Math! I just can't get enough!!!

I have never really thought about it this much before, but math really is everywhere! Since becoming a blogger (sounds so sophisticated, doesn't it?) I notice myself noticing more around me and how it incorporates into my blogging/math life. It is used in the grocery store, in the kitchen, in the science classroom, at a baseball game, and so many more ways.

Seriously, has anyone ever really thought about how math is used almost in every situation? For instance, my kids were each given $20 last night at the fair to use towards games or whatever they chose. It was cute watching them figure out how much they would have left if they played a certain game, or how many times they could play it with the money they had left. I also was noticing the carnival workers counting the people as they would let them on the rides so that each ride had a certain amount of people in it.

I feel that using real world situations in the classroom helps children understand the concept so much better. If you have kids give their own input into the problems, they will learn it better and have fun doing it! I have mentioned this before, but making learning fun is the number 1 priority on my list when I become a teacher. I want to be one of the teachers that are remembered for years because of my creativity and how I made learning interesting and fun!

So many kids struggle with math because they don't understand it and so then they may give up and just assume they will never be good at it. Math can be made fun and easy to learn in so many ways. The following video talks about one particular school that did their best to make learning math fun. I love this concept and even though this particular approach may not be doable in all schools, it is a great example of how it takes so little to make learning math fun. Check it out!

At Our Prime!

Prime numbers are considered the building blocks for natural numbers. Prime numbers are numbers that can be divided, without a remainder, only by itself and 1. Numbers such as 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11are all examples of prime numbers. It is important to remember that 0 and 1 are not considered prime numbers.

One way that I have found to prove whether a number is prime or not is to first try to divide it by 2 and see if you get a whole number. If you do get a whole number, it isn't a prime number. If you don't get a whole number, next try dividing it by prime numbers, such as 3, 5, 7, 11 and so on, always dividing by a prime number.

 

The next important definition to know is Composite numbers. A number that can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 or itself is a composite number. A couple numbers that are examples of composite numbers are 6 and 12.

I am a huge believer in having fun in the classroom. I feel like kids don't enjoy school as much as I used to because the fun seems to be less and less. I don't think it is a good idea to have a party every day in the classroom, but I do think it is important to make learning fun. I found a fun video that both of my kids watched with me and they both enjoyed it. They told me that I need to add that to my blog. So here it is..........I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!





Fun with Fractions!!

So am I the only one out there that has a hard time remembering how to add and subtract fractions? Oh, and don't forget about multiplying and dividing them too! Yikes! I just have such a difficult time remembering which need to have the same dividend and which don't, and which need to be switched around and which don't! Well, hopefully this blog will come in handy for any others that may have a hard time how to do each of them.

Let's start with adding fractions.........
There are three simple steps to add fractions:

• Step 1: Make sure the bottom numbers (the denominators) are the same.
• Step 2: Add the top numbers (the numerators), put the answer over the denominator.
• Step 3: Simplify the fraction (if needed).

Now on to subtracting fractions, which is very similar to adding them......
There are also three simple steps to subtract fractions:

• Step 1: Make sure the bottom numbers (the denominators) are the same.
• Step 2: Subtract the top numbers (the numerators), put the answer over the denominator.
• Step 3: Simplify the fraction (if needed).

On to multiplying fractions..................
There are three basic steps to this one:

• Step 1: Multiply the top numbers (the numerators).
• Step 2: Multiply the bottom numbers (the denominators).
• Step 3: Simplify the fraction (if needed).

Now for the dividing of fractions......
Another three easy steps:

• Step 1: Turn the second fraction (the one you want to divide) upside down. (This is now a reciprocal.)
• Step 2: Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal.
• Step 3: Simplify the fraction (if needed).

I hope that this helps all of those out there that may have been a bit confused on fractions. I am also including a link that has some wonderful worksheets that may help in your classroom.
Fraction Worksheets

 

Solving Problems? NO PROBLEM!!!

Did you know that one of the most important processes in doing mathematics is problem solving? Well, that is true and I am going to show you some strategies to help understand how to solve math problems in the classroom.

The description of problem solving is: a process by which an individual uses previously learned concepts, facts, and relationships, along with various reasoning skills and strategies, to answer a question or questions about a situation.

Knowing that, lets get started on how to solve a problem. There are numerous ways to solve a problem, but some problem solving strategies that might come in handy are:

• Make a model.
• Act it out.
• Choose an operation.
• Write an equation.
• Draw a diagram.
• Guess-check-revise.
• Simplify the problem.
• Make a list.
• Look for a pattern.
• Make a table.
• Use a specific case.
• Work backward.
• Use reasoning.

Problem solving strategies play an important role in planning and carrying out solutions to problems. Choosing a useful strategy or several strategies is an important problem solving skill. Check out this website as it has some great examples on how to solve math problems and the phases used to solve them. Math problem solving

Roman Who?

Roman Numerals have always intrigued me. I picture a bunch of people standing near the Colosseum in Rome and deciding to use a combination of letters to make what we know as numbers!?! Ok, well this may seem a bit far fetched, but I would have loved to be a fly on that rock when they had the discussion on which letter means what!

I was able to really understand the whole concept of Roman Numerals when I was a child, but I didn't use them a lot in my life. Therefore, I slowly starting forgetting the basic symbols of most of the Roman Numerals. I found a website that has some great worksheets and charts that could really help in the classroom. Roman numerals worksheets and charts

I have come to realize that Roman Numerals are not used as frequently anymore, but they are still around and I don't think they are going anywhere. Some places that I have found that Roman Numerals are still used today are on some clocks and watches, in some movie titles and also when naming some regal names (King Henry VIII). So let's get to know them and use them when necessary.

 More fun!

Oh! That's how that works!!!

OK, I have worked as a paraprofessional for many years of my life and it took a 4 minute YouTube video for me to understand lattice multiplication? Don't get me wrong, I haven't been teaching or helping kids wrong, I just haven't ever done it. I have always done it the "old-fashioned" way and just never really needed to learn the lattice way. I admit that I am a bit behind the times, but hey, what do you expect, I am not a young pup anymore. (I am and will always be 29!)

The video I am speaking of is a lattice multiplication step-by-step approach . Take a few minutes to check it out, it is definitely worth your time.

Now that I know how the lattice multiplication works, I absolutely think it is almost as good as sliced bread!(That genius needs some credit, because sliced bread is amazing!) I got a little worried when the man on the video said that he was going to multiply a number with decimals! Yikes! But it makes complete sense now. I love that he added the mention about taking the decimals and meeting them up, and then sliding them down the slide! For real, what kid doesn't like to think of playground equipment during math?

What it really comes down to is that I feel that I learned a pretty cool concept today. Not only did I finally learn how to do lattice multiplication with whole numbers and decimals, I also realized that I really need to invent something. Since sliced bread is already discovered I may need to think about this one for awhile. Stay tuned and I will let you know what great invention I dream up! So until next time, keep on multiplying!