Today I gave the second math assessment for my 6th graders. It was all about proportions and finding out the missing part that would make the proportion equal. They have to use inverse operations and they have to divide.
We've been learning and practicing proportions for the last two weeks. Everything seems like the kids are getting it and that they are able to solve for a missing variable.
They seemed excited and they seemed to have lots of confidence as they turned in their short constructed response (in other words a math problem they have to explain). As I was going through their answers, I realized that some kids had the wrong answer, so when they came to the after school tutoring after school I asked them to give their paper a second look and to redo their multiplication and division at the end.
I WAS SHOCKED!!! I realized that these kids set up the proportion perfectly, but they got stuck multiplying by a two digit number and dividing!!! I was so surprised. How is it that a sixth grader cannot perform a simple multiplication and division problem? How is it that they are in 6th grade?
I was disappointed and felt so discouraged. I am happy to say that my discouragement didn't last long! As I was driving to my class, I decided that I had to do something for these kids. I will target those kids and help them with specific tutoring and will be calling on their parents for help. There is always something to do if I stay positive. I cannot give up on them or get frustrated. I just cant.
Well... I'll see how that works. I am pretty optimistic and I am hoping that I can count on parent support and I want to see all of my students go to seventh grade with at least the knowledge of basic math under their hats.
If you are reading this, did you ever have a hard time with some part of basic math and how did you get through it? Maybe I can get some of your ideas for my kids!!
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