REASONING STRATEGIES

ADDITION

• COMMUTATIVE PROPERTY - Students should be able to recognize that 4+7=11 is the same as 7+4 = 11, and that those facts are inverses of 11-7=4. Without an understanding this relationship, children need to memorize 100 facts (0-9). Truly understanding this relationship cuts the amount of facts to be remembered dramatically.

• DOUBLES & NEAR DOUBLES- Students use ‘doubles facts' to arrive at a sum. Ex) Students may think of 6+7 as "double 6 is 12, and one more is 13."

• MAKE A TEN (+) - Students mentally add to a group of ten, then add the remaining. Ex) Students may solve 6+7 by thinking "7 is 3 away from 10, so take3 away from 6 to put with the 7 to make 10, then add the remaining 3". OR "I can take 5 away from each addend to make 10, then add the remaining 1 and 2.

• USE A KNOWN FACT - Students use a fact they do know, to solve one they don't. Ex) Students may solve 7+5 by thinking "If 7+3=10, and 5 is two more than three, 7+5 must be two more than 7+3. 7+5 must be12.

SUBTRACTION

• MAKE A TEN (-) - Students mentally break two digit numbers into tens and ones, then subtract. Ex) Students may solve 17-8 by breaking 17 into 10 and 7, then subtract the 8 from the ten bundle, and add the leftover 2 and 7.

• THINK-ADDITION - Students think of the inverse addition fact that makes the subtraction problem true. Ex) When a student sees 9-4, they think "four and what makes nine?"

• USE A KNOWN FACT - Students use a fact they do know, to solve one they don't. Ex) Students may solve 14-9 by thinking "From 14 its 4 down to 10, then one more to 9 - for a total difference of 5.

MULTIPLICATION

• 2's: Use doubles facts for addition - or picture a real world situation - EX) an egg carton with 2 rows of 6, a spider with two sets of 4 legs, an 18 wheeler with two rows of 9 wheels.

• 3's: Double the factor, then add one more set Ex) 4 x 3 = (4 X2) + 4

• 4's: Double the factor twice. Ex) 8 x 4 = 16 + 16

• 5's: Picture the minute hand on a clock Ex) One set of 5 is equivalent to 5 past the hour; 8 sets of 5 is equivalent to 40 past the hour.

Multiply by 10, then take ½ the product, since 5 is ½ of 10.

• 6's: Multiply the factor by 3, then double. Ex) 4 x 6 = 12 + 12

• 7's: Add or subtract sets from a known fact. Ex) 7 x 10 = 70, so 7 x 9 must be two set less, or 70 - 7.

• 8's: Multiply by 4, then double. Ex) 7 x 8 = 28 + 28

• 9's: "Nifty Nines Rules" -
• o The tens place digit will always be one less than the factor you're multiplying by - EX) the tens digit for 9 x 4 will be 3; the tens digit for 9 x 8 will be 7.
• o The digits in the product will always have a sum of 9; allowing you to figure out the ones place digit. Ex) 9 x 6 = 54 (5+4 = 9); 9 x 4 = 36 (3 + 6 = 9)

• 12's: Use the Distributive Property - break 12 into 10 and 2 -

Ex) 12 x 6 = (10 x 6) + (2 x 6)

Dear Parents  -

This week our class will implement the use of WikiSpaces; a private, online discussion forum as an instructional tool.  I'm excited to use this technology to extend our classroom discussions and encourage critical thinking and discussion between students in an exciting way. 

When students log into the WikiSpaces site, they will be entered into a private discussion forum that can only be seen by members of our classroom.  Students will be able to read and respond only to discussions that I post. 

We will visit the discussion board to complete assignments during our visits to the computer lab, but students may also access the site from home, or any other computer with internet access.  Although it will not be required, I will encourage students to independently review and respond to discussions periodically.  Students who independently add meaningful responses to discussions will receive extra credit toward their final reading grade. 

 Attached are the instructions for logging onto the WikiSpaces site.  Please contact with me with any questions.

Carolyn

WIKI BOARDS

READING AND ENTERING THREADS TO A DISCUSSION

• 1.) Visit www.wikispaces.com

• 2.) Click the link on the top right that says: "Already a member? SIGN IN".

• 3.) Enter your username and password:

                   username:  yourfullname (as one lowercase word)

                   password:  cormier

• 4.) Under the list of "Favorite Wikis" click on the link for MrsCormier4.

• 5.) You are now in our class' private wiki - click on the ‘Discussion' tab.

• 6.) Read the topic and the threads that others have posted.

• 7.) Enter your response/opinions in the ‘Reply' box.

                 Be sure to click ‘SUBMIT' when you're finished typing.

• 8.) Click on the ‘Discussion' tab to return to the discussion board and choose a new topic.