Matthew's+Journal

10 March 2010 We have been learning about time and temperature i would like to learn more about how temperatures change accourding to sea level Today we learnt about time zones. That sounds like an interesting investigation Matthew! Mrs Breeds.

12 March 2010 W.A.L.T. We are learning about different time zones around the world and how to calculate time differences. If the flight to Melbourne leaves Auckland at 7:35pm and arrives at 9:35pm local time what is the NZ time? Melbourne is 2 hours behind NZ the flight takes 4 hours so in NZ the time is 11:35pm. This is a good example from your learning today Matthew, but I also wanted you to explain what time zones are. Have a go at explaining this in your next journal entry. Mrs Breeds.

15 March 2010 W.A.L.T. We are learning about different time zones around the world and how to calculate time differences. GMT (Greenich Mean Time) is the time taken from Greenich England everything right of Greenich is ahead and everything left of Greenich is behind. If you look at a world map there will be lines seperating the world into 24 time zones New Zealand is on the far right of Greenich and is 24 hours ahead of Greenich. A huge improvement.

18 March 2010 W.A.L.T : Learn about exchange rates for currency If i have a $100 NZ and I want to convert it to Australian Dollars which is about 0.77 you go 100 times 0.77 which equals $77 so it is $77 AUS to $100 NZ If i had $200 Nz and wanted to convert to USD 0.71 200 times 0.71 = $ 142 Us = $200 NZ Very clear examples Matthew. Remember to explain the theory behind your learning too if you can.

19 March 2010 W.A.L.T : we are learning about the difference between celsius and farenheit for temperature The reason we have two measurment is that farenheit is the older or imperial measurment while celsius is the newer metric system the imperial system is still used in the USA. 32 Degrees Farenheit is 0 celsius. How to convert from farenheit to celcius. If it was 73 Farenheit you would take of 32 of because it is 0 celsius which is 41 then you times by 5 which is 205 then divide by 9 which equals 22.77 degrees A good explanation followed by a clear example.

23 March 2010 W.A.L.T use algebraic working and thinking to solve decimal subtraction problems. Equal subtraction stratergy This stratergy is perfect for working out hard decimal subtraction problemes e.g 4.91-3.75 You want to make the 3.75 a tidy number like 4 so you need to add 0.25 to each of the numbers so that the answer stays the same 4.91+0.25=5.16 3.75+0.25=4 5.16-4=1.16 which is alot easier than 4.91-3.75

9.645-3.932 3.932 +0.068 =4 9.645+0.068=9.713 9.713-4=5.713 ​I am pleased you found this strategy so useful and easy to use. It is a very good strategy for complex subtraction problems. TC

25 March 2010 W.A.L.T : to use temperature as a tool to help us with interger problems. Interger numbers are numbers that can be positive or negative e.g -4 + +8 temperatures are a great for practising intergers -12+-7 you are adding more cold so the temperature now is -19 -12 - -3 you are taking away cold so it is -9 I am pleased that you understand how to add and stubtract integers using this strategy. I am sure if you keep this in the back of your mind you won't go wrong. TC​

31 March 2010 W.A.L.T : Add don't subtract when working on decimal subtraction problems. This stratergy is a way to convert a subtraction problem into an addition problem e.g 7.89-3.87 instead of adding to both sides you convert this equation into addition 3.87+___=7.89 you would start by adding 4 to get to 7.87 then add 0.02 to get to 7.89 12.54-7.95 7.95+__=12.54 You would add 0.05 to get to eight then add 4 to get to twelve then add 0.54 to get to 12.54

19 April 2010 WALT : We are learning to use a number of different problem solving stratergies to solve complex problems Before we started today problem solving today i only knew working backwards and guess and check.. By the end of this unit i would like to look for a pattern and work on drawing a diagram or chart. A good goal for yourself Matthew. Remember the key is to be able to choose the smartest strategy to solve the problem. There may be a number of ways that you can solve a problem but some strategies are easier to apply.

26 April 2010 Last week I learnt how to do a scatter plot or scatter graph. Our example was the length and weight of fish we had to rule up a graph and place the measurments down the side. It is quite like grid references you place a dot in the place were the two measurments meet and you continue from there. In the end it looks like a pile of dots. Good comparison Matthew. It does look like a pile of dots.

6 May 2010 Box and Whisker Graph A box and whisker graph is used to show a lot of data and the median it is made up of six parts: Maximum: the highest number in the range of data excluding the outliers Upper Quartile: 75% of the data is below this point Median : the middle number in that range of data Lower Quartil 25% of the data is below that point Minimum : the lowest number in the range of data excluding outyliers Outliers: are 3/2 times the upper or lower quartile. Good explanations Matthew. Are you confident in interpreting these as well? Yes

13 May 2010 Over the past week we have been typing up our surveys and sending them out my survey is about smoke alarms. I am suprised how fast my data has come back in I sent out 30 surveys and recieved 18 back I am quite pleased.

20 May 2010 Yesterday we had our first maths olympiad test I got 3 out of 5. I am quite pleased but i think I could have done better if i had of read the questions properly,and slowed down some more. And of course checked your answers with another strategy. You will get sick of hearing me say this but it is so important to get in the habit. Also estimation helps particularly with those number questions.

24 May 2010 Today I tested my mobile steps on Ford I think I need to explain my teaching steps a bit more clearly and use more diagrams other than that i think it is going quite well.

25 May 2010 Today we had a knowledge test on and I got five wrong and some of those were mistakes but i need to concentrate on the question and focus on decimals and fractions. A good learning goal to have Matthew. Which part/s of the decimals and fractions did you have the most trouble with? Place value? Equivalent fractions?

27 May 2010 Today we had our second otago problem solving test. I got 4 out of 5 and i could have got 5 if I had another few minutes because I got the right working out but i didn't get the answer. I am still quite proud of myself. I am very proud of you Matthew as this is a great score.

31 May 2010

I need to practice working out equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages I need to improve on using more stratergies to solve an answer not just one or two.