Solving Equations - Simplified

In grade 5/6 math, students have been learning about patterning and algebra as well as the math processes of representing and connecting. We taught students to use three simple steps to solve any equation...

Step 1: Isolate the variable

Step 2:  Use opposite operations

Step 3: Do the same to both sides

To get students to the point where they are following the three steps to solving equations fluently, we started with some concrete math tools.  The algebra balance allows us to physically illustrate to students the idea of isolating the variable (Step 1),  using opposite operations (step 2), and do the same to both sides (step 3).  

The red trays represent negative numbers and the yellow represent positive.  The small canister on the right represents our variable.

Using playing cards and a plain envelope as our variable, we can represent the same question as on the algebra balance.  While using playing cards, we used red cards as negative numbers, and black cards as positive numbers.

 Mr. Richardson A.K.A. the Sagonaska Math Ninja came to help teach on Thursday!

We gradually want students to move from concrete thinking to symbolic thinking.  We start by introducing concepts with math tools like the algebra balance and playing cards (concrete models).  Then we move to algebra tiles which can be drawn (pictoral models). Finally students realize that math tools become cumbersome while trying to solve problems involving large numbers and begin to use numbers and symbols (symbolic models) to communicate their thinking and knowledge of math.

Mac uses algebra tiles as concrete model to solve his equation.

In the next few math classes, we will be helping students to start representing their thinking symbolically.  Stay tuned to see how our will become "symbolic representers" when communicating their thinking and knowledge around equations!  

The Week of December 5 - 9, 2016

This past week in 5/6 has been fantastic!

In language students started using the "I Read, I Think, Therefore" framework to answer reading response questions.  The students first looked at some examples of other student work (from the EQAO website) to create success criteria.

After students came up with some success criteria to help guide them through a reading response question, they created a top notch shared answer.

In the weeks leading to the Holiday break, we will continue to practise so that students begin to answer reading response questions independently and at the same high level.

Students have made great gains in math so far, and continue to show us their growth daily! Students started their "Math Fluency" this week. Math fluency is a way for us to get students to get better at the math processes.  The math processes we are working on first are representing and connecting.  Students are given a problem and asked to communicate their knowledge and thinking of how they solved it.  This week and next, we are putting special emphasis on representing thinking, knowledge and application then connecting representations.  So far, this activity is working very well!

We have started working on our Holiday Extravaganza!  It is a top secret project until the day of the concert. We can only tell you that it will be AWESOME! We hope to see you all on Thursday December 22 at 1:00 pm. 

Students have been working very hard.  Be sure to allow them to get some rest!

Have a fantastic weekend with your family.

Using Tools to Help Students Conceptualize Mathematics

This year Sagonaska 5/6 students have been working hard to communicate their knowledge and thinking about Math.  We have explicitly taught students how to use math tools (manipulatives) to help them represent  math concepts.

We start by explicitly teaching students how to use math tools to represent their thinking. Students were then challenged to create short math videos that highlight their understanding of the concept and exactly how they applied their knowledge and thinking.  We used technology (Google Classroom and Google Docs) to deliver the problem to the students.  Using these technologies, students were able to independently read and understand the task.

Once students know the task, they had a chance to use their personal mobile devices to create videos of themselves working through a problem.  Check out Landon and Gerrit explaining their thinking, knowledge and strategy application.

When students combine their knowledge, thinking and application of strategies with math tools and technology, great things happen.  Using a combination of tools and technology allows students to take some think time to explicitly plan their responses to math problems.  

This practice allows students to become better communicators, more reflective learners and more engaged in their learning. Students communicate their ideas very clearly while creating videos.  They realize after watching their final product, what they may be missing and go back and add it in to make their explanation more clear. By taking part in this process, students are more engaged as they view themselves as learners who are capable of producing great work. 

This Week in Grade 5/6 at Sagonaska

Review meetings are well on their way! The students that have already had their meeting are knocking their presentations out of the park!  Students have spent a lot of time and effort preparing for these meetings and their hard work is paying off.

Have a great weekend with your family!

October 24 - 28

Things got SPOOKY this week in 5/6!

In writing, students have started to learn about procedural writing.  We have started our shared writing (writing as a class to increase student understanding of a concept) of "How to Make a Delicious Box of Kraft Dinner".  Students will create an independent piece of procedural writing next week.

This is an excerpt from our Google Classroom.  The above screen grab is exactly what the students see when they open the shared Google Doc about Procedural Writing. Students can view it anytime, anywhere!

In reading we have been working very hard on decoding, fluency, comprehension and goal setting.  I asked Davis for a quick interview to help explain how to set goals.  Here is what we chatted about...

