Newsletter

November, 2008

Do you use your math facts in your daily operations of life? Do you have to estimate purchases to determine if you have enough cash to pay for what you are buying? Do you need to multiply to see how many boxes of snack packs you will need if you need at least 24 bags of chips? We take it for granted that math facts are easy to learn. Think back to when you were in school. You didn't automatically know 5x6 was 30 without practicing. That practice time now needs to happen at home because teachers are so busy trying to help students apply what they know or need to know. One of our school improvement goals for the year at Wasmer is to improve number sense. That means we want kids to be able to understand that 5 means there are five things to count or that 22 comes after 21 and before 23. Number sense means that kids can count by 5s, 10s, 2s, 3s, and so forth without having to think about it.

Wasmer students scored lower in math computation on the ITBS than they have the past two years. That is one reason why the staff has said we need to do something about number sense. Not only is it needed to bring our scores up, it is needed because students have to know about numbers to succeed in the real world. We cannot take it for granted that everyone gets it. Believe me, this is not true. It sure does help if parents practice the math facts with their students even if it is for 10 minutes a night. By the way, even kindergartners need to know how to count to 49 and recognize numbers. 

It is the goal of Wasmer staff to make sure we succeed at our school improvement goal of increasing number sense for all students. We even have a math facts group that meets for about 10 minutes at the end of the day for extra practice and help with learning multiplication facts. Students want to learn. They just need your encouragement and help to get to the goal. Join forces with Wasmer staff and your children to make math workable for everyone.

The first quarter is over, and we are moving quickly through the second quarter of school. November is the time to secure the hatch and make sure all are on board with new learning. It is exciting to see the enthusiasm of our students this year. We have over 30 third, fourth, and fifth graders who are in the 21st Century After School program because they want help with their school work. Students are eager to share books they can read, experiments they are performing, and fun they have at recess playing kick ball and dodge ball as well as jumping rope. Talk to your children about what they think about school. You may be surprised at their answers.

Dates to remember:
November 6 and 7: NO SCHOOL
November 14: 3-4-5 students to Lincoln
November 26 and 27: NO SCHOOL