Fraction Concepts

We will spend considerable time on fractions concepts and computation with fractions.  This is one of the critical concepts that students need for success in algebra.  My goal is for kids to truly understand fractions and computation with them.  Most of this will be done through drawings.

More later ..., although I have been have trouble keeping up with this Blog.

The Sieve of Eratosthenes

We have been working with prime numbers.  A very good way to introduce students to prime numbers and to see prime numbers in a larger context is to use an activity called, "The Sieve of Eratosthenes".  This method was devised by Eratosthenes, who lived from 276 - 195 B.C.  He also calculated the circumference of the earth at a time when most people thought that the earth was flat:  http://www.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro201/eratosthenes.htm

As for "the sieve",

The End of The First Three Weeks

We have finished the first three weeks of 6th grade.  Every year two things jump out regarding students' math knowledge.  The first is multiplication facts ... finish later

The first questions: digits and base-ten

The first two questions for my sixth-graders: 1. How many digits do we have in our system of numbers and what are they? 2. What is the "main thing" about our numbering system?     A note about the awkward nature of this question.     If I ask, "What is the basis of our system of numbers?"  or, "On what is our numbering system based?"; students will not understand the use of the words "basis" and "based".  So, I will use "main thing" and we will talk about what I mean:             main ... (read more)

The 2008-2009 School Year -- Welcome !!

This is the link to my website and my email address:  http://www.eusd4kids.org/Schools/hidden_valley/teacherfolders/sellis/website/index.html sellis@eusd4kids.org Hello and welcome to the 2008-2009 school year! Several people have said that I should add a blog to my website, so here it is.  I am not quite sure how this is going to work, but we will see.  If you have not already, you will find that the teaching and learning of mathematics at the elementary and middle school levels is quite controversial.  This is one place where some of those controversies can be discussed with all those involved rather than just reading my ... (read more)