Monday, December 14, 2015

December 7-10

Hello 4th grade families,
This week in math we started out all about subtraction. The expectation in fourth grade is that students can use the standard algorithm for addition and subtraction for numbers up to 1,000,000. We reviewed partial difference and then worked with using the standard algorithm. We took an assessment on adding and subtracting using the standard algorithm this week as well. This week we are working on multiplication as comparison, saying that 6x4 is 6 times as many as 4. We are also working on word problems using this idea. The homework for this week will be:
Monday- Worksheet (there are no IXL assignments for this standard)
Tuesday-Thursday- No homework (we will be doing assessments and fun things for Christmas but it would be a good idea to practice math facts still!)

For our Christmas activity we will be making cookies! I will be making it a math activity with division and fractions but it will still be a blast! Keeping this in mind, I will be in need of some items that I am hoping I can borrow from some of you. Items I am hoping we can use this week: Baking pans (3), cookie cutters (Christmas themed if you have them), rolling pins (I only have one so 3 or 4 would be great), any sprinkles, frosting or other cookies decorating items that are not being used in your house. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any of these things we can use or just send them with your students. We will need this items by Wednesday but feel free to send things in Tuesday as well.

Thanks and have a wonderful week! Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 7, 2015

November 30 - December 3

Hello Fourth Grade Families,
It's been another wonderful week here in math! This week was a week of reviewing addition and subtraction. We started reviewing partial sum and partial difference but then dug deep into the standard algorithm for each. I like to show each method side by side so the students can see the two methods and how they are very similar and how the numbers are doing the same thing, we are just writing it in different ways.
I am going to be making a change in homework for Thursdays. Instead of giving an IXL assignment, I want the weekend focus to be practicing math facts. There is a page on this blog that is dedicated to math facts with websites and games (I'll be adding more). I will also send home new games on Thursdays as much as possible. My goal is that instead of worrying about completing an IXL assignment, your student will take that time to practice their math facts. I feel that in the long run, math fact practice will be more beneficial for the students.
The homework for this week will be:
Monday- IXL C.5 Choose numbers with a particular difference
Tuesday- IXL F.8 Mentally add and subtract numbers ending in zeros
Wednesday- IXL D.2 Multiplication facts up to 12: Find the missing factor
Thursday- Math fact practice
Thank you and have a fantastic week!