D.E.A.R. Time

I know I've been terrible about posting this month.   There seems to be so much going on, that I can't seem to get caught up or get ahead.  So, here it is, a Friday night at 9:15, and I've been home from work for 45 minutes.   I decided to stay late, in hopes of getting things done.   Now I'm home and still working, but at least it's with my sweet husband and little puppy, Maggie!

I snapped some cute pictures of some of my kiddos reading during D.E.A.R Time (Drop Everything And Read).  I'm usually reading while they are, but I couldn't resist snapping these!  I had to do it fast or they would have gotten on to me for not reading during this time! LOL

Don't they look like they are enjoying reading?  I love that this class loves D.E.A.R Time and enjoys reading so much.