| Highlights of Coursework: | |
| Math Skills | |
| French Reading and Language Skills | |
| Classroom Rules | |
| Creating a French Enviroment | |
| Homework | |
| Safe & Acceptable Use of Internet | |
| Interviews | |
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MATH SKILLS: ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION AND TIME: 
Students will have weekly exercises to do in class and for homework. Any helpful shortcuts will also be shown to them. At the present time, and until further notice, ADDITION tests will be given weekly on Mondays, SUBTRACTION tests weekly on Tuesdays, MULTIPLICATION tests weekly on Wednesdays, and TIME tests weekly on Fridays.
DIVISION tests will be introduced weekly on Thursdays starting in January, after we have studied all of the multiplication tables. All tests will be timed. However, time allowances may periodically be adjusted depending on the level of difficulty and student performance. These tests are necessary in order to improve mental calculation skills and individual confidence. They provide an excellent basis for work in future years.
These two internet sites should be of assistance to you at home:
MATH PROBLEM SOLVING: We will be following the ministry approved course, Mathématique 2000, Niveau 3. Do not be surprised if your child is asked to repeat certain math exercises. This will happen if your child is unsure of the order of operations or if concepts have not been internalized. If students work slowly through their assignments, or if they need frequent assistance, this is usually the reason. Understanding sometimes occurs before they do the exercises, but this is rare. More often than not, it comes and increases with repeated attempts to solve the same questions. Incidently, repeating previously done questions is the best way for students to prepare for tests on any of the five Math strands. They should REDO ON PAPER, not review or look over, any questions that have been completed in class or at home. MATH AND TECHNOLOGY: 1. MATH CONCEPTS AND SKILLS: This fabulous program allows me to set up a separate file for each child. As students progress, they cover eight computation and eight application strands. Students will be required to work regularly in this program throughout the school year. Students start the program at an arbitrary, but necessarily low grade level. Their progress from this point on is individual. Each 15 minute session contains exercises from a variety of skill areas. Students’ answers are processed and feedback is given that relates specifically to their success or the errors they have made. The system will provide verbal help and other intervention strategies to ensure that skills are mastered. This program is only available in English. However, as nothing similar is offered in French, I judged it better for the students to be exposed to this than to something inferior in the target language. We use headphones so that students can take advantage of the audio option if they are unable to read English. You will not normally be sent a performance report unless you request it (and please feel free to do so) as the students are made aware of their grade levels quite regularly, and goals are continually set for their improvement. Should you request or receive a report, here is how to read it:
WHERE SHOULD YOUR CHILD BE IN THIS COURSE? Technically, a student should enter the couse at a grade level of 3.00 or higher. He should improve by one-tenth of a grade level at the end of each month in the school year. Hence, his grade level at the end of September should be 3.10, at the end of October 3.20, and so on. There should be no lower averaging in December, January or March because of school holidays. Many students start the school year at a much lower level than expected. These students must put in extra time at recess or lunch in order to meet their monthly goal. This program is oblivious to age, and by this token, we often have students who perform way beyond their grade level. The span of this program is 0.00 - 8.50. Wherever your child is, DO NOT WORRY. They will at least be at level 4.00 by the end of the school year. If their level is higher, we will allow them to continue advancing, as this is what they are capable of. Once the students have learned how to use their mouse and other keys on the keyboard in order to work efficiently through the program, they quickly become enthusiastic about their progress. They soon realize that every computer is displaying a different screen, and that any work they do will truly be their own. They also become very interested in any screens that they have not seen before and will often ask how long before they get to that level! Everyone is very proud of their progress. 2. SCHOOL VISTA MATH (TLC): This program allows students to work on and solve Math problems together. Working with a friend is especially important as it encourages the more reserved students to share their ideas. 
Students may work on their choice of one of three programs. It’s About Time covers telling time, time intervals and elapsed time. In Patterns and Shapes, students construct figures with geometric shapes, solve shape puzzles and create and exchange puzzles with their friends. The Fraction exercises progress from simple to equivalent fractions and introduce mixed numbers. Students usually experience some difficulty with this last section. However, the concepts are reinforced in our regular classwork and overhead exercises. It is also covered in detail in Math Concepts and Skills. Time, patterns, shapes, and fractions all figure significantly in the provincial testing.Students enjoy these programs, colors are bright, some animations are funny, and the responsibility for finding a solution is comfortably diffused. Unfortunately School Vista Math only tracks whether or not students have completed an activity, it does not grade performance. |
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This WebPage was last updated on: 2:55 PM 01/12/2006
Please e-mail any WebSite comments to: webgeek@abbywebpages.com
This WebPage was last updated on: 2:55 PM 01/12/2006