We are going to move our math test on patterning to Monday, October 2 so that we can have a little more time to review the concepts we have learned. This will also give students the weekend to study if they would like to do so.
If you are working with your child to help them study, please review the videos and posts from this month, and try the review sheet posted in the previous post.
Thank you!
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Math Test Friday!
We are coming to the end of our unit on Patterning, so we will be having a test on Friday to assess our understanding. Students should not have to study, as we have been reviewing everything in class, but if you wish to go over the material from this unit with your child, here are some review sheets that may help. They are completely optional! If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to assist.
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Solving Equations
In class the grade 6's have been learning how to solve simple algebraic equations. We have learned about the difference between a constant and a variable, and how to use the inverse operation to solve for an unknown variable.
This is the presentation that we watched in class to help us better understand what an equation is and how to solve one.
Here is an Educreation slide I made to help explain to students how to go about solving for unknown variables. We haven't watched this yet, so it would be helpful to review at home if your child is having difficulty with this week's homework.
This is the presentation that we watched in class to help us better understand what an equation is and how to solve one.
Here is an Educreation slide I made to help explain to students how to go about solving for unknown variables. We haven't watched this yet, so it would be helpful to review at home if your child is having difficulty with this week's homework.
Monday, 25 September 2017
Learning about Integers and a Problem Solving Strategy
Today in class we learned about what an integer is and then practiced using integers in a variety of questions. Below is the lesson we did in class.
Students were very good at thinking of situations in which integers would be used and identifying the appropriate integer given a statement (eg. I spent $15 might be -$15). They had much more difficulty solving word problems which involve the use of integers. When solving word problems, often the hardest part is identifying what the question is asking them to do. Often students get bogged down by the volume of information and then have difficulty identifying what the actually need to do.
To assist with this, I encouraged students to write down all the information that the problem gives them, and then write down what the question is asking them to do. I told them this is usually at the end of the problem. Often, once students have all of the information written down, they already have a strategy to solve it, so I ask them to write this down as well, and then try it out. Later we will learn how to look back to prove their thinking. How can you tell me it is the right answer? How can you prove it to me?
Here is an example:
"A ski lift at a ski hill starts at 800m about sea level and ends at 1400m about sea level. For each 100m rise in sea level, the temperature goes down by 2ºC. If the temperature at the bottom of the hill is 3ºC, what is the temperature at the top?"
Here is how I would solve this:
Know:
- ski hill starts at 800 m
- top is 1400m
- for each 100m up the temperature goes down 2 degrees
- temperature at the bottom is 3 degrees
- I HAVE TO FIND - the temperature at the top
Plan - draw a picture? Make a table? Use a number sentence? I think I will use a t-table to help me.
In my table I decided to go up by 100's because in the problem it said the temperature drops for every 100m. In the table, I can see that the temperature is going to be -9 degrees at the top of the hill.
Please take a look at the integers slideshow to see exactly what we did in class today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school any time.
Students were very good at thinking of situations in which integers would be used and identifying the appropriate integer given a statement (eg. I spent $15 might be -$15). They had much more difficulty solving word problems which involve the use of integers. When solving word problems, often the hardest part is identifying what the question is asking them to do. Often students get bogged down by the volume of information and then have difficulty identifying what the actually need to do.
To assist with this, I encouraged students to write down all the information that the problem gives them, and then write down what the question is asking them to do. I told them this is usually at the end of the problem. Often, once students have all of the information written down, they already have a strategy to solve it, so I ask them to write this down as well, and then try it out. Later we will learn how to look back to prove their thinking. How can you tell me it is the right answer? How can you prove it to me?
Here is an example:
"A ski lift at a ski hill starts at 800m about sea level and ends at 1400m about sea level. For each 100m rise in sea level, the temperature goes down by 2ºC. If the temperature at the bottom of the hill is 3ºC, what is the temperature at the top?"
Here is how I would solve this:
Know:
- ski hill starts at 800 m
- top is 1400m
- for each 100m up the temperature goes down 2 degrees
- temperature at the bottom is 3 degrees
- I HAVE TO FIND - the temperature at the top
Plan - draw a picture? Make a table? Use a number sentence? I think I will use a t-table to help me.
Please take a look at the integers slideshow to see exactly what we did in class today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school any time.
Integers
Friday, 22 September 2017
Assessment Folders Went Home Today
Today I sent the Assessment folders home with a reading quiz and a small math quiz that we did last week. I will be sending the assessment folder home every few weeks. Please look over your child's items and sign each page so I know you have seen them.
