Strategy of the Month (May)
You can help your child be a math whiz with decimals! Decimals can often be confusing for fourth graders. The place value terminology (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) sounds like the whole value place names (tens, hundreds and thousands) and to make things even more complicated instead of increasing in value, the decimal place values decrease as you move to the right of the decimal point! You can help your child learn to use decimals by using some of the hands-on activities below. Remember to incorporate decimals into the activities you do around the house as well: measurement, money and cooking are all excellent opportunities for connecting decimal math to real life! This is a card game that uses both multiplication and decimal skills. You just need some small boxes and a deck of cards to get started. http://www.education.com/activity/article/box-shot/ This activity helps your child understand the connection between money and decimals Again, not much needed for materials just a deck of cards and some paper and pencils to keep score. http://www.education.com/activity/article/make-a-buck/ Here's a slightly more challenging activity for those students who are already feeling comfortable with decimals. It requires the use of percentages as you to purchase shoes in a matching game. You will also need a few extra craft supplies like scissors, rulers and markers. http://www.education.com/activity/article/shoe-sale/ You won't need to go any farther than your own kitchen to play this game. It will help you child see the connection between fractions and decimals by comparing amounts of food items in your pantry. http://www.education.com/activity/article/play_pantry_math_fourth/ Understanding how to use a budget is an important life skill. Give your child some real world experience with decimals and help them to practice their addition and subtraction skills, too. All you need for this activity is some sale catalogs or the ad section of a newspaper. http://www.education.com/activity/article/teach_decimals_on_budget_fourth/ |
Preparing for Testing - Confidence is the Key!
We know that confidence plays a large part in our ability to be successful on a test. Of course, we also need to be able to focus, maintain stamina, stay organized and be well-versed in the content area, but self-confidence provides that extra little something that can allow us to approach test taking with a positive attitude. One excellent strategy for helping your child be more confident about the end-of-grade math assessments coming up in June is to provide him/her with plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of question types, problem scenarios and vocabulary uses so that there are no surprises on the day of the test. Everyone has experienced the panic that ensues when we encounter a test question that looks totally unfamiliar to us. Preparing your child to feel good about whatever questions he/she may come across on the assessment is a wonderful way to support him/her and prevent a stressful environment for the test. Keep in mind that over-testing is not the goal of this strategy. Students will quickly become bored, stressed or unmotivated if forced to sit for long periods of time doing test practice. As with any skill acquisition strategy, the best course of action is frequent, small doses that promote learning and internalizing the material. Tracking progress with sticker charts or graphs will help to provide motivation and increase confidence. Believe it or not, weak vocabulary and reading comprehension skills are one of the most often cited student reasons for difficulty with math problem solving. As your child uses the test prep sites below, be sure to check in frequently with him/her to make sure he/she can explain what the problem is asking. Have your child re-state the problem in his/her own words before beginning to solve it. Underline key words and explain the strategies used in the solution. These habits will translate into higher confidence and increased scores - making both you and your child proud! NOTE: These assessments are not from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The intent of these links is to provide students with a variety of question types and responses to broaden their understanding and increase their confidence. http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/ http://www.parcconline.org/samples/mathematics/grade-4-mathematics http://www.parcconline.org/computer-based-samples |
Strategy of the Month (March)
You can help your child become a math pattern detective! Patterns can be found throughout all subject areas. In language arts, rhyming words display letter patterns. In science, we study animal patterns that are used as camouflage. In social studies, we analyze economic patterns to predict future trends. Detecting these patterns helps to improve our logical thinking skills. Number patterns and geometric patterns are a part of our fourth grade curriculum in math. Students must utilize several critical skills in order to be an excellent pattern detective. These skills include strong number sense, ability to choose appropriate operations, accuracy in calculations, knowledge of geometric figure characteristics, and logical problem solving. As the patterns become more complex, it is also essential that students are willing to persevere. It is often necessary to step back and view pattern problems in new ways in order to solve them. You can use a set of geometric shape blocks to help your child increase his or her pattern detective skills. Check out the links below to see some ideas for simple patterns. Create the first few items in the pattern with the blocks, then ask your child to find the next item. As your child improves this skill, you can make it more challenging by asking for the tenth item or the fifteenth item. Can your child explain the rule for the pattern? Can your child use the rule to find items in the pattern without having to build them first? NOTE: If you do not have shape blocks, you can draw the patterns. http://www.mathwire.com/algebra/icecreamcones.pdf http://www.mathwire.com/algebra/shipsahoy.pdf http://www.mathwire.com/algebra/rockets.pdf |
Developing Algebra Skills
