Ms. Hartshorn’s Classroom News
September 20, 2007
Dear Families,Our fourth week of school together has run smoothly. Your children are developing a classroom community of cooperation, compassion, and continued enthusiasm for learning. One second grade boy said to a first grade girl, "I know this might be hard today, but you’re going to learn to read, just like I did. You’re doing really good. It will get easier, I promise—right, Ms. H?"
Last week the newsletter focused mostly on writing a narrative. This week I’ll give you snapshot of what were up to in math. Mrs. Orr. and I have started sharing children during math time. She is working with the first graders and I have the opportunity to be with the second graders from both classrooms. In Mrs. Orr’s first grade group they’ve been learning a new math word: subitizing. This word means looking at a group of objects and seeing groups within the set in order to help find the total more efficiently. For example, if given a picture of 7 dots, someone might quickly see a group of 5 and then count on two more to arrive at 7 as the total. They’ve also been working on "counting on" to help find the total or "sum." For example, if given a card with 6 objects and a card with 2 objects, they might touch the 6 object card and say "6" and then count on "7, 8". They are playing several games to help learn addition facts for 10.
My second grade group has been focusing on adding two digit numbers using a variety of materials. Coupons and coins have been used to help match coin names with coin values and then counting the change to see how money can be saved using specific coupons. Some challenge problems have required your child to make choices about which coupons can be added together in order to equal a specific amount. For example, find coupons of only food items that will help you save a total of $1.25. We’ve also been playing a game called "Close to 20," using dice and cards. Both of these activities are requiring us to know our addition facts through 20 by using what we know about getting to 10 efficiently, such as 3 and 7, or 2 + 3 + 5. We also need to know coin names and corresponding money values, and how to count on from a number by tens and fives. For example, if a child had 1 quarter, 2 dimes, and a nickel, he or she needs to be able to count 25, 35, 45, 50 in order to find the sum total of the money. We’ve been using what we know about adding tens to numbers by showing numbers in expanded notation.
For example 72 is really 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 +10 + 10 + 2.
72 + 23 can look like this:
72 = 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 2
23 = 10 + 10 + 3
90+5
Which is a sum of 95.
Eventually, we will be able to show expanded notation in this way:
72 = 70 + 2
23 = 20 + 3
95 = 90 + 5
At the time this newsletter is being typed, we have not yet had E.L.F. on Thursday afternoon, but I’m sure your child will tell you all about "Amazing Insects," when he or she gets home on Thursday evening.
I look forward to seeing each of you next Thursday evening (September 27) during our Open House from 6:30 - 7:30. I won’t be sending a newsletter home that day, but we will have a "tour" of the classroom ready for you when you arrive.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
September 26th: Early Release Day (Watch for more details in the newsletter from the office)
September 27th: Open House, 6:30-7:30
October 1st: PTN Meeting, 6:30-7:30
October 8th: School Photos
Be well and Happy Peace Day (Friday, Sept. 21)
Brenda