Does McDonald's Sell Cheese Burgers?

     Of course they do!  But we use that saying to help us remember the steps to division:  Does-Divide, McDonald's-Multiply, Sell-Subtract, Cheese-Check, Burgers-Bring Down.  Remember those steps and KNOW your facts and division should be a cinch!  

     Division is often such a daunting task to master.  I find the main problem to be that students do not know their times tables which in essence is division backwards or vice versa.  In fourth grade mathematics there are over 60 skills that are taught.  So in the classroom, time is limited to only focus on basic math facts.  Math facts must be studied and memorized until all are mastered without the use of drawing pictures, using hand tricks, and all the rest.  It should be something that comes naturally like after learning to spell your name, or ride a bike, or drive a car.  Once you learn, you don't forget!  

     Therefore,  I am asking that students study nightly until all facts are conquered and mastered.  Research shows students who know their facts are more likely to succeed in all strands of mathematics.  It's much like reading and comprehension.  Only if students know how to read will they be able to comprehend what they are reading.  My e-board contains numerous websites and ideas to practice math facts.  The address to my e-board is: www.mbouvier.jppss.site.eboard.com.  Please take a look and help your children succeed in math class.

  

...97, 98, 99, 100

     On February 2, 2009, Ella C. Pittman held the annual 100th Day of School Celebration.  As students entered their appropriate hallways, teachers counted them one by one in search of the 100th person.  Two winners were declared.  Lexus, a fifth grader,  from the fourth and fifth grade hall and Patrick, a second grader, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade hall were both awarded with a $20 gift certificate to Wal-Mart.  What an easy way to earn $20!  Neither student had a clue what they did until being told about our search for the 100th person on the 100th day of school. 

     In addition, teachers planned lessons honoring the 100th day of school celebration.  In Mrs. Lay's math class, students made a bag of gorp  (good old raisins and peanuts) otherwise known as trail mix.  Students created their gorp from peanuts, chex cereal, and m & ms along with four other items to choose from.  Once the bags were made with 100 items, students had to find the fractional amount of each item in addition to the decimal and percent equivalents of each.  As one student said, "This is why I like math; it's fun!"  And that is what it's all about.