Developing a deep understanding of different math operations and estimation is essential...but we want students to be fluent with computation too, right? Students NEED computation practice--whether they use concept-based strategies or a standard algorithm. We also know that piling on worksheets isn't the best option. Students need a variety of experiences to do "computation practice" where the ... Read the Post
Multiplication Estimation Sorts
So...as you may know, using math concept sorts is one of my absolute favorite strategies to get students thinking and talking about math. I often used them sporadically in my units....sometimes as a "kick off" to see what they know...sometimes in the middle...sometimes as a review. Today I thought I'd use one of my sorts that we didn't get to earlier as a great test prep review of ... Read the Post
Candy, Prime Numbers, and Conjectures!
One thing that is a HUGE part of our curriculum in fourth grade involves multiplication concepts--facts, large number multiplication, measurement conversions, patterns, and more. Although my students had a LOT of exposure to multiplication concepts and facts in third grade, every year I feel it is worth my time to go back and make sure we are clear on a few things--like the ... Read the Post
A New Concept Sort! Multiplication Sorts
Helping my students organize their thinking and learning in different ways is very important to me. One method I have found to be very successful is to ask students to take work samples or problem types and sort them into categories. People who use Words Their Way do this all the time with students as they look for sound or letter patterns that help them understand how words are put ... Read the Post
Professional Learning Overload Day 1
So as some of you know, I am spending the first four days of this week at level 2 training for Math Recovery. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Math Recovery, I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it. If you are unfamiliar with it, CLICK HERE to get a little more information. I don't work for them or get anything for this post--I just feel very strongly about what they are doing ... Read the Post
Introducing Factors, Arrays, and More!
As I started to think about our next unit in math, factors/prime/composite numbers, I knew I wanted to dig in to the concept of multiplication using an array model to see what my students remember from last year. I took one of my favorite lessons from recent years and tweaked it--and I needed it to be "sub friendly" as I was going to be out of my classroom for a training. Here's how ... Read the Post