Today we reviewed mixed numbers for our unit test. Please note: the unit test has been moved up one day to Wednesday (tomorrow!), due to the science test on Thursday. We are ready to take it!!!! After the review we worked some more on comparing and ordering decimals. Homework tonight for regular math classes is Page 94 (17-29) and for advanced math, Page 98 (1-16).

Welcome back! We missed everyone during the break! We hope your holiday was terrific.

As we start back this week, we'll be starting a new unit on decimals. Today we'll learn about the basics: place value, different ways to express decimals, and ordering and comparing decimals. Regular math classes will do Lesson 3-1 (1-9) in the workbook, while advanced math should do page 94 (1-16) in the textbook.

Remember that we will offer after school tutoring tomorrow, Tuesday, to students needing extra help. See Mrs. Woodward for a permission form to stay. We need some advanced math students to help tutor during these help sessions, if anyone is interested. Thanks. (Be sure to bring a snack; you'll get hungry by this time in the afternoon!)

All students will have a test on fractions and mixed numbers on Thursday. We will review concepts on this test all week during warm-ups to help any students who are struggling. This test covers all the skills we have practiced over the past 3-4 weeks, on comparing and ordering fractions, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing mixed numbers.

Remember that Friday is an early release day. Students will be released at 12:30 that day. During the morning, we will have our school spelling bee, and do some special activities in social studies to get ready for our Renaissance Fair next Friday. Therefore, we will not have math classes on Friday.

Today, students worked on a review of fractions and mixed numbers. We checked our Blue Diamond Assessments so that they could see how well they had performed on those skills. For homework, regular math classes should do the Bingo side of their worksheet on dividing fractions, while advanced math students should do page 288 (1-12) on solving multiplication and division of fraction equations. Work should be shown on 2 or 3 lines, on notebook paper, depending on whether or not they are using the shortcut (multiplying by the reciprocal, rather than dividing.)

On Tuesday, we will continue to review fractions and mixed numbers. We will have a test on all of the skills we have practiced with mixed numbers the week after we return from Thanksgiving break, late in the week. Advanced students should complete the Bingo side of their worksheet for homework, if they do not finish it in class today.

Have a terrific Thanksgiving!

Math classes will continue to review multiplying and dividing of fractions and mixed numbers today, as well as addition and subtraction, to review for tomorrow's quiz and next week's test on fractions and mixed numbers. Advanced classes will also practice solving multiplication and division equations, using the inverse and equality properties. Advanced math classes will do Workbook Lesson 5-4 tonight, while regular math classes do page 230 (12-27).

All classes should return their demographics sheet signed tomorrow. This is the sheet they were given in class today with information such as name, address, and phone number. Simply check the information, correct anything that is incorrect, sign, and return tomorrow. It should take no more than 60 seconds to complete. Thanks!

On Friday, all classes will take their quizzes on multiplying and dividing fractions. For homework, regular math classes will have a worksheet, while advanced will continue to work on solving equations on page 232 (5-12).

Students continued to work on dividing mixed numbers today. They also finished their Blue Diamond Assessments 3 and 4 on adding and subtracting mixed numbers. Tonight, their homework is the Workbook Lesson 5-3.

REMEMBER: QUIZ ON FRIDAY: MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING MIXED NUMBERS!

Today, students learned how to divide fractions and mixed numbers. They should first copy the original fraction, change mixed numbers to improper fractions, then "skip, flip, multiply." (Actually, multiply by the reciprocal.) Students viewed a video on the Smartboard about dividing fractions, then did their homework on page 224. Advanced math classes did problems 11-27, while regular math was assigned the first 10 problems only.

This week classes are continuing to work on multiplying and dividing mixed numbers. In 2nd and 3rd period math, students took their Blue Diamond Assessment #3. For homework they will do page 218 (19-27), and get their quizzes signed. Advanced classes will take Blue Diamond Assessment #4, then do the same assignment for homework. All classes will have a quiz on dividing fractions on Friday.

Today, regular math students are taking their quiz on multiplying fractions. Homework tonight is in the workbook, Lesson 5-2, problems 10-17. Students must show how they changed the mixed numbers to fractions to get credit. Then they should multiply numerators and then do the same for the denominators. Remember to simplify your answers.

In advanced math classes, we will take our Blue Diamond Assessment 3 and 4, on fraction addition and subtraction. These students will take their quiz on multiplication of mixed numbers next week, as we will not have math class on Friday (see below). For homework tonight, they should do Workbook 5-2.

Remember that tomorrow is Veteran's Day. Take time to thank a veteran for giving of their time and energy and devotion to our country.

On Friday, the Anaconda team will run a "team time" schedule. The first hour, they will take their science test. Then they will do a social studies activity during the second hour, and take time to read library books when they are finished. Students who asked to be included in the spelling bee will have their competition during this time as well. After lunch and electives, our team will view "The Lightening Thief," a movie based on the book they are reading during language arts class. We will compare and contrast the movie and the book to note similarities and differences. Remember, the movie is BASED ON the book. It does not mean the movie IS the book!

Have a great weekend! Go HEELS! Beat Virginia Tech!

Math classes today worked on multiplying mixed numbers. Students learned to change mixed numbers to improper fractions, then multiply as they had learned yesterday. We also worked some more on the shortcut, cancelling. Regular math classes will have a quiz on multiplying fractions tomorrow. For homework tonight, they should do Workbook 5-2 (1-9). Advanced math classes should do page 218 (28-44).

Classes this week will be working on multiplying fractions. After checking homework, they learned to simply multiply numerators and then multiply denominators. There is a short-cut, called cancelling, which makes simplifying their answers so much easier. Ask your child about this short-cut tonight! Homework for regular math classes is the worksheet, "Find A Match," which is on the back of the quiz that they are bringing home tonight to get signed. For advanced classes, the homework is on page 214 (7-9 and 19-32). They also have a quiz to get signed. Any absent student should read page 212-213 before attempting to do the homework.

Regular math classes should do page 254 (6 - 13) on Wednesday night for homework, and 15 - 22 on Thursday night, to prepare for their quiz on Friday.

On Friday, after the quiz, regular math students should work on page 266 (42-48), while advanced students solve fraction equations on page 258 (6-16). These pages should be finished for homework over the weekend.

On Monday, students continued to practice adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. They also prepared their portfolios for their student-led conferences, held Monday afternoon. Thanks to all the parents who attended conferences! We hope you found the time spent with your child rewarding and productive. Homework Monday night was Lesson 5-8 in the workbook. Advanced classes received their unit tests that we went over and corrected in class.

On Tuesday, we will begin subtracting mixed numbers with renaming (borrowing). This is a 3-step process; encourage students to follow all three steps in solving the problems. Homework Tuesday is Lesson 5-9 in the workbook. Regular math classes should do problems 1-9, while advanced classes do the entire page. The more practice on this skill the better!

All classes will have a quiz Friday on adding and subtracting mixed numbers, including renaming.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we will continue to work on subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping. The advanced classes will do homework Wednesday on page 254 (1-14). On Thursday, advanced classes will do page 254-255 (15-42).