It all started with the ubiquitous “is this right?” from many different students. With that we began a series of mini-classes to teach children how to check their subtraction answers by using addition. We also decided to use this opportunity to try and help children understand the relationship between the “whole and the parts”. We Read More >>
Archives for March 2014
New and Goods for Capitals and Punctuation
This year we have a group of children in the 2nd and 3rd grades that were ready to develop a better awareness of the conventions of writing, including capitals and punctuation. We decided that we would use the familiar format of New and Goods but with a different focus. The first session showed what we Read More >>
Cooking with Kathy
A favorite Investigations activity for our students is to cook. Besides honing their cooking skills and working together, students connect their math and science knowledge to real life experiences. But everyone agrees that eating the results is the best part. After picking apples at Beak and Skiff Orchard in the fall, we had lots of Read More >>
Fractions with Kathy
Children in Kathy’s fraction class began by reviewing what a fraction is and what its parts represent. We developed our understanding of fractions and equivalent fractions using various tools, such as pattern blocks, fraction bars, pictures, number lines, and brownies. We practiced comparing, ordering, adding, and subtracting fractions. Our growing understanding of fractional relationships is Read More >>
Brain Bank
Emily, Mira, Dash and Jonah are taking part in a class called Brain Bank. Brain Bank is a reading and writing program with science as the main topic. They take turns reading books out loud to each other before completing comprehension, vocabulary or writing activities. They read “Keeping Clean” about how different animals bathe and Read More >>
Math Table
Our oldest two students have been participating in a math table all year where we work on math topics that include adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals, fractions and multi-digit numbers. We’ve also worked on deductive thinking and story problems.
Fractions
Children in Rebecca’s fraction class started with a quick review of what a fraction is, the parts of a fraction and how to add and subtract fractions with like denominators. We then moved on to equalizing fractions, reducing fractions and what a factor and multiple are. Using our knowledge of equivalence, factors and multiples we have delved Read More >>