It's Friday and we're handing out MCAS Math homework for the weekend again. In part, we're helping students get ready for the statewide MCAS tests.
There's another important reason as well. Sometimes kids feel as if they learn math in school and they will never use it again. That’s just not true. People in all sorts of jobs use math. People across the street on the construction site in Old Colony, for example, need all their math skills. They use math all day, every day.
That’s why students everywhere have to study math. We, however, are going to do it, Perkins Style. Each Friday we give third, fourth, and fifth graders one math problem from a previous MCAS test. Then we’ll give them another similar question using real data from the construction site. Our kids are learning to be elementary school students and real world workers at the same time!
Here is the third grade's actual MCAS problem. Third graders, you tried "rounding up" once before and it was quite difficult for you. Think hard and try your best!
Here is the Perkins construction version:
Now, it's time for the fourth grade's actual MCAS problem:
Here's the fourth grade problem about Phase 1 of Old Colony:
Fifth graders, it's your turn to work on an actual MCAS problem. Make sure to show your work!
Here is the Perkins construction version for the fifth grade.
Finally, a shout out to Alexander, who had a very interesting way of expressing the right answer to his MCAS question of last week. Congratulations, Alexander, good work!
