Fritz Zarate

Welcome to Mr. Zarate's 5th Grade Math Class

Welcome to School Year 2016 - 2017

I am looking forward to a productive and prosperous school year. Fifth Grade is full of basics with focus on more precise calculations. Mastery of basics will be given emphasis. Assignments will be given for the students to practice their skills and these will be checked to find out if the students learned the skill in class. Not all assignments will be graded. Graded assignments will be indicated. It is a great pleasure to have your child in my class. With your support and our dedication, I'm sure that we will have a successful school year.

My daily schedule:

7:55 - 9:30 1st Period
9:35 - 10:45 PLCs
10:50 - 11:50 2nd Period
11:55 - 12:25 LUNCH
12:35 - 1:35 2nd Period
1:40 - 3:25 3rd Period

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at fzarate@whartonisd.net. You can contact me through the school office at (979) 532 6882. My conference time is from 9:40 to 10:40 Monday through Wednesdays.

NOTE TO PARENTS

In order for your child to be more successful, it would really be a big help if you could check on the lessons of your child in their notebooks/journals. Everything we talk about in class is there. You could also help them do their homework whenever it is assigned to them. Making them master the multiplication and division table would certainly have a great deal on their performance. For other references about the lessons we have in class, you may look at https://www.khanacademy.org/.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ON A 6-WEEK BASIS

The first six weeks will be focused on the operations on whole numbers decimals. But more focus will be given on multiplication and division using models, pictures and the standard algorithm. In addition, we will be focusing on problem solving and we will help the students learn how to analyze a question correctly. Practicing the multiplication facts with your child at home for 15 minutes a day would definitely help improve his computational skills which in turn would have an effect on his problem solving skills.

The second six weeks will be focused on decimals. The students will learn about value, place value and rounding off decimals through the thousandths place. The students will also learn about expanded form and expanded notation. Operations on decimals will cap off the second six weeks. Constantly practicing the multiplication and division facts is very necessary in order for a student to be successful.

The third six week is all about operations on fractions. Adding and subtracting fractions will be done by the use of models and the standard algorithm. For the standard algorithm, the students should know how to find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) in order to be able to add and subtract unlike fractions. For multiplying fractions, all the students need to know is how to multiply a whole number by a fraction with the understanding that the whole number represents the number of times the fraction appears. In division of fractions, the students will only be required to divide a whole number by a unit fraction and a unit fraction divided by a whole number. Models will be given emphasis in these lessons.

The fourth six weeks is all about Geometry and Measurement. The students will learn about Perimeter, Area, Volume, the different types of shapes and their properties, the English measuring system (Gallons, Pints, Cups, etc). Understanding the concept all these is essential in success. With your support, each student has an equal opportunity to understand the lessons.