MS.

A'S
October 5th, 2022 Volume 1 Issue 2
CLASS NEWSLETTER

Technology Update
WHAT'S IN THIS
WEEK'S ISSUE:

Technology Update
What Are We Learning?
DEAR PARENTS, Splash Learn K-5
Education.com
Welcome back to our parent newsletter! Last week
in class, students worked on navigating Google
Classroom and Lexia, a virtual reading program.
This week, we will be expanding our virtual
resource reservoir through the incorporation of two
new math programs: “Splash Learn K-5” and
"Education.com”. These programs will be utilized
for practice and will serve as useful tools to assist
with the math curriculum. While we will be using
these programs in class, I encourage you and your
child to explore and familiarize yourselves with
them at home as well. This provides a great
opportunity for your child to practice the class
material, while also allowing you to see all the
progress your child is making!

Technology is such a prominent aspect of life, both

in school and at home. Thus, providing students
with virtual math resources at home and school
encourages students to view technology as an
educational tool, while also reminding them that CONTACT INFORMATION
math is fun!
Ms. A
4th Grade Classroom Teacher
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to Room #000
reach out! BC Elementary,
Chestnut Hill, MA
Happy learning!

A@bc.edu
Ms. A 000-123-4567

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 What Are We Learning?
MATH UPDATE
In class, we started a new unit on rational numbers, in
which we will first be focusing on fractions, then
moving to decimals, ratios, and proportions. We just
finished learning about how to structure fractions and
identify fractions using models; now we will be shifting
focus towards creating models of fractions and using
those models to compare two fractions.

Check out an example anchor chart we use in class!

Splash Learn K-5

*anchor chart is taken from Teachers Pay Teachers website.

SPLASH LEARN Link to Website

Splash Learn is a program designed for elementary

school students, which provides practice games and
exercises to augment the lessons taught in class. On
the program, there are many different subjects from
which students can choose, although for now, we will
primarily be focusing on math practice. Splash Learn
incorporates activities for almost all of the 4th grade
math curriculum (as seen in image 1), and thus, each
week, students can both review past class material and
complete new practice exercises based on the
curriculum. Presenting material in this way with fun
music and interactive games is engaging for kids, and
they are often motivated by the notion of getting
coins, stars, and leveling up.

This week, students are encouraged to work on the

assignment "Model Tenths", although they are more
than welcome to review the other activities in the
"Identify and Model Tenths" section of the "Decimals"
Math Curriculum as well (as seen in image 2).
 Splash Learn K-5 (cont.)
INSTRUCTIONS

In the "Model Tenths" activity, students will be

directed to shade in the model to show a given
fraction, as shown to the left.

Students will then select the number of bars that

they would like to shade to depict the fraction.
Then they will select "done".

The questions will get progressively more

difficult in the assignment, and will help
students build their understanding of how to
model proper and mixed fractions.

This activity also works to build the

visualization skills that are immensely useful
when learning to compare two fractions,
which we are also learning in class.
Furthermore, it will also help build the
foundational knowledge needed to
understand decimals, which will will be the
next step in our rational numbers unit!

Overall, the program is kid-friendly and a

https://www.splashlearn.com/parent-
dashboard#/topic/15
great way for your child to review and
practice class material in an engaging manner!
I am so excited students will have the
opportunity to use this resource at school and
at home!
 Education.com
EDUCATION.COM Link to Website

Education.com is a virtual program designed for K-8

students. This resource not only provides practice
games and worksheets for students, but it also includes
lesson plans, online exercises, gives ideas for hands-on
activities parents can do with their children that align
with the unit being taught in class. There are options for
a wide variety of mathematical concepts including
multiplication, division, geometry, and word problems.

You can utilize the search bar and left side of the screen
to filter results by grade, subject, and course content for
easy access to desired activities (as shown to the right).

One of the applets on this site that I recommend for

LINK TO INSTRUCTIONAL your student is the "Comparing Fractions with Like
VIDEO: Denominators: Space" activity, as it relates to this

week's fractions math curriculum. This applet is highly

engaging and lively, as it has fun sound effects and

visuals. While the program explains the directions to
CLICK HERE the activity, I have created an instructional video to the
left as well to assist even further.

Students will be given two fractions. They must use the

up arrow to help them fill the fuel containers to
represent the given fractions. For example, in this
problem, students are asked to model 1/5 and 2/5.
Students will first click the up arrow one time to create a
model of 1/5. Then they will select the other box set
and click the up arrow twice to model 2/5.

The program will then direct students to order the

fractions/models from either least to greatest, or
greatest to least. In this example, it asked for least to
greatest. Students can look at the model and see that the
1/5 model is smaller than the 2/5 model, and thus, 1/5 is
less than 2/5. The student would then drag the models
up in order from least to greatest. Students will then
pull the red lever and the next question will be asked.
 Education.com
(continued)
This website is a great resource to help students
visualize fractions and compare them. The questions
get progressively more difficult to help advance
students' learning and identify where they begin to
struggle. Furthermore, when helping kids learn, it is
important to provide them with multiple strategies to
solving a problem. This applet helps students learn
that when comparing fractions, they can solve it by
either utilizing a model or by looking at the numeric
fraction itself. Furthermore, the program reinforces
the vocabulary we discussed in class, such as
"numerator", "greater than", and "less than".

This program has a plethora of activities and lessons,

and it can make learning at home both fun and
engaging!

EXTRA RESOURCES FOR YOUR

HOME!
I would also like to highlight the “Hands-on Activities”
tab on Education.com. This program as great activities
that you can do with your children right at home! These
activities are not required by any means, but they do
provide a great additional resource for your children
and can help you get involved in their learning as well!

FINAL REMARKS,
Thank you for your continuous participation and care in your student's
learning. I really hope that you and your child have the opportunity to take
advantage of these amazing resources! I look forward to speaking with you
all soon, and once again, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach
out!
MS. A
A@bc.edu
000-123-4567