Day 11: Factors Fun

6th Grade Math Standards: 6.NS. Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.

Learning Objective: Multiply multi-digit factors to find a product.

Quote of the Day: “Exercise improves mood. Recent studies have found that a regular workout regimen is an even more powerful mood elevator than prescription anti-depressants. What’s less well known, however, is the profound impact exercise has on learning, memory, and creativity…Neurological studies show that when we exert ourselves physically, we produce a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that promotes the growth of neurons, especially in the memory regions of the brain…Learning and memory evolved in concert with motor functions that allowed our ancestors to track down food, so as far as our brain is concerned, if we’re not moving, there’s no real need to learn anything.” – Ron Friedman

Question of the Day: "Why did we skip 7 and 8 with the divisibility rules?" "Is it true that we have more classwork and the other team has more homework?" "How do we calculate our grades when they are in fraction form?"

Agenda:

1. Write the divisibility rules in journals
2. Pepper 
3. Review homework on divisibility by having students come to the board and other students give feedback on their work
4. QSSQ 
5. Notes on factors - basically it boils down to four things. The definition of factor, starting each number with the factors of one and itself, using the divisibility rules, and writing factors in pairs
6. Estimation 180 the Stapler (at the start of the second class) 
7. Assessment on factors
8. Start the factors homework practice

Assessment: Factors independent practice, homework for tonight and from last night was assessed.

Glass Half-Full Take: What went well today was going over the homework. I targeted students that got problems wrong on the homework to come to the board and then called on people at random to answer what was wrong. It's a very typical routine from last year in my class, but was utilized to its highest potential for the first time today because students were answering the homework questions wrong at a frequently enough rate while still maintaining answers that were in the ballpark of where they needed to be.

Regrets: I did not have the opportunity to let students do Fabulous Factors as a more artistic part of the class because of time constraints. We will push it to Monday.

Homework: Factors practice

Link of the Day: NBA Math Hoops is right up my alley, but for an entire class I think that it would be hard to implement. Something to consider for smaller class sizes or even people being home schooled.