Factor Rainbows!

Here's a sample of a Promethean page we did yesterday, on Factor rainbows! It was simple, quick and a fun way to explore the concept of factors in multiplication.

Dear Parents,
Have you tried out our math program online at home?  Your child has received a password log-in card. Just go to
https://www.everydaymathonline.com/

There are 

• free family resources (no password necessary)
• your child can play the same games they learn in school (which support learning and improve math skills development)
•  Family letters (explaining our goals and purpose during the learning unit)
• And New this year, your child will have access to the online version of the Student Reference Book (SRB), so you and your child can read about and review topics we are working on in math class!

Hope to see you soon on the website!

Mr. Kinahan

Open House 2009!

Our Open House 2009 was a wonderful event!  Many parents attended, and I'll let you know our percentage of attendance when we find out.  There were many smiling faces, and parents chatting with teachers!

I met with many parents of my students, and I shared some of the Promethean flipcharts and video recordings of their children with them!  They loved it!  In particular, I had a video of a boy from last year who could not name the months of the year, and now he is able to recite them himself! His mother loved seeing the change, and we remarked how he has changed and grown into a fine young man! He was so proud of himself!

Thank you to all the parents who came and met with the teachers. Your support of education is appreciated!

Interactive Factor Tree Game

Here's a great website to help you and your child with understanding Factors by using Factor Trees!

http://www.mathgoodies.com/factors/factor_tree.asp

Everyday Mathematics

Our school uses the Everyday Mathematics program, created over the last twenty years by the University of Chicago and classroom teachers who tried it out.

Check out the program's website for parents:
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/faq


or this page may be a better place to start:

http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/about/


Everyday Mathematics has already shown some early benefits to our school, which I will write about in more detail at a later date.

Soon your child can play the Everyday Mathematics learning games at home!Your child will be given a password, so he/she can log into the website from home. Better still, you can watch the demonstration, learn how to play the game yourself, and play with your child at home. Meanwhile you will be reinforcing your child's learning and having fun!

Title 1 Math at Stark Elementary School

Welcome to our blog! 
Our purpose here is to help you!  We will try to provide you with:

•  Resources you might not be aware of,
• Video examples of math in action,
• A way to communicate with your child's teacher EXCLUSIVELY about your child.
• Knowledge about school technology, and how you can use it at home.

Promethean 

In Stark, we use the Promethean Activboard Interactive Whiteboard system.  We also have access to additional components, such as

• ActivVotes ( a handheld tool that allows students to vote to respond to the teacher.)

• An ActivSlate, which allows us to wirelessly write on the board,

• 
  
  An ActivPen
  
  
  

• 
  
   And these tools lead us out into the World Wide Web, which we will talk about later.
  
  
  

If you would like to know more about our Promethean system, you can log onto the link below.

I would like to encourage you to download the free version and / or the viewer, so you can watch your child's work at home.  Later in the blog I will be giving you a demonstration on how to do this.

Thanks again,

Peter Kinahan

Title I Math Teacher