Conference Sign-Ups

Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Conferences are coming up soon. Below is a listing of available times. If you signed up at open house back in July, you’re already reserved. (The listing shows student’s initials)  If you still need to sign up, please send me your top three choices. They can be e-mailed to   ellars.lab@gmail.com 

I will respond by e-mail and will also be sending individual times home with students when school resumes on Oct. 20.

Wednesday, October 29

3:00 Reserved JT                               5:00 open
3:15 Reserved OM                            5:15 open
3:30 open                                          5:30 Reserved EW
3:45 open                                          5:45 Reserved ML
4:00 open                                          6:00 open
4:15 open                                          6:15 open
4:30 open                                          6:30 open
4:45 open                                           

Tuesday, November 4

3:00 Reserved MR                            5:00 open
3:15 Reserved CA                             5:15 open
3:30 open                                          5:30 open
3:45 open                                          5:45 open
4:00 Reserved BC                             6:00 open
4:15 Reserved AD                             6:15 open
4:30 open                                          6:30 open
4:45 open

You may also request a phone conference at one of the times listed above. If by phone, please send the best number to contact you along with your time preferences.                                  

Standard Multiplication

September 15-19
Check here for activities and assignments for September 15-19, 2014
 >   September 15-19 Activities and Assignments


Standard Multiplication Algorithm
(From Everyday Math Student Reference Book)
Students have reviewed the partial products and lattice multiplication algorithms. Here's a brief outline of the trusty standard algorithm that most parents (and teachers) learned in school and are still using every day. It actually is a compressed (i.e. streamlined and probably more efficient) version of the partial products algorithm.

September 8-12

This Week (September 8-12)
This week we'll be finishing Unit 2 of the Everyday Math program on estimation and computation.
     Monday - Finish work on probability with a "Heads or Tails" experiment
     Tuesday - Estimating products
     Wednesday - Partial products multiplication algorithm
     Thursday - Review lattice multiplication
     Friday - Unit 2 test

Students will receive a Unit 2 Study Guide on Monday.

Multiplication Algorithms
     (From the Everyday Math Student Reference Book)

Trade First Subtraction

The Trade-First subtraction algorithm is nearly identical to the standard subtraction algorithm except that all the renaming (borrowing) is completed before any subtraction begins. The advantage of this method is that it usually results in much less confusion to students than the standard algorithm's need to be constantly shifting between borrowing and subtracting.

September 2-5

Activities and Assignments for September 2-5
The specific lesson outlines for all six teachers on the Maxwell Intermediate School fifth grade team have migrated to the M.I.S. fifth grade link on the Maxwell website. The Max Lab blog will continue as a site for expanded tips, clues, hints, and help on math and science. So, continue to look here for a link to lesson outlines not just for Mr. Ellars but for Mrs. Ashley's outlines all at one location.

Link to Ellars & Ashley Lesson Outlines


Extended Practice on Factoring
An essential skill as we move toward more extensive work with fractions this year is the ability to break numbers down into factors. Here's a link to an easy to understand explanation of the process of breaking down a number into factors. We've learned the divisibility rules mentioned in the lesson and all students have a copy of the rules glued inside the front cover of their Math Journals.

Extended Practice on Factoring a Number

August 25-29

Activities and Assignments for August 25-29

Monday, August 25  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Multiplication Practice

  * Practice Estimation Skills
  * Math Journal pp 29-31
  * Science: Construct foam boats and measure capacity
  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.1

Tuesday, August 26  (Blue)

  * Bell Work: Science Puzzle

  * Review Addition Algorithms
    (Partial Sum and Column Addition)

  * Math Journal pp 32-34
  * Science: Journal entries and FOSS story booklet

  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.2

Wednesday, August 27  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Addition Practice

  * Review Subtraction Algorithms
    (Trade First and Partial Differences)

  * Math Journal pp 35-36
  * Science: Buoyancy experiments

  * Homework: Skills Link Worksheet 2.3

Thursday, August 28  (Blue and D.A.R.E.)

  * Bell Work: Subtraction Practice

  * Everyday Math Game: "Subtraction Target Practice"
  * Science: Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

  * No Homework

Friday, August 29  (Gold)

  * Bell Work: Addition/Subtraction Practice

  * Weekly Review Quiz

  * Using mathematical models to solve problems

  * Math Journal pp 37-39
  * Science: Graphing results and drawing conclusions

  * No Weekend Homework

    

August 18-22

Building "Square" Numbers

Activities and Assignments: Aug. 18-22, 2014
Monday, August 18  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Five Minute Math problem
2.Math: Square Numbers (Journal pp 20-21)
              (Math Boxes p 22)
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Variables / vocabulary and data review
5. No homework tonight

Tuesday, August 19  (Gold)
1. Bell Work: Five Minute Math problem
2. Math: Unsquare numbers (i.e. square roots)
               Factor Bingo
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Variables / "Will length of string affect
                   the pendulum's performance?"
5. Homework: Math - Study Link 1.7

Wednesday, August 20  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Math puzzle
2. Math: Prime factorization with Factor Trees
3. D.A.R.E. with Cpl. Steve McCarley of the GPD  (more info)
4. Homework: Factor Tree Worksheet

Thursday, August 21  (Gold) 1. Bell Work: Squares and square roots
2. Math: Benchmark Test (Just to check where we are at the
    beginning of the year - a starting point for planning this
    year's instruction.)
3. Science: FOSS Science Stories
4. Homework: Math worksheet

Friday, August 22  (Blue)
1. Bell Work: Science wordsearch
2. Math: Unit 1 Review and checkup
3. RTI (Small group instruction)
4. Science: Wrap up pendulum work
5. No weekend homework