During the first month of school, Math students will focus on building a strong understanding of place value and decimals. We will begin by reviewing how our base-ten number system works and then extend that understanding to decimals through the thousandths place.

Students will learn to read, write, compare, and round decimals; explain the value of digits based on their position; use powers of 10 to describe place-value relationships; and connect decimal place value to metric measurement. We will also begin applying these concepts to decimal addition and subtraction using models, place-value strategies, and written methods.

Throughout the month, students will solve word problems, explain their reasoning, use number lines and visual models, and practice Ohio State Test–style questions. Time will also be built in for review, fluency practice, quizzes, and reteaching as needed.

Our goal for September is not simply to perform decimal procedures, but to understand why those procedures work.