Three days where we got a lot done! yay!
This morning our morning math problem lead us on a long discussion of place value. Many students are still not completely clear on place value, so we talked about if there is a difference in value between 0.3 and 0.30. The answer is no. Students still need to understand that a number’s value is based solely on it’s distance from the decimal point, and not how many zeroes appear in the number.
Many students become confused when they see things like 0.0400 and 0.04. We are trying to focus on the fact that the numbers PLACE in relation to the decimal determines its VALUE. Hence the term place value.
Next we talked about persuasive essays, and how good arguments are backed up by good facts and solid reasoning. We looked at some examples and students began filling out a graphic organizer from which they will eventually write a persuasive essay focused on our chocolate milk debate.
There is an example essay on the back that they can use for ideas for structure and what reasons/details look like. We also talked about how our details should explain WHY a point is a good reason to either eliminate or keep flavored milk.
Next we looked at our science notes again. I am totally impressed with how quickly the students really took to this. Students were given a sheet of questions for the passage on microbes they read and took notes on Monday, and tonight they should use their notes and see if they can use them to answer these. Of course they may use the passage as well, but I’m hopeful that the notes should be sufficient.
Finally today we spent a good amount of time playing at banker. We used play money in order to do a LOT of subtraction problems. I was still not quite sure about how well some students are understanding this, so I did not feel comfortable giving them tonight’s math homework by the time we were finished. Some students still need a bit more practice in the classroom.
Because of this, students will get math homework tomorrow. It will likely involve me asking them to do today’s activity with a parent, so please indulge me in this tomorrow night if possible.
so, tl;dr
fill out this graphic organizer for a persuasive essay about flavored milk. Use our articles for evidence as well as the chart you have already made.
Answer some questions (hopefully using the notes you took)
And read!
Have a good one,
-Mr. Potter