Ms. Walsh's 6th Grade Math

Good Behavior Dance for Friday, February 12, 2010, (this Friday) money is being collected: $2.
Also, cans are being collected for Haiti at this dance.
NOTE: Was your child suspended or given detention, then they are ineligible to attend.

FCAT Writing is tomorrow for all grade levels. ONLY 8th grade is the actual test for the state. 7th and 6th graders will also have a modified schedule, and will be taking a practice FCAT writing exam.

This means a schedule change for tomorrow as follows for 6th graders:
Prior to 9:15 Go to bathroom, get water.
9:15 to 10:30 DO NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR ANY REASON. NO TALKING ALLOWED FOR ANY REASON. DO NOT BE TARDY.
Take FCAT Writes Sample Test (45 minutes long I believe).
BRING A BOOK, when time is up after 45 minutes READ QUIETLY IF FINISHED.

Period 1: 10:30 to 11:10
Lunch: 11:14 to 11:44
Period 2: 11:48 to 12:26
Period 3: 12:28 to 1:08 (Specials)
Period 4: 1:10 to 1:40
Period 5: 1:44 to 2:24
Period 6: 2:28 to 2:58
Period 7: 3:02 to 3:45

No school next Monday, February 15th, 2010, for Presidents’ Day.

Homework:
All classes:
Bring a book to read quietly.
Bring two number 2 pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener.
All but period 5: Bring counters and your number line. Will be working on 8-2 and 8-3 with counters.

Period 5: Quiz will be given tomorrow or Wednesday. 8-1 and 8-2 will be checked tomorrow. Quiz will be after (time allowing).

Everyone: FCAT Sample Book must be completed by Friday, February 12th, 2010. (Next Friday).

Period 5: 8-1 Due next Tuesday.
Quiz-Chapter 7 is on Monday. Study for the quiz. It will feature one question from each chapter 7 workbook page or, where applicable, portion of a page.

Period 1, 2, 4, 6, 7: Create or buy 25 positive and 25 negative counters minimum.
Positive and negative tiles can be created using tile spacers-cheap from Home Depot. Take a tile spacer as is for the positive counter. To create the negative counter cut off the vertical lines.
They can be drawn on cardboard or paper: yellow = + and red = – traditionally in math textbooks.
They can be purchased at Teacher’s Pet US1 across from the St. Lucie Ale House and KFC/Taco Bell near Savannah Ridge Elementary or the other teacher supply store on Port St. Lucie Blvd and Del Rio Blvd.
Another place you might try is a dollar store or Walmart.

Printable counters are available at this site:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teaching-methods/printable/44640.html

Another idea, use dry beans. Spray paint one side or both sides yellow. Paint the other side or both sides red. The number of sides spray painted the same color will result in either one sided or two sided counters.

Tonight: FCAT Family Night/Warball 5:30 to 7:30

Period 1, 2, 4, 6, 7:
8-1 Thursday Integers
8-4 and 8-5 Friday Multiplying and Dividing Integers

Period 5:
7-7 Thursday
7-8 Friday The Percent Proportion

Period 1, 2, 4, 6, 7: 8-1 Integers Due Thursday. 8-4 and 8-5 will also be due Thursday.

Period 5: 7-7 due Thursday.

Tomorrow night FCAT Family Night 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Kids can play warball if they bring a parent or adult who is responsible for them.

Period 1, 2, 4, 6, 7:
7-1 AND Tell what is wrong with the answer 2/6, in this sequence

1/6, 1/3, 2/6, 2/3 which was a question from 7-6.

Period 5: No homework

REMEMBER!

Unlike adding and subtracting fractions, NO COMMON DENOMINATORS REQUIRED.

Steps:

1. If needed. Change all mixed numbers to improper fractions FIRST. (Do not change any operation signs (÷ to ×) yet.)

2. If needed. Substitute any variables (letters) in the problems with the numerical value they are equal to. (Do not change any operation signs (÷ to ×) yet.)

3. If needed. Change any whole numbers to fractions by putting a 1 underneath the whole number. This works because any number divided by 1 = the original number, but allows it to be in a fraction format.

3. Keep the first fraction the same. NEVER FLIP THE FIRST FRACTION.

4. Change the ÷ to ×.

5. Flip the second fraction upside down which means change the second fraction to its reciprocal. ALWAYS FLIP THE SECOND FRACTION.

Note: A reciprocal of a fraction is the fraction that when multiplied by the original fraction will give the answer of 1. For example, 2/1 × 1/2 = 2/2 = 1.

6. The EASY way. Simplify the fractions up and down, and/or cross-wise if possible.
Note: NEVER SIMPLIFY THE FRACTIONS BEFORE THE 2ND FRACTION IS FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN.

7. Multiply the numerator × the numerator.
(Top number × the top number.)

8. Multiply the denominator × the denominator.
(Bottom number × the bottom number.)

9. IF you did not simplify in step 6, or the fraction can be further simplified, simplify the fraction.

REMEMBER:

1. Unlike when adding and subtracting fractions, the denominator (bottom number) can be any number at all.
NO COMMON DENOMINATORS NEEDED.

2. Unlike when adding and subtracting fractions, NO MIXED NUMBERS ALLOWED.
CHANGE ALL MIXED NUMBERS TO IMPROPER FRACTIONS FIRST.

3. The EASY way. Simplify the two fractions up and down and cross-wise or diagonally FIRST, if possible. (Cross cancel.)

4. Multiply the numerator × the numerator.
(Top number x the top number).

5. Multiply the denominator × the denominator.
(Bottom number × the bottom number).

IF you skipped step 3, now do step 6. The HARD way. Simplify the fraction, ALWAYS, if you can.

This video is concise, doesn’t provide the why, but it does tell the how:

Converting fractions to decimals:

Percents to Decimals:

Next Wednesday night, Southern Oaks is hosting an FCAT night for parents. This will explain to you the information you should know about the FCAT and how it affects your child in middle school.

Students WHO BRING A RESPONSIBLE ADULT may play warball in the gym next Wednesday night. This is to reward students for enticing, bribing, or badgering their parents to attend the FCAT night.

On a serious note, if you can attend, the kids have great fun and the information presented is very important to know, so I highly recommend coming.

6th graders will take the Math and Reading FCAT examinations during March. March 9th through March 12th with make-up exams the following week.

Period 1, 2, 4, 6, 7:
7-1 Estimating Fractions and 7-6 Sequences are due on Monday.

Period 5: 7-6 due Monday.