5th Grade Math Unit 1: Place Value and Decimal Fractions

5th-grade math is a pivotal year. It lays the foundation for middle and high school success. Before 6th grade, students need to strengthen their ability to manipulate complex mathematical concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and build confidence—all in an engaging, interactive environment.

This 6-week course aligns with the first unit of 5th-grade Common Core and NGSS standards place value and decimal learning. The class will provide a comprehensive and inquiry-based math experience. Through interactive lessons and real-world applications, students will deepen their understanding and apply math in meaningful ways. 

📚 What Will Be Taught?
This course focuses on operations with fractions and decimals - including adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with decimals up to the thousandths place. Students will learn to manipulate numbers using place value (multiplying and dividing by powers of 10), and lay a strong foundation for the rest of the year in math. 


🔢 How Will We Learn?
This course is designed to be engaging and student-centered, featuring:
🔹 12 live lessons that build conceptual understanding and procedural fluency
🔹 Project-Based Learning (PBL) tasks at the end of unit, applying math to real-life scenarios
🔹 Daily practice problem sets to reinforce skills and build mastery
🔹 Mid-unit and end-of-unit assessment to track progress on each skill


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🗓️ Full Class Class Structure
🔸 36-week program, meeting 2 times per week for 60 minutes
🔸 Live, interactive instruction with guided practice and discussions
🔸 Small-group problem-solving and real-world applications
🔸 Supportive learning environment that encourages critical thinking

📖 Daily Class Format
Each class follows a structured and engaging routine to build deep mathematical understanding:

1️⃣ Application Problem – We start with a challenging real-world problem that encourages students to apply math skills in new and creative ways.
2️⃣ Mini-Lesson – The day's concept is introduced through clear, structured instruction, helping students understand what skill they are mastering and track their own progress.
3️⃣ Small Group Practice – Students work collaboratively to solve problems, reinforcing their understanding and building confidence in the new skill.
4️⃣ Exit Task & Independent Practice – Students complete a 4-point exit task, providing both them and the teacher with immediate feedback on comprehension. If additional support is needed, Ms. Crocker assigns personalized supplemental activities to ensure mastery.

📚 Homework Expectations
To reinforce learning, students will:
✔ Complete a fluency round on XtraMath each night.
✔ Work through a practice worksheet that reinforces the day’s concept.
✔ Receive targeted support if they need extra help with the lesson.
✔ Complete an end-of-unit project, applying all learned concepts to a real-world scenario (this will require some out-of-class time).

This structured approach ensures consistent practice, confidence-building, and long-term retention of key math skills! ✨