Davis explains how he set a goal for reading!

In math, students are doing a great job of explaining measurement.  More specifically this week, area of a rectangle and parallelograms.  We try to be as hands on in math as possible in math.

Mr. Mortaley stopped by with Sphero.  We investigated the attributes of rectangles and parallelograms using simple coding.  As part of a shared lesson, we created a simple program to make Sphero move in the shape of a square - which is actually a rectangle too!

This week was spirit week for the students and staff at Sagonaska.  Yesterday, students and staff took part in a door decorating contest.  There were three categories that won a pizza party next week, the funniest, the most creative and the scariest.  The creative minds of the students in Mr. Di Donato's and Ms. LeSage's class won for the scariest!  Thanks to the students for all their hard work helping with the decorations!

Good Questions to Ask Your Child over the Weekend...

1. What is the difference between perimeter and area?
2. What is your fluency goal? Can you read me your fluency please?
3. Ask students to list steps to something they are fluent at (What are the steps to making a sandwich? What materials do you need?)
4. Why is setting goals for reading important?

Things going on next week...

1. Orange and black day is on Monday.
2. Visiting teachers are coming on Monday.
3. Visiting Principals on Tuesday.
4. Review meetings begin next week!

Have a fantastic weekend with your family!

October 3 - 6 2016

This week in language we continued to focus on the comprehension strategy of summarizing. The strategies we have been teaching for summarizing are demonstrated through the use of an app called Book Creator and lend nicely to our weekly fluency activity.  Students are almost fluent with the Book creator app which means we will be introducing the students to the next app, "Explain Everything", this coming week.

In Math, we have been  learning about perimeter this week.  Finding the perimeter of a shape is a great way for students to use what they know about addition and repeated addition.  Students have shown us that they understand what exactly perimeter is.  Next week we will continue to work on perimeter in order to get at adding decimal numbers to thousandths.

In science, students have been hard at work building their Minecraft ecosystems.  The final task for science is for students to create an ecosystem in Minecraft.  Below is a screen grab of what the students see as an assignment.

Students have been working very hard on their reading.  Over the last two weeks we took time to re assess each of the students in grade 5/6.  The good news is that all of the students have increased their decoding skills!  We have come up very specific goals for each individual student.

Good questions to ask your child...

1. Can you review your Fluency goal with me then read your fluency to me?
2. What is perimeter? Show me a picture of something that illustrates perimeter.
3. What was your reading level at the beginning of the year and what is it now?
4. Can you please explain to me the sounding out strategy?
5. Can there be two digits in one place value column? Why or why not?

September 26 - 30, 2016

The time is beginning to fly here at Sagonaska... We must be having fun!


In language this week, we have started working on Summarizing.  We have been reading Roald Dahl's George's Marvelous Medicine.  Using this mentor text we have been asking students to begin summarizing what is hapenning in the story.  Summarizing a text while reading allows students to confirm and combine key ideas that they identified while they made their predictions.

Watch and listen to Davis and Gerrit as they explain the importance of summarizing.

Math has been very exciting this week.  Mr. Di Donato and a couple other teachers from Sagonaska went to Milton for some professional development.  While there, Mr. Di Donato learned mostly about how to use a variety of math tools (manipulatives) to help students understand and explain their thinking around new concepts they have learned.  The classroom got a new "math rug" and we have been using it to help with our number sense.  Our goal for this week is to go from additive thinking to multiplicative thinking.  It is amazing how well the students are doing with this first unit!

 In Sciecne we have started learning about biodiversity and the human body.  We went to the Frink Centre for outdoor education this week.  While on the trip, students got to see ecosystems and interrelationship first hand!  Understanding interrelationships is the first step in understanding biodiversity as well as the human body.

We celebrated a birthday this week!  In the tradition of Di Donato/LeSage, students choose their favorite meals and the teachers make it for the whole class!  Holly love's Greek salad so that is what we got to enjoy together!

Thursday was the Terry Fox run.  Sagonaska hosted their own run.  Students raised money for the Terry Fox foundation and participated in a run/walk yesterday.  As Terry is a hero to all of us, students AND teachers were encouraged to dress up as their favorite super heroes.

Good questions to ask your children this weekend are...

1. Can you explain why your teachers include a secret word on homework posts in Google Classroom?
2. How was the Terry Fox run?
3. Do you want to play the math games?
4. Can you read your Fluency passage to me?

Have a fantastic weekend with your children!

The Week of September September 19 - September 23

Three weeks in already! Time flies when you are having fun!

