Important Dates

  • 01/24/24 – Star 360 Math Assessment (Room 219)
  • 01/25/24 – Star 360 Math Assessment (Room 218)
  • 01/26/24 – Division Drill

Announcements

  • Testing – Last week, 5th grade students, who do not require accommodations, were assessed. I am so proud of both 5th grade classes. Most students grew more than one grade level in 4 months. There were some students who are Super Achievers! These 5th grade students scored in the 8th grade range, which means they are in the 90th percentile of higher. So, these Super Achievers are outperforming most of the 5th graders in the country. In order to get these gains, I do the following activities in addition to the grade level instruction:
    •  Weekly Do Now – These are assignments that I create to reinforce skills already taught. It keeps the concepts fresh in the minds of students.
    • Small Group Instruction – I arrange small groups based on students’ percentile rankings. Once I arrange those groups in Star 360, it gives me a list of skills to work on with each group.
    • Weekly Fact Drills – Fluency matters especially with timed tests. The Star 360 is a timed assessment. College entrance exams are also timed, and preparation for college starts now. After all, did you know 67% of what your child needs for college is developed in elementary school. Development or preparation doesn’t start in high school.
    • Launch – Students are usually given an open-ended question that sparks debate. I also use this part of my lesson to develop students’ algebraic thinking.
    • Freckle – Renaissance created the Star 360 assessment and Freckle. Freckle receives students’ Star 360 results and has a personalized learning path for students; this is called Adaptive Math. I also use Freckle to assign students grade level work and small group work; this is called Targeted Practice.
  • Division Drill – I scheduled the division drill two weeks in a row, and we have yet to get to it. I will most definitely administer the drill this Friday since students do not have a test this week. I am going to focus on certain tables each week. Please use the schedule below to help your child prepare:
    • Week 20 – Divide by 2, 5, and 10 (100 problems in 10 minutes)
    • Week 21 – Divide by 2, 5, and 10 (100 problems in 9 minutes)
    • Week 22 – Divide by 2, 5, and 10 (100 problems in 8 minutes)
    • Week 23 – Divide by 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10 (100 problems in 10 minutes)
    • Week 24 – Divide by 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10 (100 problems in 9 minutes)
    • Week 25 – Divide by 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10 (100 problems in 8 minutes)
    • Week 26 – Divide by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (100 problems in 10 minutes)
    • Week 27 – Divide by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (100 problems in 9 minutes)
    • Week 28 – Divide by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (100 problems in 8 minutes)
  • 2nd Quarter Skills – I emailed all parents the list of skills their student mastered during the 2nd quarter.
  • No Homework

Learning Objectives

5th Grade Skills

  • I can divide decimals by powers of 10.
  • I can estimate decimal quotients.
  • I can divide decimals by a 2-digit whole number.
  • I can divide a decimal by another decimal.

6th Grade Skills

  • I can differentiate between independent variables and dependent variables.
  • I use patterns to write and solve equations.
  • I can analyze the relationship between dependent and independent variables in tables, graphs, and equations.