Math

Fifth graders were given a challenge last week.  They were asked to come up with real world problems where one would need to know how to multiply decimals. Then they were asked to try to solve their problems, without asking a parent for help or consulting the Internet.  You see, they hadn't yet been taught about how and why to move the decimal in the product.  On Monday the class was given the task of seeing if they could come up with "the rule" for where the decimal goes in the product.  Just when someone thought he had figured it out, he'd realize that it didn't work for all the problems.  Back to the drawing board!  The type of thinking and the level of persistence taking place in the classroom was impressive.  (I actually thought it was the most exciting math class I've ever witnessed!)  By the end of the class one student thought she'd figured it out, and the class decided to test her rule that night for homework.  On Tuesday the class confirmed they had figured it out; they articulated how proud of themselves they were for going through the process of "discovering" how to do it.  They've spent the rest of the week working on different types of problems that all use multiplication of decimals.  Homework has been flexible (i.e. 10 minutes a night on what you want to work on, challenging yourself).  A student today asked, "Mrs. Woods, can I please have the same homework I had last night?  Because I want to finish."