Newsletter 3.....follow up.....math

Hi.

I've had several questions about math so I thought it would good to just clarify for everyone.

Our goal with the homework is to try and be consistent with what we (think) we know about learning at this point. I say "think" because people are always learning more and more about how learning works. For example, a few years ago I would have said DO NOT use flash cards. I thought they sent the wrong message: that math is about speed and memorizing rather than about thoughtful problem-solving. My current thinking is still to teach thoughtful problem solving, but that students need those basic tools, like facts memorized, so they can devote time and brain power to the more complex problems. I've also recently read research saying that self-testing is one of the best ways to enable long term learning, and that flash cards can often be a wonderful tool for self-testing.

So.....

For the fact practice on the homework sheet in the red take-home folder, I will be sending home the practice pages from the book. I have already sent home one page of 5's. More will be coming. Students should continue to practice a mixture of old and new facts. If you or your child would like to use something additional or different than those pages, that's fine with me--even flash cards.☺

I think the key to the practice will be a little each day. By the end of the year, we would like the students to know them all. We take a test at the end of each month to track progress, with the goal being 50 correct in 3 minutes.

The exit slips are a quick way to practice/review the main math skill taught that day. If your child can't do the work, please help if you can. If you teach it differently than I do, great. Now the child has two ways to look at a problem. If neither of you know what to do, that's fine too. That happens in real life all the time. What I want at that point is for the child to come to school, ask me about it, learn it, and then go back home and teach the parent.

The back of the exit slip will have a skill taught/learned previously at some point...and which the child still needs to know. Math is builds upon itself, so they need to remember and use it all.

I hope that helps clarify some of the math questions. Thanks to all the quick replies for letting me know what you're thinking. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

--

Jeff

3rd, BDE