Language:
Students continue to investigate what effective readers do while reading. We captured student thinking on an anchor chart - it is quite detailed! 

We have also been learning about making solid predictions using fictional texts. We thought it was important to highlight the rules for fiction.  Please have your child explain - with the help of their Google Classroom- the rules of fiction. While you are looking at the Rules of Fiction Doc, ask your child to explain how we use Google Classroom.

We have been developing goals for the students.  These goals are posted on the goal board.  It is a great way for students to frequently be reminded of what exactly they need to do in order to progress.  Coming home tonight is a photo of your child's fluency passage and their fluency goal.  Please ask your child to first review their goal and then read the passage to you.  We think you will be very happy!

Math:
This week the students worked very hard on representing numbers! Again, have your child walk you through their notes in the Google Classroom.  Next week we are switching gears and are going to be investigating operations.

Here are some things to ask about when you are talking to your child about their week at school...

• Google Classroom
• "George's Marvelous Medicine"
• The Place Value system and how important the number 10 is to it
• Rules for fiction
• Predictions
• Define the problem
• Book Creator App

Next Week...

On Wednesday we are all going to the Frink Center for some out door education.  Long pants and long sleeves are  recommended. There is a coin collection happening for the Terry Fox run which we are participating in on Thursday.  There is a superhero theme so students are encouraged to be a superhero for the day!  We also ask that all of our students bring a reusable water bottle if they have one at home.  It is important for our brains to stay hydrated!

Stay Tuned...

It's Fluency Friday!

Every Friday morning, we take part in a consolidation activity called "Fluency Friday".  We have the students read their weekly fluency passages. The students have been reading nightly with residence Counsellors every night.  We find this activity builds confidence, strong listening skills and the ability to set attainable goals, in terms of what good readers do.

This can be a very scary experience for our students.  Here is what the kids said after the first time they read in front of the class.

Logan: "I was a little nervous, but I felt good after I was done."

Davis (second year): "I felt fine because I did it a lot last year.  I felt like it was boosting my confidence so I don't feel really as scared."

Holly: "I think I did an okay job. I was excited because I got to read in front of people and I don't do that very often."

Gerrit (second year): "I felt good because I got good feedback and I came away with a goal."

Landon: "I feel good because I read it and it's over now.  It wasn't scary because I could look at the back wall and the paper instead of the people in front of me."

Mac: "I felt okay because I was pretty scared.  I can't read in front of people.  I didn't feel that weird because there were only a few people."

Ryan: "I felt okay becasue I am not nervous because I know they won't mind if I get the word wrong."

So Far in Mr. Di Donato and Ms. LeSage's Class

We have been busy at Sagonaska!  We are working hard to take care of all of our start up activities.

The first thing we did was create a classroom respect agreement.  The students did a great job helping the teachers come up with great ideas so that we are able to work well together.

We started our "Tech Game Plan".  We are quickly learning how to organize our ideas using the app called Popplet. When your child gets home on the weekend, ask them how to use it! Students should be able to show you our "Smartie" writing activity plan.

Students should also explain how to use Google Docs.  Google Docs is one of the many Google Apps for Education (GAFE) that we use here at Sagonaska.

Next on the Tech Game Plan is Book Creator!  One of our favorites here in 5/6.

Students were introduced to mathematics.  The students did a fantastic job collaborating in teams to solve the tug of war problem. We have completed our Prime diagnostic and are diving into our first unit - Number Sense and Numeration.

Probability at "Casnio Saga"

As part of the grade 7 mathematics curriculum, students are expected to understand probability.  Our culminating task for probability was for students to come up with a game of chance.  In this game, students had to create a game where the theoretical probability was between 25 and 49 percent.  Students were to test the playability of their games so that other classes would have fun when they came to play.  The grade 7 students had a blast when they designed and delivered their games.  The rest of the students had a great time coming in and playing the games that the grade 7's create.  All in all this was a great way to deliver the mathematics curriculum.

Here is a short video of a patron playing one of the games, enjoy!

A June Reflection

I asked students how they want to be remembered.  The ideas that students came up with were extremely powerful.  These students have worked EXTREMELY hard and made me very proud. Have a read and share with your students.  My students hope that their answers will motivate other students to be remembered in a similar light.

Emma

I want my teacher at Sagonaska to remember me as a hard-working student and someone who cared about learning.  I feel this way because I have worked extremely hard and tried my best.

During this year I've gained respect and want to make my teacher proud. I also want to better myself and my learning. I feel it's extremely important my teachers know this so they know I'm committed to the work, and putting effort in. I want to be remembered as a hard-working, caring, committed student.

