comparing fractions

Part of our curriculum is to teach our students how to compare fractions.  We focus a great deal on equipping students with strategies for doing this mentally.  They take part in an investigation where they 'discover' these mental strategies.  Though many students dislike the initially struggle, they realize that developing these mental strategies saves them time in the end.  If they just stop and THINK they can often discover which fraction is larger without ever even thinking about 'common denominators.' 

One reality is that sometimes the use of equivalent fractions is necessary and we ask the kids to use common denominators as a last resort. 

This foldable was created with the students AFTER the investigation and BEFORE the weekly quiz.  It was intended to be a summary reference piece.  I created it with the intention of it being used as a FLOWCHART.  If you look closely, students are asked to try one of the mental strategies at the top and then it is suggested that they move to the bottom of the foldable flowchart if one of the mental strategies did not apply.

{all folded up}                     {as you open}

 

{close up of mental strategies-outside}

  {close up of mental strategies-inside}

 

 

{what to do if one of the mental strategies doesn't work}

sometimes life gets in the way

Life has been nothing short of insane since school has started.  I apologize for putting this and my other blogs on hold while I have tried to piece things together.  Though I have incorporated foldables and my new Math Important Book project in my classroom instruction this year, I have failed to document.  I will do my best to soon post what I have done so far this year.

coming along!

I am very pleased with the way the Math Important Book is coming along.  The students have had a few opportunities to help determine what sentences 'made the cut' for certain pages.  They have also had the chance to design a few pages of their own, while the other entries have been copies of my designs.  With each week that passes, students will be given a little more independence and choice when it comes to their Math Important Book.

I think I will be very proud of this project by the end of the year.

As usual, the beginning of the school year has been overwhelming and I have failed to do much other than get through the 'day to day.'

I hope to get some pictures of my book, but more importantly, pictures of the kids' books uploaded soon.

preparations for 12-13

My school preparations so far have not been 'foldable' material, so i didn't feel right posting them here, but i thought i would link to one of my other blogs in case you found your way here and don't know about Pink and Green Polka Dots

And just to give you a little extra incentive to head on over and figure out WHY ON EARTH Flava Flav is making his way to my classroom...

foldable makes debut in The Math Important Book

I'm in the process of trying to figure out how the implementation of my Math Important Book is going to pan out for next year.

During this I realize I needede an importnat statement about FOLDABLES!  It took me about negative 2 seconds to come up with the statement because i'm OBSESSED with foldables. 

I hope I go down as two things this coming school year:

The Foldable Master and The Math Important Book Genius (hehe)

Tiffany and I decided yesterday in our 1st of many summer planning sessions that the first foldable the kids make will be this one that they will put in their Math Important Book....what a marriage!  ugh....it's almost as good as brownies and birthday cake at the same sitting!

Check out the new pages!

I really, really, really have been trying to NOT post anything other than foldable information on this blog, but I feel like the other things that I do in class have significance and are closely related to the foldables that I do.  I couldn't hold back anymore...I decided to add a few 'pages' to this blog that feature other things that I do in class that relate to foldables but are not necessarily directly related.  Check them out if you have the time...

Roll 'em, Flip 'em, Replace 'em, Don't Replace 'em

It's been Probability Week!  I've been used to beginning the year with probability and this year I had to wait until the very last unit.  Oh yes, you heard correctly.  As of tomorrow, we are officially done with our curriculum.  After this, we will review for the Virginia SOL and then do some exciting projects after the assessment.

We began the week reviewing simple probability.  We created this "mixed media" (if it's even worth being called that) notes sheet with a small foldable and other important information about probability.

{notes sheet}

{foldable--up close--outside}

{foldable-up close--outside}

After we had reminded ourselves about the basics of probability we moved into distinguishing between independent and dependent events, and then ultimately between simple and compound events.

{notes sheet}

{foldable--up close--outside}

{foldable--up close--inside}

By today, students could find the probability of any simple or compound event, independent or dependent!  I am very proud of how much they have learned this week.  I know they will do well on their quiz tomorrow!