News From Math!

Hello Families!

   It's been a great start to the new school year here in the math classroom.  I am totally enjoying having the 6th graders for a second year (yes, some students are on year 4!), and the 5th graders are off to a strong start as well.  I have even had some of them before in 3rd grade.  There is no substitute for knowing them as learners.

   In both grade levels, we started the year with read alouds and discussions around having a positive mindset in math.  All too often I see students come into math already feeling defeated.  Or, they are afraid they won't have enough challenge.  We made two lists of motivational hashtags that are posted in the room for us to refer to as needed.  Be engaged, ask genuine questions, and be brave to ask for what you need.  #BELIEVE! 

   In the 5th grade classes, we have been reviewing efficient addition and subtraction algorithms.  Our first unit is around determining area and volume using multiplication, and we have recently started building 3-dimensional shapes to explore the ideas of surface area and volume.  We have been exploring the relationships between equations and using number sense to determine equality.  Here's an example:

3 x 5 x 4 = 15 x 2 x 2

Two "boxes" with the same volume have different dimensions.  How are those equations related?  Ask your child for their thinking!

   In the 6th grade classes, we have been working with decimal place values, reading decimal numbers, and starting to add, subtract and multiply them.  I have been kicking off the academic blocks with some direct instruction and exploration, then giving them projects to do where they can apply those skills.  They made decimal place value posters with real-world examples last week, and this week they are totaling up a bill for a "Dinner Out" with friends.  Next week we will launch into how to calculate percents eventually move into the division of decimals.

   A continuing professional goal that I have for myself is to be more consistent with giving and recording Exit Tasks.  These Formative Assessments are a great way for me to check in with how a student is understanding the material.  It also gives them feedback, and the opportunity for reteaching, before the Summative Unit Assessments.  I will be putting those scores in JumpRope, but please remember that they are NOT necessarily the final grade your child will be receiving.  Please contact me if you have questions about what is happening here in the classroom!

Thanks,
Michael

  

It's time to register for Continental Math League.

If you are not familiar with CML it involves the art of mathematical problem solving with experiences that are designed to both maximize student opportunities to participate and to improve their problem solving capabilities. Students participate with other students in small groups, on the same grade level and take part in monthly meets. 

Parent volunteers meet with small groups on a weekly basis, usually first thing in the morning or during their  lunch/recess.

Register using this form.

Google Calendar Now Up and Running

Hello families,
We just wanted to take a minute and let you know that we have the Sterling Calendar is up and running. You will find it located on the Sterling Homepage. We have attempted to make a calendar where all assignments are visible in one location. This includes the 4 academic classes your child is in (Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science). It does not include World Language, literature groups, etc. Please look for this calendar on the main page. We think you can add the calendar to your calendar (should you want to) by clicking the "+ Google Calendar" button on the bottom right hand corner of it.

Sign-Up is Open for InterGen - A Monthly Inter-generational Book Group!

Families as Partners (FAP) teams up with the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library to sponsor a fun inter-generational book group that brings together WCS middle school students, seniors from our community and parent volunteers.  Each book group will read and discuss 5 books over the course of the school year. Meetings take place during school hours.

The program will kick-off in October with a “Get Acquainted” potluck luncheon.  The book groups will then meet during school hours once a month to discuss books in a relaxed and fun setting. 7th & 8th graders will meet from 11:35am-12:15pm. 

5th & 6th graders meet from 12:30pm-1:10pm. 

The program runs from October to March. (This year's book selections are still being determined, but we hope to have the final list of titles soon).

If your 5-8th grade student is interested in being considered for this program, please register by Friday, September 20th.  We are also seeking parent volunteers!  Use this link to register your student or to sign up as a parent volunteer.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Olson (kao_wolverine@yahoo.com) or your child's Language Arts teacher.

Some resources to start the year

Hello Sterling Families,
Hopefully our new families have accepted the subscribe request from FeedBurner. If you did not, please contact our house Teacher Assistant, Cindy Brady at clbrady@cvsdvt.org. You'll notice the "l" in her email, please remember to include that so it gets to her and not somebody else in our school! Cindy is the contact person for change in plans for your student, late arrivals, absence etc.

We'll be going over our communication tools with people at our Open House on Thursday, October 3rd but we wanted to make sure you had access to the Sterling Website which contains a lot of useful information in the meantime. Please access that through this link.

The year has been off to an awesome start! We are really enjoying our new mix of 5th and 6th graders as we move forward into our 10th year! We've been posting some pictures on our social media accounts- Instagram & Twitter. Give us a follow!

As a quick plug for Social Studies, please see the Sterling Social Studies site for daily class agendas, resources, etc.

~ Jared Bailey