John
I would like to be remembered as a great student and a hard worker. The way I am going to be remembered like that is to be a hard worker by putting extra time into the work I do. That is what I would like to be remembered as.

Harry
I want my teachers at Sagonaska to remember me as a good example for the first years and showing them how to use their technology effectively. I want the teachers to know I was a kid that helped people when they were stuck with their technology. This is how I want to be remembered at Sagonaska.

Blair

I want my teacher at Sagonaska to remember me as a hard worker. I Tried my best at my work for the whole year.  I tried my best to read and it got me up to a DRA 40 from a DRA 3. I want my teacher to remember me as the best student in his class!

Jamie
I want the teachers at Sagonaska to remember me as a leader and as a student  that never gives up. I want to be seen as a student that can advocate for myself and give other students help. I will advocate by asking for help and if I see a student that is struggling I will help. That is how I want the teachers at Sagonaska to remember me.

Maggie

I want the teachers at Sagonaska to remember me second year student  that helped myself and never gave up. I want them to remember me as a responsible, trustworthy, student, that always helps others that need help along the way. That's how I want to be remembered at Sagonaska.

Celebrating Success!

An extremely important part of learning is reflecting on what you have learned as well as celebrating accomplishments you have made. 

My Empower Reading students finished the program this week! As part of a celebration of success, as well as a way for students to reflect on the immense progress they have made this school year, I asked them to create a quick document illustrating their reading progress from September to June.


Here is what they put together...

Sarah

Before Empower	After Empower
I never liked reading I got mad at spelling Tried my best then just gave up I didn't know what to do Never knew the word I would always spell everything wrong I would never use my strategies	I love reading I love spelling words out I'm trying as hard as I can more than I did before Always prepared Now I know the word Always use my strategies

             

Next Steps:

• Need to practice no my stop sound

• When decoding, go from left to right

• Comprehension

• practice the sounds

Abbie

Before Empower	After Empower
I was bad at reading I didn't like reading Reading was too hard I gave up I was lost	My reading level increased big time I'm a pro at decoding words I enjoy reading Reading is easy I show grit

Next Steps

• Comprehension
• Fluency
• Reading out loud
• Use peeling off more instead of going straight to sounding out

Emma

Before Empower	After Empower
I sucked at Reading Hated reading Couldn't spell Just gave up Stopped trying	I am good at reading Reading is enjoyable I can decode my words with different strategies I Love to read

Next Steps

• Practice fluency
• Remember my affixes and their sounds
• Remember to decode with my strategies

Ryan

Before Empower	After Empower
I was horrible at reading before Empower. I had no confidence in reading. I hated reading. I gave up. I felt stupid I didn't care. I didn't know what the Empower was. I didn't know if the sounds were and what they made.	I am great at decoding words. I have way more confidence in reading then I did before learning how to use Empower. Reading as much easier now. I actually read on my own time. I am better at comprehension. Now I care and don't feel stupid. Empower really changed my life.

Next Steps

• Reading fluency.
• Comprehension.
• Use my strategies whenever possible without knowing it.
• Using the right strategies and the right time and place.
• Really think deeply about my reading strategies.

The Week of May 31, 2016

This week the grade 7's at Sagonaska did a great job of illustrating their flexibility.  EQAO took place this week for the grade 6 classes which caused a schedule change for Empower. Students were extremely resilient when they had to join other Empower groups to do some great consolidation and review activities.  This schedule change also allowed the teachers to witness the great progress that other students from other classes are demonstrating!

As part of our pamphlet assignment, we had Adam Tilley, a local entrepreneur Facetime in to talk about the importance of planning. As the founder of The Brakeroom, Adam had to have a detailed plan in place in order to create a business.  Now that Adam's plan has come to fruition, we were lucky enough to take the students to the Brakeroom to check it out.  Some of the students brought their pamphlets to show to Adam.

As part of our cuminating activity for measurement, the students had to create a shark tank in Minecraft, then pitch their design to the "Dragon's Den".  The students were excited about the activity and did a great job pitching their designs.

Next Week:

Constable Jolly from the Belleville police service is coming to speak with the elementary students regarding substance use and abuse.  The week of June 13, nurse Nancy is coming in to our physical education class to talk about growth and development with students.  Coming home this weekend is an information sheet.

As a year end trip, we have planned a trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park for students.  The cost is 5$ which will cover transportation and entry fee to the beach.  Please have the permission form and the 5$ fee back to the school on Monday.

The end of the year is coming quickly.  Please RSVP to Recognition day on June 28.  It is always a great celebration for students, staff and parents. RSVP to Tara Tanner as soon as you can!