Factor Trees

I can guess that just like myself, a lot of parents do not understand factor trees; what they are, how to make one, what one looks like, what they are used for, etc... I didn't fully understand them, and their importance in math until I became a college student. 

To start understanding a factor tree, you must first learn the official definition of one. A factor tree, as defined by factortree.com, is a diagram used to break down a number by dividing it by its factors until all the numbers left are prime. Factor trees are most commonly used in elementary math to find out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) between two numbers. 

Once you understand the definition, it you now need to learn how to construct one. Below is a video showing how to factor tree the number 72:

You can also visit coolmath.com to get a visual representation of how to make factor trees, if you prefer reading.

I was quite amazed upon my researching of factor trees to find factor rainbows. I think that by showing my future students factor trees or factor rainbows will give them a sense of control because they can chose for themselves which method they like. 

I have also found a couple of great Websites that have factor tree games for students to practice prime factoring numbers:

• Factorization Forest 
• Factor Trees

I believe it is extremely important for us as not only teachers, but parents of children to know and understand what our children are doing in math class. The Internet, and your child's teachers are full of information, games, videos, songs, etc... to help us, help our children. When our children, I know my step-son for sure, see that we understand what they are doing and can do it too, it makes them more confident and hungry to learn more.

Minnesota Math Standards

Who, What, Where, When, Why

Does anyone really truly understand the “Math Standards?” I know myself, like many other parents do not fully understand these standards. Straight from the Minnesota Department of Educations handbook on math standards I would like to share the opening paragraph:

“The Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics set the expectations for achievement in mathematics for K-12 students in Minnesota. This document is grounded in the belief that all students can and should be mathematically proficient. All students should learn important mathematical concepts, skills, and relationships with understanding. The standards and benchmarks presented here describe a connected body of mathematical knowledge that is acquired through the processes of problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication,

connections, and representation. The standards are placed at the grade level where mastery is expected with the recognition that intentional experiences at earlier grades are required to facilitate learning and mastery for other grade levels.”

For the next 44 pages one can see all four categories that students are assessed on, by grade level: Numbers and Operations, Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability. To help parents better understand the handbook, you can visit the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) website, or click this link, http://www.mnasa.org/cms/lib6/MN07001305/Centricity/Domain/76/acceleration_delaney.pdf, to get all your questions answered. There is also a website for teachers to help them translate the standards into their own classrooms, http://scimathmn.org/stemtc/

After looking around the net, I discovered many websites out there designed to help students reach important benchmarks associated with the standards, and help them prepare. Here are the two best website I found:

·       http://www.ixl.com/standards/minnesota/math

·       http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?keyword=mm1+test+prep+minnesota