Math with Mrs. Schutte

Grades 4 & 5

October 13, 2009

Today, our class began a checkbook register.  We practiced adding and subtracting our salaries and housing costs.  Students who wanted an additional job were allowed to choose a second one, and add those in as well.

Homework:  Choose a car that you would like to buy.  Fill out the homework page about your car, including cost, year, model, and make of the car.  Bring this information back for next week to use in class.

if you didn't turn in your decimal addition sheet today, you can still complete it and turn it in next Tuesday!

Mrs. Schutte

October 6, 2009

Dear Family,

              Over the month of October, our class will be actively involved in a “Consumer Math” unit.  There are two main goals:  practice with addition and subtraction, including using decimals and a calculator; and developing a sense of larger numbers in the area of money.

             Today, your child received a randomly assigned “family”.  They also received a “profession” and a “savings amount.”  We set up a pretend check book register with this information, and introduced adding money. Each week, I will add a new “cost” to their scenario.

For work to do at home:  we will be adding and subtracting money all month.  Whether by hand or by calculator, developing a sense of whether the amount is right is a helpful skill to practice.  This often involves rounding to the nearest dollar, which we do all the time when we’re shopping.  Give your child chances to practice this as you shop together throughout the next month.

Each week, there will be something to do at home to bring back for the next week.  Your child will learn a lot more and have more fun if they return the homework as done as possible.

If you have questions, please email me!  Hopefully, we will have fun practicing about money together!

Looking forward to learning together,

Mrs. Schutte