T-minus 18 instructional days til EOGs!!!<\/p>\n
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can you believe it?<\/p>\n
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Today we continued our talks about what makes sense when doing word problems. \u00a0For instance one of our problems today was this:<\/p>\n
A rock has a mass of 5kg. \u00a0The rock has twice the mass of a book. \u00a0The book has 5 times the mass of a ball. \u00a0What is the mass of the ball?<\/p>\n
In this case, it is easy to see that the rock has the most mass, the book has the second most mass, and the ball the least mass. \u00a0Even though this is definitely the case, we had some students answer that the book had a mass of 10kg. \u00a0After these basic facts were pointed out, they realized their mistake, but we need to have the students get to the point where they can check their own work to see if it makes any sense.<\/p>\n
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Their Math homework is to finish the 5 word problems they started in their groups, and make sure that their answer makes sense.<\/p>\n
WordProblemsMay20<\/a><\/p>\n In Language Arts we talked more about figurative language. \u00a0I just can’t believe how little exposure our students have had to expressions like “my ears are burning” or “cold feet”. \u00a0Not a single one knew these today! \u00a0Ask your students if they remember the figurative meaning of these expressions:<\/p>\n At the drop of a hat<\/p>\n Axe to grind<\/p>\n Burn the midnight oil<\/p>\n chew the fat<\/p>\n bed of roses<\/p>\n We also talked a bit about our trip, and how we would feel about next year’s 5th graders going to the same place. \u00a0Students were given an option to either argue for or against next year’s 5th graders taking the same trip. \u00a0 The class was fairly split. \u00a0We therefore decided to write letters to Mr. Zoller trying to convince him one way or the other.<\/p>\n In their letter, they should come up with four paragraphs in this format to convince Mr. Zoller one way or the other:<\/p>\n paragraph 1: position – go or go somewhere else?<\/p>\n Paragraph 2: Why? \u00a0Why should they go , or why should they go somewhere else?<\/p>\n Paragraph 3: What is to be gained knowledge-wise from going or from doing something else?<\/p>\n Paragraph 4: Conclusion. Why they should or shouldn’t go and what would be gained. \u00a0Tell us it all again and wrap it up.<\/p>\n They should come in with a rough draft of their letter tomorrow. \u00a0This needs to be written in the format specified and on notebook paper. \u00a0It should *not* be typed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In science we talked more about heat, temperature, and the transfer of kinetic energy as heat. \u00a0We also talked about conduction, convection, and radiation as the three possible ways for heat to be transferred. \u00a0Students had a worksheet to fill in asking questions about these three types of heat transfer, and that should also be done and turned in tomorrow.<\/p>\n ScienceMay20<\/a><\/p>\n so tldr;<\/p>\n One math worksheet that has 5 word problems<\/p>\n One letter to Mr. Zoller about next year’s 5th grade field trip<\/p>\n One science worksheet dealing with the three types of heat transfer<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We had another very good day behavior wise, and besides a few gripes about the length of their letter, students were working hard. \u00a0 This is exactly what it will take to succeed in Middle School and beyond, and I hope the students leave Lockhart with at least that simple understanding that hard work and practice are how we learn.<\/p>\n Hope everyone is having a great day!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n -Mr. Potter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" T-minus 18 instructional days til EOGs!!! can you believe it? Today we continued our talks about what makes sense when doing word problems. \u00a0For instance one of our problems today was this: A rock has a mass of 5kg. \u00a0The rock has twice the mass of a book. \u00a0The book has 5 times … Continue reading Homework May 20 (Tues)<\/span>