Math Facts and Writing Conventions           

The first grade works daily with the students on their writing conventions.  We focus on neat handwriting, capitals, punctuation, and grammar.  The first grade has daily oral language and writing in response to reading.

The first grade uses touch math, five minute math fact papers, and daily math practice to reinforce the math facts.

Second grade is dedicated to assisting students to develop fluency and flexibility in mathematical thinking.  Students develop rapid recall of basic addition and subtraction facts.  Students compute multi-digit addition and subtraction problems using a variety of strategies.  Early multiplication concepts are instilled.  Instruction occurs through direct instruction, small group instruction, partner work, math games, and the use of online games, activities, and programs.

Second grade focuses on the use of proper writing conventions including but not limited to the use of capilatization, punctuation, legibility, spacing and spelling.  Student are expected to write to provide clear understanding for the reader.  Students convey their thoughts, feelings and ideas through the use of written work.

Third grade students take a weekly math fact quiz.  Each math operation is tested for a period of 6 weeks.  The students graph their own progress, and each classroom teacher graphs their class’ average which is posted in the foyer of the 3^rd grade pod.  Each classroom teacher recognizes and offers incentives to those students who have mastered their facts.

Fourth grade focuses on increasing the students’ math fact knowledge in a variety of ways.  The students practice with math games, online programs, through daily math instruction, and other ways.  Weekly the students are tested on their knowledge with a timed test.  These results are graphed individually.  The students are encouraged to do their best and are acknowledged for their gains with class and/or individual incentives.

Fourth grade encourages all students to use proper conventions in their writing throughout all the academic subjects.  Students are taught a variety of grammar skills throughout the school year.  It is an expectation that students use what they are taught on a consistent basis.  The Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) requires students to respond in writing to various questions throughout the academic subjects.  Conventions are included in the students’ final assessment scores.

Fifth grade is committed to helping students focus on memorizing their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division math facts!  At fifth grade, students who have not yet mastered these facts must continue to practice this as a way of improving their work in the current math curriculum.  Students who struggle to remember these facts must use other strategies to recall them in the middle of another math problem.  For example, a student completing a long division problem may have to stop in the middle of the problem to recall a multiplication fact.  That may send them off the track of what they were doing and result in an error.

As a result, we would like to suggest some ways to help your child become stronger at recalling these facts quickly. 

Fifth grade curriculum will include a visit to Enterprise Village, a day-long, real world experience in the world of economics and finance.  As a result, your child will be working in a business, earning a salary, and spending their money to buy a variety of things!  This type of experience clearly includes the use of adding and subtracting money as the students balance their checkbooks.  This will require quick recall of their addition and subtraction math facts! 

The students will also be using their estimation skills in their businesses as they decide how much something will be and how much money their business can earn in order to meet their goal of earning a profit.  Multiplying and using facts will also be required as they determine how much multiple numbers of items will cost.  Therefore, we can see how important the use of those facts will be in the real world setting!

As a result, we are asking parents to help us meet these goals by involving your child in their shopping experiences.  Perhaps by having your child estimate the cost of filling the tank with gasoline or how much the holiday ham will cost.  Put your children to the test in the real world by letting them add up the food bill for the week. Then ask them to find the change from a certain amount of money.  All of this is valuable knowledge that can only help improve your child’s math skills as they apply their learning to the world around them!

In order to help students practice these skills, classroom teachers are giving students “facts tests.” These tests are given to help students keep track of what they know and what they need to do to improve.  If you’d like copies of these tests to use with your child, please visit http://www.mathfactcafe.com/worksheet/buildit/ to create your own, printable facts test to help your child.  Our goal is to have students completing 100 math facts with 85% accuracy within 3 minutes.

In addition, students can utilize technology on a daily basis to improve their use of math facts!  Here is an additional way to make practicing math facts fun and engaging while using the internet!

http://www.mathfactspro.com/#/home

Thank you for all you do to help your child be successful!  We are grateful to be partners in your child’s education!

Sincerely,

The Fifth Grade Team