HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH MATH HOMEWORK
Math homework can often be a frustrating experience for children and parents. Parents were often taught traditional algorithms and do not know the strategies students are learning today. While these strategies promote a deeper conceptual understanding of key math concepts, it is difficult for parents to see the benefits of these new approaches when they are unaware of them themselves.
We have a great resource that will help! The Math Words and Ideas site from the Investigations Math Series has links to math videos that explain how all concepts are taught at each grade level.
Simply click on your child's grade level at the left-hand side of the screen. When you click on a math concept additional subtopics appear. Each subtopic includes a short video explaining strategies taught at school. In the example below, third grade was selected on left and arrays was chosen under the concept of multiplication.
Watching these short videos are a great way to review how and why concepts were taught a certain way. You may even consider watching these videos with your child. The presentation below provides a few additional tips on how to promote a love of math at home.
4TH GRADERS OFFER CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Fourth-grade students used the design thinking process to generate proposals on how to beautify our school grounds. Design thinking is a process for problem-solving that includes the following steps: empathizing, defining, ideating, creating a prototype and testing a product. This process allows students to think like designers, innovate and create.
Fourth graders were given the challenge of making Gold Rush an even more inviting learning environment. Students began the design thinking process by empathizing, or identifying all of the stakeholders who utilize our building and thinking about what is important to them. They then defined the problem and ideated, or brainstormed multiple solutions. Students went on to work in small groups to create a presentation that further outlined one idea. Their ideas were amazing and included a quote wall, an outdoor stage, greenhouse and a student club called the Handy Helpers that would assist Mr. Toby. Students' used a wide variety of tech tools to present their data, research and convincing arguments. We are proud of students' creative thinking and collaboration!
ROCK CONCERT
Third grade students used music to share what they've learned about their science unit on rocks and minerals. Their "rock concert" demonstrated their understanding of the content and their ability to perform their own rhythmic patterns and songs. We thank Mrs. Petty for preparing students for the engaging performances.
Meets
Indicates that a student demonstrates an understanding of content/concepts/skills most of the time and with limited support. Students who are meeting standards make few major errors or omissions when demonstrating a concepts or skill.
Approaching
Indicates that a students requires moderate support to demonstrate an understanding of concepts/skills. Students' ability to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or skill is inconsistent or infrequent, which indicates a partial understanding of the content, concept or skill. Students demonstrate more frequent errors or omissions.
Does Not Meet
Students who do not meet standards seldom demonstrate an understanding of concepts and skills taught. The student requires considerable support to demonstrate learning and makes frequent major errors when demonstrating his/her understanding.
FIFTH GRADE SCIENTISTS
Fifth-grade students put their knowledge of human body systems to the test this week when they traveled to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science's lung lab. They have been studying how the different body systems impact one another. This week they took a more in-depth view of the subject as they dissected lungs.
UPCOMING EVENTS
* December 12: PTO Mtg @ 8:45 AM
* December 14: Kindergarten Registration for 2018-2019 -SAC Meeting was canceled
* December 22: No School - Winter Break
* January 8: School Resumes
Math homework can often be a frustrating experience for children and parents. Parents were often taught traditional algorithms and do not know the strategies students are learning today. While these strategies promote a deeper conceptual understanding of key math concepts, it is difficult for parents to see the benefits of these new approaches when they are unaware of them themselves.
We have a great resource that will help! The Math Words and Ideas site from the Investigations Math Series has links to math videos that explain how all concepts are taught at each grade level.
Click here to access this site.
Simply click on your child's grade level at the left-hand side of the screen. When you click on a math concept additional subtopics appear. Each subtopic includes a short video explaining strategies taught at school. In the example below, third grade was selected on left and arrays was chosen under the concept of multiplication.
Watching these short videos are a great way to review how and why concepts were taught a certain way. You may even consider watching these videos with your child. The presentation below provides a few additional tips on how to promote a love of math at home.
Click here for the presentation.
4TH GRADERS OFFER CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Fourth-grade students used the design thinking process to generate proposals on how to beautify our school grounds. Design thinking is a process for problem-solving that includes the following steps: empathizing, defining, ideating, creating a prototype and testing a product. This process allows students to think like designers, innovate and create.