Build your own function machine! Algebra concepts can often be tricky for fourth graders. Variables or unknowns in equations look scary and without the right strategies students can easily become frustrated, confused and lost. One way to give your child a more concrete idea of what algebra is all about is to build a function machine. Here's how: 1. Cover a shoe box with paper. 2. Label one end "Input" and the other end "Output" 3. Make a set of index cards with simple algebraic functions on them. For example, a + 7 = b. The a represents your input and the b represents your output. Start small - just create a few functions to demonstrate the idea to your child. After some practice, let your child create the cards and you can use this activity as a game. 4. Make a set of index cards with numbers on them for the input and another set of index cards with numbers on them for the output for each function. Remember, to make sure that you have a matching output for each input! It might be helpful to use different color cards for input and output. 5. Have your child place one of the function cards on top of the box. Then, have your child choose one of the input cards and lay it at the end of the box labelled input. Ask your child: what will happen to the number when it goes through the machine? Have your child look at the corresponding set of output numbers for this function and choose the correct number. 6. To create more challenging ways to play this game, you can show your child an input number and an output number and have him or her try to match the correct function card to them. Or, you can create functions with multiple operations. Here is a fun on-line function machine to play with as well: http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/amy/algebra/3-4/activities/functionmachine/functionmachine3_4.html |
Strategy of the Month (February)
You can help your child become a math planner! There are many jobs both at home and in the work force that require us to use math planning skills in order to be successful. One of these crucial planning skills involves the use of two important measurement concepts: area and perimeter. These measurements can often be confusing to fourth graders especially when they are applied to more complicated figures. Engage your child in some planning activities around your home and help him/her to see that area and perimeter are more than just vocabulary words from math class. They are valuable skills that can be used every day outside the classroom! Activity 1: Make a plan for fencing in your backyard. Which measurement concept are you using area or perimeter? How will you decide what to measure? Can you find the price per foot of the fencing? How much will this project cost? Activity2: Make a plan for putting new carpet in your living room. Which measurement concept are you using area or perimeter? How will you decide what to measure? Can you find the price for the carpet? What do you notice about the measurement listed in the price of the carpet? Why is it written that way? Activity 3: Make a plan for painting your child's bedroom. Which measurement concept are you using area or perimeter? How will you decide what to measure? Be sure to emphasize the cost factor here - remind your child that you won't be painting over windows or doorways. How can you account for those measurements so that you don't purchase too much paint? Consider taking your child to the store to actually look at different paints and read the labels to find out how much area is covered by the various types and brands of paint. Activity 4: Make a plan for putting new tile around the shower or bathtub. Which measurement concept are you using area or perimeter? How will you decide what to measure? For this project, you could also explain to your child about standard measurements - each tile you are using is has the same area. Can your child use this concept to figure out how many tiles would be needed to complete the project? |
Let's Get Cooking With Math
Using fractions in the kitchen Recipes are the perfect method to practice fraction skills in a fun and relaxed way. Of course, most recipes contain fractions in the list of ingredients. But, don't stop there! Fourth graders learn about adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions as well as concepts like improper fractions, mixed numbers and equivalent fractions. You can incorporate all these concepts into your culinary activities. Here are some suggestions: 1. By doubling or halving recipes you can encourage your child to think about using different operations (like adding, subtracting or multiplying) while working with fractional amounts. 2. Pretend that you only have a 1/4 cup measuring cup to work with for the recipe. How many 1/4 cups will it take to make 1/2 cup? to make 1 whole cup? Can you and your child turn other amounts in the recipe into more complicated equivalent fractions? 3. If a recipe calls for 1 1/3 cups of flour, can your child turn that mixed number into an improper fraction by explaining how many 1/3 cups it is equivalent to? Can your child write the improper fraction for that mixed number? Be sure to use accurate math vocabulary when talking about the fractional amounts. Here are some websites to get you started. Happy Cooking! http://library.thinkquest.org/J002328F/ http://www.education.com/slideshow/recipe-fractions/ And here's a fun video to watch too! |
Strategy of the Month (December)
You can help your child make math connections! Although we often teach math skills and concepts separately, it is very important for students to understand the connections between them. You can help your child understand how geometry and algebra skills are connected with this simple activity. Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise and then in half horizontally. You will have divided the paper into four sections. Use a pencil to draw over the perpendicular lines. Using a straight edge, divide the first section (which is in fact a 90 degree or right angle) into two smaller angles. Measure one of the angles using a protractor and write its measurement on the paper. Now ask your child to write an equation to solve for the measurement of the other angle. Tell your child that the equation must have a variable or blank in it to represent the unknown measurement. Finally, have your child solve the equation to find the measurement. If he/she solves it accurately, a point is scored. Now trade jobs with your child. He/she will divide the second section into two angles and do the measuring. You will write the equation and solve. To increase difficulty with this activity, divide each section into three angles. Measure two of the angles and solve for the third. |
