I’m very proud of you kids today. Learning fractions is hard enough in the regular classroom. It’s even tougher online, yet you guys did a solid job on Friday’s test. Even when you got problems wrong, it was usually because you didn’t simplify rather than because of not understanding. So great job!

In math today you’ll be using all those skills to add fractions with unlike denominators. The key is that you have to create equivalent fractions before you can add. For example, before you can add 2/7 with 4/21, you must find a common denominator. By multiplying both the top and bottom numbers in 2/7 by 3, you create an equivalent fraction of 6/21. Now you have like denominators that can be added. 6/21 and 4/21 = 10/21. Be sure to simplify when possible. Here’s the video. Your classwork is Worksheet A and your homework is Worksheet E. Check yourself every few problems to see if you’re getting them right. If you’re not, ask for help in the Classroom stream. Be specific about the problem you’re stuck on. A classmate might reply more quickly than me.

Before I forget, in honor of Wild West Week, today’s Zoom meeting is at HIGH NOON. High Noon was when gunfighters would meet in the street to duel. High Noon means when the sun is directly overhead. Today’s Zoom theme is Sharing is Caring: have something other than a pet to share with the class (you know, like show n tell). It’s like WAY more civilized than a shootout.

In reading, you get to look at something you already know a bit about: The Mystery of Roanoke. This Storyworks article is written from the perspective of a kid your age. I think you’ll really enjoy it. It’s in Classwork.

You also need to be working on your Chapter Book Project. Your project is due Thursday, so don’t put off any longer. You can create a book report, a movie trailer, a poster, a diorama, a stop-action video of a scene from the book, . . . anything you want! I’ve re-posted the assignment in Classwork.

You also have the usual stuff: a clicker question and a new Super Sentence for the 9 a.m. interactive session, a history lesson, a neat PE challenge with Mr. Davenport (it’s in Classwork today), a DARE lesson, your End-of-the-Day Review, and the conclusion of Room of Shadows.

Have a great day!