(The cute clipart in my header is from Tales of a Teacher, please click on the button to visit her store.)
I lovingly describe 5th grade math as a beast. For it really is! There is a huge jump in mathematical abilities from 4th grade to 5th grade, even with Common Core. Yes, the standards are vertically aligned so that new concepts build on the concepts learned the previous year, however that does not lessen the fact that trying to teach 5th grade math to mastery to students who are below grade level is challenging. Therefore, in my opinion 5th grade math is a beast! It's scary for the teacher who may be unsure of his/her own mathematical abilities, questioning how to teach the many abstract concepts to students in a clear and concise manner in which best practices are being used. Yet, also for the students who lack the mathematical schema, reasoning skills, mental math abilities, and confidence to tackle the 5th grade math expectations.
Here I will post direct links to the blog posts I have written which address various mathematical standards, mathematical practices, and mathematical strategies that will benefit both teachers and students.
