10/20/08 Math & Reading

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night.

Part 2 (Two Part Math Problems): I have been working with the kids on solving two part math problems. It has been touch and go for some of them. Please review this concept with your child. Consider problem #1: Carmen found 4 shells on Monday and 5 more on Tuesday. How many shells does Carmen have? The problem continues: If Carmen finds 6 more on Wednesday, how many shells will she have then? The problem needs to be solved in two steps:  4+5=9  and then 9+6=15
Check to see if your learner understands that they need to figure out the first part of the problem before they move onto the second part of the problem. Also know that some two part math problems go from being addition problems to subtraction problems and visa versa. For the journal problem (#8) please have your student write their own 2 part problem. For example: Tyrell has 6 cars. Chandler gives him 8 more. After that he loses 4 cars. How many cars does he end up with? 6+8=14 then 14-4=10 so Tyrell has 10 cars.


Part 3 (Math): Drops in the Bucket Math: we are reviewing many of the math facts that we have learned to date: comparing numbers, patterns, adding and subtracting, how many in all, money, place value, time, and shapes.
When working on Drops in the Bucket with your student please constantly ask them to explain themselves to you. Say things like: “How do you know that?” and “Tell me why.” when they give you answers.
On problem #3 the students are asked to do some double digit addition and subtraction. I’ve taught them to re-write the problems “up and down” and then solve them. 
Problem #9 deals with telling time. Many of the children don’t know how to tell time on a clock with a face yet. If this is still hard for your child read the face to them, “5:00” and then have them write the time on the digital clock.

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.