December 23, 2011
Dear students and families,
Happy Holidays 2011!! I hope that you enjoy a fun and relaxing vacation. There is no official math homework over the vacation. However, here are some suggestions if you are thinking about practicing math.
Sincerely, Ms. Vandever
Basic fact practice: By middle school, students should know there basic facts – adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing for 0-12. Use flashcards, card games, or internet games to practice basic facts. My favorite website for basic fact practice is A+Math found here: http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/
Common Fractions, Decimals, and Percents: Use flashcards or another method to memorize common fractions, decimals and percents for 1/2’s, 1/3’s, 1/4's, 1/5’s, 1/8’s, and 1/10’s.
Math in daily life: Keep a list of times that you see math that we have learned in 6th grade in your daily life. We will have a contest to see who can find the most different ways that math appeared in daily life over the break. For example, gaining yards and losing yard in football relates to adding and subtracting integers; finding a tip at a restaurant; finding the cost for one unit when items are sold together.
Practice the released 6th CST questions: Each year in May students take the California Standards Test in Math and Language Arts. Practicing the released questions helps you to know how the questions will be asked and what kinds of questions will appear. Google “6th grade released CST questions math” to find the released questions.
Learn something new: There are a lot of videos online that you can watch to learn a new math topic. You can ask an older family member to teach you something. One website that is becoming very popular is The Khan Academy. You do have to create an account, but once you do, you have access to thousands of videos and practice activities. http://www.khanacademy.org/ or you can watch the videos on YouTube without creating an account.
SuccessMaker: Students can use SuccessMaker to practice English Language Arts and Mathematics targeted to their level. CCMS students should be able to access the program using their school ID number. The website is: http://smcentral.ccusd.org
Review what you’ve learned: Look over your notes and make sure that you know everything that has been covered so far this year. Our major topics are integers, percents, proportions, rates, fractions, factors, and probability.
Other Internet Math Games:
Catch the fly (graphing) http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/ctf/ctf_hotmath.swf
Number Cop (factors) http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/numbercop/numbercop_hotmath.swf
Mystery Picture (integers) http://www.dositey.com/2008/addsub/Mystery11.htm
October 24, 2011
We are now in the 8th week of school. We have been studying adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions for the last few weeks, but now it's time for a new topic! Beginning this week we will be studying integers - adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with both positive and negative numbers. We will be moving along quickly, so please be prepared to learn in class and to practice at home.
Our first benchmark test is coming up on November 3rd and 4th. There are 7 topics on the benchmark test:
1. Factors and Multiples (GCF and LCM)
2. Integers (Add, subtract, multiply and divide)
3. Equations (finding the missing number)
4. Ordering Fractions and Decimals
5. Fractions (Add, subtract, multiply and divide)
6. Probability (as fractions, decimals, and percents)
7. Rates (for example, if 4 cookies cost $3, how much will it cost for 12 cookies?)
Grades are always available using the parent portal at https://ccmsabi.ccusd.org/parent/
In November, we will be learning about proportions and students will be completing a proportion project. Start thinking about what you would like to make.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Emily Vandever
********OPEN HOUSE IS COMING UP**********
This year's CCMS Open House will take place on Thursday September 22nd from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Please make plans to attend!
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August 31, 2011
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to CCMS and the sixth grade year! I am very excited to start the year and begin exploring the wonderful world of math.
I use this website to update students and parents about homework assignments, project details, dates for upcoming tests and quizzes, and other general information about the class. Please check the site frequently to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in math class.
The 6th Grade Math Statement of Success is linked to this site (see below). Students will be receiving this handout during the first week of school and I will be asking parents to review it with their child. This handout outlines policies, procedures, and recommended supplies for our math year to run smoothly. It would be helpful for students to have the following supplies by the start of the second week of school:
- One large 3-ring binder that will be used for all academic classes. Using a divider, one section in the binder should be labeled “Math.”
- A spiral notebook
- Material bag of supplies (with sharpened pencils, blue/black pens, one red pen (for correcting), a handheld pencil sharpener, and glue stick)
Students will use the spiral notebook in class everyday. This notebook will contain all class notes, project assignments, daily warm-ups, and many other forms of class work. Students will also be asked to record their nightly homework in the notebook to ensure that assignments are easily found during the next day of class.
I know the beginning of school can be an exciting (and perhaps anxious) time for parents and students. Please send me an email if you need any help in settling in to the CCMS routine. I hope to see you at Back to School Night on Thursday September 22.
I’m looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Kindly,
Emily Vandever
Room 123
[email protected]