I send these home every week so that parents can see their child's progress every few weeks. If you have any questions about a test, quiz or other assignment, please write a note in your child's agenda or give me a call and I can explain.
For the first few weeks, please do not be surprised if you see marks that are lower than what you are used to seeing your child achieve. These reading and math assessments are directly from EQAO, which is the test we do at the end of the year. This is the first time students have done EQAO in three years, and so they may not be prepared for the depth of information they need to put into their responses to get a level 4. In my experience, most kids have the right answers in the reading assessments, but very often they have difficulty understanding how to explain their thinking using proof and their own ideas. This is a skill we work on all year long, and I know they will get better. I am certain you will see progress in your child's marks just in the next few weeks as they better understand what to include in a quality answer.
Here are the exemplars of what a level 1,2,3 and 4 look like for the reading quiz we did last week and that is in the assessment folder. We looked over these in class and I had the kids self assess their own work before I marked it. For the most part, students are quite accurate in their self assessment when we use this approach.
I send these home every week so that parents can see their child's progress every few weeks. If you have any questions about a test, quiz or other assignment, please write a note in your child's agenda or give me a call and I can explain.
For the first few weeks, please do not be surprised if you see marks that are lower than what you are used to seeing your child achieve. These reading and math assessments are directly from EQAO, which is the test we do at the end of the year. This is the first time students have done EQAO in three years, and so they may not be prepared for the depth of information they need to put into their responses to get a level 4. In my experience, most kids have the right answers in the reading assessments, but very often they have difficulty understanding how to explain their thinking using proof and their own ideas. This is a skill we work on all year long, and I know they will get better. I am certain you will see progress in your child's marks just in the next few weeks as they better understand what to include in a quality answer.
Here are the exemplars of what a level 1,2,3 and 4 look like for the reading quiz we did last week and that is in the assessment folder. We looked over these in class and I had the kids self assess their own work before I marked it. For the most part, students are quite accurate in their self assessment when we use this approach.
Rubber Duck Exemplars
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Graphing Patterns
Over the past two days in our math class we began learning about how to extend geometric patterns of shapes, create a t-table of the values, and then graph the values using a coordinate grid. We learned that using graphs can help us identify patterns and sometimes extend them to find values that are beyond our t-table. It can be another way to find the value of a term.
Most students had little difficulty creating the patterns using the rule, and they could easily make a t-table. Many students had some difficulty creating a graph that was accurate. We will continue to practice this skill tomorrow using a variety of other questions.
Here is a video I made to review what we did. This is the exact example we used in class so it should be familiar to students as they watch. Please review this with your child if you have time so that they can better understand the steps involved in this process. Thank you!
Most students had little difficulty creating the patterns using the rule, and they could easily make a t-table. Many students had some difficulty creating a graph that was accurate. We will continue to practice this skill tomorrow using a variety of other questions.
Here is a video I made to review what we did. This is the exact example we used in class so it should be familiar to students as they watch. Please review this with your child if you have time so that they can better understand the steps involved in this process. Thank you!
Kingdom Club Food Drive
Thanksgiving Food Drive
The Kingdom Club is doing a Thanksgiving food drive to support the Kanata Food Cupboard!
Please make your donations starting on Monday, September the 25th to October the 5th.
If each student brings in 2 cans each we will have an estimated 1400 cans so please bring in any boxes, cans, and toiletries because that would be well appreciated!
Friday, 15 September 2017
More Recursive Patterns
We are continuing to learn about how to identify pattern rules for patterns in which there is more than one operation. Here is another example that can be used to help students better understand the steps involved in identifying pattern rules.
Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Digital Citizenship and Recursive Patterns
In religion today we finished the first of five lessons about digital citizenship. We learned today about what a responsible citizen is and students write or drew an image to depict their understanding. This unit is an excellent companion to our media literacy curriculum as well. Afterwards we continued to work on our Letters to our Future Self, which hopefully will be completed by Friday.
Today in math we learned about how to determine patterns which have two steps for each term. Please see the link below to view a video that shows how I explained it to the class. Please review this with your child to see if they understand.
Today in math we learned about how to determine patterns which have two steps for each term. Please see the link below to view a video that shows how I explained it to the class. Please review this with your child to see if they understand.
Two Step Patterns
In Science, we are beginning our first investigation. For the grade 6's, I have them doing some research to find out what Biodiversity means, and why it is important. The grade 5's are trying to determine the major systems of the human body. We will continue this tomorrow and hopefully present our findings next week. In Health we have begun to learn about healthy eating habits. We will be continuing to learn about how to eat in a healthy manner using the Canada Food Guide to assist us.
