Noetic Math Champions!

National Champions! Both Earned a Perfect Score!

We have a class of outstanding math students this year! Grades 1, 2 and 3 in the self-contained program always compete in the bi-annual Noetic Math Contest. It's an advanced math competition, specifically designed for high achieving math students. The problems involve higher level thinking skills.

National Honor Roll Winners - Scored in the Top 10%

We did very well and had many students place in the top 10% of the country. In my class all of the students placed in the top 50%. Results can be viewed here.

The Prime Pumpkin Prediction - Part 2

After estimating and measuring circumference, weight and vertical lines of our pumpkins, along with pondering a few writing prompts and answering some critical thinking questions about pumpkins, the REAL fun began!

Students predicted the amount of seeds in their pumpkin and then predicted whether the size of the pumpkin determined seed totals.

Then we dug in! Students worked in partners or small groups determining the best way to count the seeds. Some chose to group the seeds into fives or tens, others counted by ones as they went along. Still others waited until every seed was scooped and then determined a method.

You might be surprised to hear how many seeds the average pumpkin contains. And regarding small pumpkins having fewer seeds than large pumpkins - what do you think? Ask your 2nd grader!

Pumpkin Math

Thanks So Much To Everyone Who Sent In A Pumpkin!

Today we began participating in some pumpkin math activities. There are so many math possibilities when it comes to pumpkins!

Using yarn, students measured the circumference of their pumpkin. Then they measured the yarn using a ruler. 

Each student estimated the circumference first, and then figured out the difference between their estimate and the actual circumference.

Each student also estimated the weight of their pumpkin, then weighed themself and then got on the scale holding the pumpkin to figure out its actual weight. A few of the pumpkins were so heavy it was challenging to hold for more than a few moments!

Our activities today also consisted of predicting and counting the vertical lines on a pumpkin and some creative writing. Some of the math vocabulary covered today during this lesson includes: circumference, distance, difference, estimate, vertical, subtraction and decimal. 

Khan Academy

Although it has been around for several years, I really only learned about the Khan Academy this past summer. I've taken several courses to learn how to use it effectively and started implementing it in the classroom this week.
Students are able to login using their pvLearners account (because it is a Google Apps for Education Account) and have added me as a coach. The Khan Academy is an amazing resource that is going to make differentiation in (and out of) the classroom easier, and allow students more freedom to work at their own pace. After a few days of using it, I am VERY excited!
There is lots of information available regarding the Khan Academy, and I do not feel like I can possibly cram it all into one blog post. Ask your kids about it, try it out for yourself and take a peek at them using it in the classroom.