Double Digit Multiplication Test Next Week

   
  We have wrapped up our unit on double digit multiplication this week.  We will be taking our test on Thursday.    Take a look at the following links for some fun ways to prepare for the test.

http://www.mathplayground.com/multiplication05.html
http://www.prongo.com/math/

Don't forget you can always practice your basic facts with some of our math links located on the right side of the blog!

Off to a New Read Aloud Adventure!

  This past month we have been looking at the adventure genre in class.Students have been reading various books in class and sharing the wonderful adventures in their books.  One author keeps popping up in our discussion-Gordon Korman.  Therefore, we began our next read aloud book with one of his Island Series books, Shipwreck.   You can get an insider's look at the crew, as well as the other books through this link, http://www.scholastic.com/titles/island/crew.htm.  

Synonym Practice

This week we have been discussing synonyms during our work work time.  Here are two games that we have used in class to practice.
  http://www.scholastic.com/wordgirl/synonym_toast.htm
General Tso

Lattice Multiplication

 

We have introduced our third and final way to approach double digit multiplication today.  Lattice multiplication method was introduced as an alternative to traditional or partial products method.  You can watch a video demonstration of the lattice method through this link, lattice multiplication.

Friday Morning Book Club

During the winter months, we like to start our Friday mornings with a cup of hot cocoa during our book club.  This helps us get cozy and ready to share our love of books.  I always tell them that I will provide the hot cocoa if they (the students) will provide the good conversations about books.  It has been an overwhelming hit!  The students come to school prepared to share a little about what they are reading with one another. 
    This past week was an extra special hit because we also were in our pajamas!  Not only were we warm from the cocoa, but also cozy in our pj's!  Students immediately began sharing books that they would recommend to classmates, as well as their progress in the adventure genre.  I am always so impressed on how much the students share and listen to one another. 

   I thought I would post a list this week of some of the books students have suggested for others to read.  If you would like to add a book to our recommendation list, please add a comment below! Thank you!

Recommended Book Titles

 Everest Series by Gordon Korman

Circle of Secrets by Kimberly Little

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

Big Nate Series by Lincoln Peirce

Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman

Framed by Gordon Korman

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

Polyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

Nerds by Michael Buckley

Mystery of the Whispering Mummy by Alfred Hitchcock and Robert Arthur

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Titanic #1 Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic by Lauren Tarshis

Partial Products Method

  This past week the students have been introduced to two ways of completing a multiplication problem.  One of the ways is called the Partial Products Method.  Click on the link below to take a look at the videos on the partial products method.
Everyday Math Partial Products 
Partial Products Two Digit by Two digit

Warming Up to a New Year with Our New Friends in Arizona

Today we jumped right back into Mystery Skype with Mrs.Engelhard's class from Arizona. Students were very excited to connect with another state. After our in-depth study of the regions of the United States, it was great to see the Southwest Region students recognize some of the clues as part of their region of study! Powerful learning is taking place when we are all involved and engaged!

Students would use Google Earth to help solve the clues.

Our favorite clue was that the Hoover Dam was in this state.

We had 10 students each share a clue about our state.

A Student is capturing the Mystery Skype on the Ipad

Using a variety of maps helps the students solve the clues

Our Mystery Solvers solved the clues!!