Post #9

 Hi All,

I recorded my first lesson and it was on multiplying a decimal number by a 2 digit whole number.  It went so much better than the last lesson I taught to the class!  

The night before I gave the lesson I decided to make a slideshow and I am so glad I did.  It really helped me stay focused and remember what I wanted to say.  I used speaker notes on the slideshow which was very handy.  

Here's a bit of my lesson:

I started off by asking the students to raise their hands if they get money for doing chores each week.  I had up the smart board the first slide which had the following on it:  If Charlotte saves $ __.__  a week, how much will she have saved in  ___ weeks?   I told the kids that I will be picking someone at the end of the lesson that is on really good behavior to fill in the blanks and do the equation on the board.  

I recalled their background knowledge by showing an example of multiplying a number by a 2-digit whole number.  I picked one student whose hand was raised to explain how they would solve the equation and I wrote on the board what the student said.  Then I moved to a slide that had a multiplication equation with a decimal number and 2-digit number.  I told them I would show them two ways to solve this equation.  

7.8 x 23  = 

 = (7.8 x 20) + (7.8 x 3)

 = (7.8 x 10 x 2) + (7.8 x 3)

 = 156 + 23.4 

 = 179.4

  7.8

X 23

I went through the steps on the white board of the vertical way of doing it.  I then asked the students if the way this was done was similar to something else they learned.  They said regular multiplication of a 2-digit whole number and I said,  "That's right!"  The only difference is we need to put the decimal in our final answer.   I told them and showed them how to do that.  

I also went over finding the estimate of an equation as a way for them to check that they have the decimal in the right place.  

Reflection:

 - Overall, I was happy with the lesson.  It was so much better than my last one.  

 - Estimate is something we need to review.  I noticed on the homework that kids don't have that down yet.  Some students confuse it with rounding.  

 - I need more practice switching between slideshow and whiteboard.