Mathematicians Talk the Talk
Using Accurate Vocabulary to Explain Ideas During our unit on geometry, we discovered that it was easy to become confused and overwhelmed by the many new vocabulary terms that were needed to describe geometric figures and relationships. Working with your child to create a set of vocabulary flash cards or a picture dictionary is a terrific way to help him/her recognize and recall these terms. Rather than doing this project all at once, it would be best to spread the work out over several weeks. This will help to prevent your child from becoming overwhelmed. And, of course, frequent reviews will help him/her commit the concepts to long term memory. The following list includes the major terms from this quarter: polygon, quadrilateral, perpendicular, parallel, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, parallelogram, trapezoid, acute, obtuse, straight angle, right angle, complementary angles, supplementary angles, line, line segment, ray, angle, perimeter, and area. |
Strategy of the Month (November)
You can help your child become a resourceful problem solver! In fourth grade, students become multi-step problem solvers. They may be asked to use several operations and strategies within a single problem solving opportunity. In order to be successful with this complicated skill, students must not only be accurate with math computation skills, but they must also use critical thinking and logical reasoning skills to find solutions. Help your child to improve this skill by showing him/her the many steps you take when solving problems in your daily life. Think aloud with your child about the math and reasoning skills that lead you to a solution. Create a challenge for your child by asking him/her to find a solution to a real-life problem then compare his/her solution to yours. Is one solution better than the other? Why? |
Visual Skills in Math
Beyond Number Sense and Computation In our geometry units, students will be improving their spatial skills by learning about angle and line relationships. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to explore concepts like parallel and perpendicular lines, complementary and supplementary angles and measurement of unknown angles. There are many ways that your child can apply these skills. By using rulers, carpentry squares and protractors, students can design building projects that require them to identify and measure angles and draw straight lines so that the project's pieces fit together. Home improvement projects give your child a chance to apply academic skills to the real world. Have fun working together! |
Strategy of the Month (September)
You can help your child become a more confident mathematician! We are beginning our unit on multi-digit multiplication and division. Students often struggle with these skills because they are not fluent and proficient with basic multiplication and division facts. You can help your child become more confident with these essential basic skills by encouraging him or her to practice for a short amount of time every day. Vary the practice sessions with flash cards, multiplication challenges, website practice, songs and puzzle activities. You can even track progress with a sticker chart to increase motivation! |
Technology Opportunities
Managing Student Learning with Technology We will be using some wonderful websites that offer video tutorials, guided practice opportunities, and quizzes - all to help the students review, improve and extend their math skills. Each student will be assigned to the program and skills that meet his or her needs. I will communicate with parents to let them know which programs their child should use. All of the skills are directly linked to the core curriculum standards. Be sure to check in on your child to stay aware of the progress he or she is making. Links for both websites are listed below: www.studyisland.com learnzillion.com |
Strategy of the Month (August)
You can help your child become a better mathematician! Mathematicians use mental math strategies to check for reasonableness of solutions. One important mental math strategy that we have practiced this month is estimation. Students can continue to use this strategy at home in a variety of ways: grocery shopping, recipes, measurement. Daily practice of math concepts will help students to retain these skills and become stronger independent problem solvers. |
Level 4 Opportunities
Challenging Students to Solve Real World Problems Students will have opportunities during each of our math units to apply the skills and strategies they are learning in class to a long term project. These projects will require students to independently plan,organize and explain solutions to multi-step, authentic problems. They will communicate their ideas using specific math vocabulary. Encourage your child to speak and write like a real mathematician at home, too! |
Check out these resources to help strengthen your child's math skills and confidence!
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activities.aspx?grade=all&standard=all (linked to Common Core standards)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-lines/addition-10.html (fun games to practice and review skills)
http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/ (interactive dictionary of math terms)
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me5l/html/math5.html (math videos)
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activities.aspx?grade=all&standard=all (linked to Common Core standards)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-lines/addition-10.html (fun games to practice and review skills)
http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/ (interactive dictionary of math terms)
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me5l/html/math5.html (math videos)