Fourth graders were given the challenge of making Gold Rush an even more inviting learning environment. Students began the design thinking process by empathizing, or identifying all of the stakeholders who utilize our building and thinking about what is important to them. They then defined the problem and ideated, or brainstormed multiple solutions. Students went on to work in small groups to create a presentation that further outlined one idea. Their ideas were amazing and included a quote wall, an outdoor stage, greenhouse and a student club called the Handy Helpers that would assist Mr. Toby. Students' used a wide variety of tech tools to present their data, research and convincing arguments. We are proud of students' creative thinking and collaboration!
Garden Creators
Proposal: Add Additional Rocks and Shoe Beds to the Garden
ROCK CONCERT
Third grade students used music to share what they've learned about their science unit on rocks and minerals. Their "rock concert" demonstrated their understanding of the content and their ability to perform their own rhythmic patterns and songs. We thank Mrs. Petty for preparing students for the engaging performances.
Kindergarten Registration
We are excited to meet incoming Gold Rush families at Kindergarten Registration on Thursday, December 14, from 5:00-7:00 PM. We will be providing tours and the principal will present an overview at 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Please share this information with any families that you know are enrolling a kindergarten student for the 2018-2019 school year. This event is also open to families who are interested in open enrolling at other grade levels.
2018-2019 Enrollment Confirmation Survey
We are currently in the planning process for next year. If you have not done so already, please complete the Enrollment Survey to let us know if your child will be returning to Gold Rush, This will help ensure your child's class placement for the upcoming school year.
We are currently in the planning process for next year. If you have not done so already, please complete the Enrollment Survey to let us know if your child will be returning to Gold Rush, This will help ensure your child's class placement for the upcoming school year.
Elementary Progress Reports (EPR) Released December 23
Teachers are celebrating students’ growth as they complete fall Elementary School Progress Reports (EPRs). EPRs will be released to parents on Saturday, December 23rd, through Parent Portal.
Your child's report card includes grades for content and learner characteristics. The following rating system is used to determine your child's level of performance:
Exceeds
Indicates a high level of achievement. It indicates a student has a strong understanding of the content/concepts/skills taught and it implies a student can demonstrate understanding independently and with very few errors.
Indicates a high level of achievement. It indicates a student has a strong understanding of the content/concepts/skills taught and it implies a student can demonstrate understanding independently and with very few errors.
Meets
Indicates that a student demonstrates an understanding of content/concepts/skills most of the time and with limited support. Students who are meeting standards make few major errors or omissions when demonstrating a concepts or skill.
Approaching
Indicates that a students requires moderate support to demonstrate an understanding of concepts/skills. Students' ability to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or skill is inconsistent or infrequent, which indicates a partial understanding of the content, concept or skill. Students demonstrate more frequent errors or omissions.
Does Not Meet
Students who do not meet standards seldom demonstrate an understanding of concepts and skills taught. The student requires considerable support to demonstrate learning and makes frequent major errors when demonstrating his/her understanding.
You are able to view your child's information two ways - a highlight view and a comprehensive view. The highlights view includes a snapshot of how your child performed on core content standards (reading, writing and math) and how your child met school expectations of Going for the G.O.L.D. The highlights view also includes general classroom comments and individual student comments.
The comprehensive view includes information on all four elements of the District’s guaranteed and viable curriculum in all subject areas, including social studies, science and specials. The comprehensive view may also include additional content comments aligned to specific content standards. You are able to access both views by clicking on the links at the top right portion of the screen.
The comprehensive view includes information on all four elements of the District’s guaranteed and viable curriculum in all subject areas, including social studies, science and specials. The comprehensive view may also include additional content comments aligned to specific content standards. You are able to access both views by clicking on the links at the top right portion of the screen.
Fifth-grade students put their knowledge of human body systems to the test this week when they traveled to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science's lung lab. They have been studying how the different body systems impact one another. This week they took a more in-depth view of the subject as they dissected lungs.
UPCOMING EVENTS
* December 12: PTO Mtg @ 8:45 AM
* December 14: Kindergarten Registration for 2018-2019 -SAC Meeting was canceled
* December 22: No School - Winter Break
* January 8: School Resumes
