LOVE LOVE!!

Happy Valentines Day to all!  Thank you all for all of your sweet gifts for Valentine's day.  You know how to make a lady feel special!  I hope the kids had fun at our party on Friday!  They always enjoy getting a little free time to play and be silly.

We continued working on fractions last week.  When we are identifying fractions, we are only defining them in words.

I compared fractions to puzzles and pizzas.  We learned that the LESS parts there are, the BIGGER the pieces.

Also, we learned that the MORE parts there the SMALLER the pieces.

Example: This shape would be defined as FIVE-EIGHTHS shaded.

Also, we are only focusing on halves, fourths, and eighths.

This week we will continue to practice identifying shaded parts of a shape, defining a partitioned shape as equal or unequal parts, and describing a fraction that is more than one whole.

Example:

I want them to recognize that four parts equal their whole.

Back by popular demand...Homework will be done online again this week. Once we worked out the log in kinks, everyone seemed to like it.  At the end of the week, anyone who has not been able to log on and complete the assignment, will do so in class.  I gave each student a piece of paper to keep in their red folder with their log in details.  Again, let me know if you are having any issues getting in.

Another note, it is supposed to be a cold yucky week this week.   Please remember to send the students with jackets and any other cold weather gear.  We will go outside if at all possible!

Have a great week!!

Been too long...

Hello families!  It has been too long since I have updated you.  Life has brought me some crazy twists and turns over the past few weeks.  First, I was having some extreme headaches and the doctor was concerned so therefore so was I.  Everything checked out okay so that was a relief!

Then I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off preparing for Math and Science Night.  I want to thank everyone for coming and I hope that you found the night full of fun and good information.  If you have any feedback for next year, please let me know.

Then the third strike was losing my aunt, which was like a second mother to me growing up, to breast cancer.  I made the trip up to Indiana last weekend to spend some time with her in her last days. Then mother nature dropped 20 inches of snow on them and my flight was cancelled.  I finally made it home and spent all week trying to get caught up on my life.

I wanted all of you know since you may have begun to wonder why your child kept coming home saying "Mrs. Halligan wasn't there AGAIN today...we had a sub!"  I don't like to be out so hopefully things will calm down!

First of all, we finished up out unit on graphing this week and took the test.  I was SOOOOO proud of the kiddos performance.  I had 19 100s and 16 90s!!  WOW that is 35 students out of 52 that missed 0 or 1!  Proud teacher moment!  These 35 students will be getting a special lunch with me on Monday!  It will be a packed house!

We started our unit on Fractions this week.  I think that kids will enjoy this unit.  We only focus on halves, fourths, and eighths.

Here are the main aspects of fractions that we will be studying:

-To partition is to divide into equally sized parts.  Even though students will not be able to draw exactly equal parts, they should understand that the parts are the same size.

- Identify the whole in the problem first before looking at how many parts.  The whole can change for each model.

-Use only words to name fractions (one-fourth, three eighths, etc…)

-Students must be able to explain in words.  This can be done through questioning-

          How many halves does it take to make a whole?
          How many fourths?
          Which are larger?  Why?

-Identify how many parts in one whole first.
- Then count how many total parts in more than one whole using fractions to count.
            i.e. one-fourth, two-fourths, three-fourths, four-fourths, five-fourths, etc…
- Use the words “fair shares” or “equally sized parts” to determine whether it is an example or non-example.
- Just like numbers can be decomposed, so can shapes.  This allows our students to become flexible thinkers.

I will be sending home homework this next week via the internet.  I am wanting to try the program that goes with our textbook.  If you child does not have access to the internet at home, please let me know and I can print a copy to send home.

Also, here are a few games that they could play at home: (none of them have only halves, fourths, and eighths but I practice is practice!)

Fractions Shoot Game - http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/earlymath/fractions_shoot.htm

Fraction Frenzy - http://www.mathwarehouse.com/games/our-games/fraction-games/fraction-frenzy-4/

Various Fraction games -http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/staff/boldtkatherine/mathresources3-6/math_fractions.htm

Have a great weekend!

Semester One in the books!

It is hard to believe that the first semester is done and in the books!  We wrapped up the semester in Superhero fashion with our Unit 3 & 6 test.  This was our addition and subtraction unit test as well as a benchmark test covering most missed questions from previous tests.  I was so SUPER proud of how they did!!  I told them that if they score an 85 or higher, they could eat in my classroom.  And let me just tell you, I had a room full of kids!!

