Multiplication Strategies

Here are the multiplication strategies that we have learned this week. Students will have a quiz on multiplication on Friday.

Just like with addition and subtraction, students can choose a strategy to help them solve problems. 

There will be a couple of questions that require them to use a certain method, so please make sure your child knows how to do each one. 

Subtraction Across Zeros and Making Inferences

Here is a quick video tutorial of the squaring off trick I taught your children today to help make subtracting across zeros a little bit quicker! I actually just learned this little trick and I think it's a lot quicker than the old way!

For reading this week, we are working on making inferences. Here is our note sheet for the week!

Your child should be able to take clues from the book and their own knowledge to make inferences. 

Here is an example from class today.

Subtract on an Open Number Line

Here is what we did in math today! 

We subtracted on an "open number line." This is just like what we did for addition, only our numbers are being subtracted, instead of added.

Please understand that these mental math strategies are not going to be tested on the Unit Test in a couple of weeks. I am teaching these strategies to students so they can choose methods that work best for them. If they are struggling with one method, then they should choose the method that works best for them!

If you have questions, please let me know! 

Using the Break Apart Strategy to Subtract

The break apart strategy just means that you write numbers in expanded form to add or subtract them. 

Today, we learned how to use this method when subtracting. Please watch the video below for a few examples of subtracting using this strategy with and without regrouping! Just click on the image below to view the video.

I realize that this strategy seems silly because it takes longer, but we are trying to help kids really build an understanding of numbers. The 7 in the number 743 doesn't really mean 7. It means 700. Getting students to practice this way will hopefully help them develop a better understanding of the way numbers work and also the why behind regrouping. 

Estimating Differences

Today in class we learned about estimating differences. In other words, rounding to subtract! Estimate means "about" how many. There will not be an exact answer.

Here is a quick video tutorial on how to round to subtract! Just click on the picture below to go to the video on youtube.

Please make sure on your child's homework that they are SUBTRACTING, not adding. 

I also realize that your child's homework says Monday and they weren't here yesterday. Just have them complete the Monday box anyway since that's what we did in class today!

For reading this week, we are working on asking and answering questions while reading non fiction. Here is our note sheet for the week! We will have a test Friday on Asking and Answering Questions in Fiction and Non Fiction.

There are two kinds of questions to ask while reading. Thin and Thick! Here are some posters with more information on asking each type of question.

Your child needs to be able to distinguish a thin question from a thick question on the test Friday!

Example of a thin question would be: What do sharks eat?

Example of a thick questions would be: Why do you think people are so terrified of sharks?

I hope this helps!

Addition with Base 10 Models

Here is a video lesson of addition using Base 10 Models! The first one shows addition with no regrouping and the second is how to draw the picture models and regroup.

You need to click on the images below to go to the website and view each video! These are not live videos below. 

Addition using base 10 models with no regrouping.

Addition using base 10 models with regrouping!

This website is called Learnzillion.com! There are tons of free videos that go along with every math and reading standard. I recommend if you are having homework trouble to check this website first for help! You will probably need to sign up for a free account. 

Hope this helps!

Your child also has an addition review project due on Friday, 

It looks like this!

They must complete this on their own half sized poster board or large sized construction paper. I will get some large construction paper for anyone who needs it. Students must follow the directions for each square, but only copy the highlighted things onto the project poster. 

Here is an example of what to copy:

This is all a review of things we have already learned this year. I have told the class that they may take home their math notebooks to help them as I know they might not remember some of these things. Most of this should be easy recall though! 

Let me know if you still have questions! 

Happy Monday!

Using an Open Number Line to Add

Here is what we did in class today! We talked about using an "open number line" to add larger numbers. We start with the big number and add it to our number line. Then, we decompose the number you are adding into hundreds, tens, fives, and ones (depending on how big your number is). Here is a quick video tutorial!