Tuesday, 12 September 2017
Pizza Days Starting Soon
For those of you who wish to purchase pizza for your child on Wednesdays, you can order from the school website using School Cash Online. The deadline for ordering pizza for the first term is September 18th. The first pizza day will be September 27th. Enjoy!
Analyzing - Finding the Facts
Today we learned about using the strategy of Analyzing when reading text. We discussed what Analyzing means and how we do it. Here is a slidedeck that you can use at home to review this strategy with your child.
Analyzing Slidedeck
Monday, 11 September 2017
Input and Output Machines
Today we started learning about input and output machines in patterning. An input/output machine is simply a number of operations that can help to generate a table of values. For example, if I input a "1", I might get a "3" as the output.
We looked at creating tables using the operations and we also looked at how to figure out the operations by examining the table. Here is a video I created to assist students in better understanding how to use input/output machines and to figure out the operations. We will continue working on this tomorrow.
We looked at creating tables using the operations and we also looked at how to figure out the operations by examining the table. Here is a video I created to assist students in better understanding how to use input/output machines and to figure out the operations. We will continue working on this tomorrow.
Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Patterning, Goals and Me-Shirts
Today in language we began setting goals for the year and writing them down on an iGoal worksheet. We will be checking in with these goals on a regular basis to see if we are progressing towards them.
In math, we did a patterning problem on the walls and then talked about how our math time will run throughout the year. Here is the problem we tried:
In the afternoon we started working on "Me" Shirts - T-shirts that reflect our own names and things we enjoy. We also had gym today so I am hoping to finish these tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the Meet the Teacher evening at our school from 5PM - 7PM. I am looking forward to meeting you there!
In math, we did a patterning problem on the walls and then talked about how our math time will run throughout the year. Here is the problem we tried:
In the afternoon we started working on "Me" Shirts - T-shirts that reflect our own names and things we enjoy. We also had gym today so I am hoping to finish these tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the Meet the Teacher evening at our school from 5PM - 7PM. I am looking forward to meeting you there!
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
Welcome to Grade 6!
It is my pleasure to be teaching your child this year! I look forward to working closely with you and getting to know your child. You are your child's first teacher, and together we can help your child meet the provincial expectations for this year. We will be starting the year by getting to know each other, our individual strengths, interests and needs. The emphasis with students is that effort is more important than ability in achieving success and that a student's "job" is to work hard and try their best.
Please encourage your child to discuss what has gone on at school each day. Set aside 40-50 minutes for homework every night. Each week homework will consist of a reading comprehension page, a math word "story" with problems to practice a variety of skills, and a short writing assignment. For this first week we will only have a reading comprehension assignment. For the first few weeks we will be completing homework on paper. As the year progresses, homework will be posted online and students will be able to submit it either electronically or on paper. Homework will be written in their agenda books on Mondays and posted on this blog under "Homework" on the right hand side of the page. Homework will generally be due on Fridays, so that students have the week to complete it. This homework routine is very important. Again, homework will be posted on this blog under the "Homework" sidebar on the right, so you may check here if your child has misplaced his/her agenda.
We will be starting the year with a number of "Getting to Know You" activities. In language & religion we will start with writing letters to ourselves and identifying our goals for the year. Then we will begin an investigation into using technology appropriately and the importance of digital citizenship. In math, we will begin the year by investigating number patterns, some basic algebra and integers, doing "number talks", and memorizing our basic facts!
In the afternoon class, we will be learning about biodiversity in science and practising following directions and basic movement, strength and flexibility skills in Phys-Ed. In the arts we will begin the year studying visual art.
This year, the Grade 6's will be using a few websites to help facilitate learning. We will be using Google Apps, Blogger, Xtramath, Prodigy and a number of other applications to demonstrate our learning. We will keep usernames and passwords for these accounts in your child's agenda. A form for the Acceptable Use of Technology is being sent home the first day of school, so please sign and return it as soon as possible. If your child has a chromebook, laptop or tablet, and you are comfortable with him/her bringing it to school, then I would highly encourage students to bring them. Students may use technology to complete many of their assignments in class. For now, please follow our class Twitter account at @MrPouliot. We will be tweeting regularly to update everyone on our learning journey.
Finally, I would like to invite any parent who is interested in getting involved in our class to contact me at the school The more the merrier, and extra hands are ALWAYS welcome!
Yours,
Mr. Pouliot
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