We started our next short unit on graphing last week.  Last week, we focused on reading bar graphs and pictographs or "analyzing the data".  They did very well.  This week we will create graphs from survey data.  They will be creating a survey using a website called Kahoot.  After they collect data using their survey, they will create a graph and questions.  This is a short unit so we will take our test next week.  I will be sending home a small amount of homework tomorrow for students to work on reading, analyzing, and creating graphs.  The homework will be due on Monday, February 2nd.

Please don't forget that this Thursday night is Math & Science Night.  The tailgating party (aka dinner) will begin at 5:30.  Then the fun math and science festivities will begin.  We will have math games, hands on science activities with the SMART girls from Davis Intermediate, and science vocabulary tips.  It should be a fun night of learning.  We hope you can join us!!

Also, if you have not sent in your field trip money, it is due by this Friday 1/30.

Have a great rest of the week!!

Week 1/5-9

Welcome back!  The kids came in bouncing full of stories about their holiday break on Monday!  I loved hearing all of them!  In my homeroom, I had them write down their best memories of the break or the presents they couldn't wait to tell about.  Then to add to the suspense I read a few everyday finishing today.  They would sit on the edge of their seats waiting to find out if it was going to be them. :)  

In math, we expanded our knowledge of adding and subtracting to three digits.  Once we got the wrapping paper and bows knocked of those cute little brains, things started to fall into place.  Some of the kiddos are still making silly errors like: forgetting to borrow when the number on the bottom is bigger, forgetting to actually go borrow from the next place value before adding 10, and forgetting to add the one that was regrouped.  If you have a few free moments this weekend, give them a few two and three digit adding and subtracting problems to keep it fresh.  We have our unit test on adding and subtracting next Friday.  It will also cover a few of the errors that our students showed some weaknesses on the first semester tests.  I will be sending home a review sheet next week for homework.  Please have the students work through it independently, then go over it with them.  I know that they are going to do amazing!!

Have a great weekend and stay as warm as you can!

Ugly Sweater

I was telling the kids yesterday about our faculty "Ugly Sweater" competition.  They asked if they could participate.  I said "of course!"  Well Mikey and I ROCKED it!!  Fun times!

Fun times in math!!

I am SOOOOOO proud of these kids this week!  They have ROCKED subtraction with regrouping.  Last week was our learning curve but we are on the straight road to success now.  Our technology workstation this week was the "Show Me" app.  (I totally recommend this for fun at home!)  The students recorded themselves solving a subtraction problem.  The recording shows all of their work they do plus records their voices!  They loved it.  I have included a few links for you to check out and see their greatness!!

Sara R. - http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=6Jm14Bk
Kenzie - http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=Qr9FHW4
Emma - http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=HoJeubw
Pierce - http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=IJZPfFo

I also want to add a few upcoming events/dates:

• Yearbooks are on sale starting this week.  Order forms went home in Thursday folders.  They can also be purchased online using the following link: http://www.ybpay.lifetouch.com . The ID for Cox is 12373015.  The cost of the yearbooks this year are $18.00. You will find the opportunity to personalize the yearbook for your child.  
• Winter party - Our party will be held next Friday 12/19 beginning at 11:45.  Early dismissal will be at 12:30.  We hope all of you can join us for the party.  Students do not need to bring anything for the party. Everything will be provided!
• Math and Science Night-Please mark your calendars for January 29th.  We will be having our Math and Science night from 6-7.  There will be lots of fun to be had.  We will have food, games, and prizes.  Please email me if you are planning to attend.
• Class Pictures - We will be taking our class pictures on January 12th.

Have a great weekend!  I hope to see all of you next Friday!

Welcome back!!

Howdy families!  I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.  I know that I enjoyed it but ate too much!!  I was excited to get back on schedule and hopefully drop a few dessert pounds :)! We have worked really hard this week at our subtraction.  It is a challenging concept that needs LOTS of practice.  Next week, we will continue to work on it.  I do ask that you take a few minutes everyday to work with your child on it.  Just give them two problems that require borrowing.  The more they practice, the more confident they will  feel.  I really appreciate all of your support with your kiddos.

Wylie ISD's core value of the 2nd 9 weeks is Caring and Giving.  Cox Elementary is supporting this character trait with a pajama drive.  We are asking for donations of new pajamas in any size.  They must be manufactured as pajamas.  In honor of our student's willingness to be so caring through this drive, we are having a fun pajama day next Friday Dec. 12th.  Students must still follow all school dress code rules and have on appropriate shoes for PE and recess.  Thank you for your support in this pajama drive.  Please let me know if you have any questions.