Data Folders + Multiplication = Success!

By kids learning their basic math facts, more difficult concepts will be easier to learn.  Adding/subtracting factions, finding lowest common denominators, or balancing algebraic equations all rely on basic fact knowledge.

While facts are so important, that's not all we do in math (actually we take a mere 10 minutes or so working on math facts and computation each day!).  Here's a look into these 10 minutes:

1.  Mental Math:  During this time, we review previously learned concepts, using it as a warm up time.  This unit, mental math has revolved around factors, multiples, fact families, and even prime numbers.

2.  ATTACK OF THE 6020s!:  Students have 60 seconds to answer 20 facts; each fact has a common multiple.  These are completely optional, as students who aren't ready to take them will not benefit from an impossible struggle.  However, if they opt out, those students will spend time practicing those particular multiples.  Once a student defeats a 6020, s/he gets to fill in that number on a data folder sheet.  It's a sweet one minute that is differentiated to meet each child's level!

3.  50-Facts Test:  This is the grandaddy of them all!  We only do these ever 3 weeks, and it is more of a progress tracker than anything else.  Students are given 50 facts to answer and three minutes to do so.  During the first minute, they cannot skip any problems.  In the last two minutes, they can work on problems they choose.  We then score and graph these in our data folders as well.  However many facts students answer correctly in the first minute is how much they will shade in blue.  Their total score for the entire three minutes is scored in green.  The picture below is a "typical growth" example.  Again, we will do this every 3 weeks, but it is a great way for students to see their growth over an extended period of time.

 

Include these three aspects with lots of fun math games, and I'm expecting all students to exceed their goals with math facts (and concepts!).  All of this, in turn, adds to their love of learning!

Community Building and Teamwork!

To help the students regain focus during our afternoon lessons, we have some interesting energizers that require teamwork, active listening, and lots and lots of fun!  I love having the kids work together to play these, and they have included anything from the Human Ladder to Musical Chairs (with a twist, of course).  If you're interested in the details, simply talk to your child!

There is only one chair left!

We've Lost Our Opposable Thumbs!

The students had a unique opportunity to appreciate how valuable the joints within our bodies really are. To aid this lesson, the kids taped their thumbs to the sides of their hands. Next, they were asked to complete a variety of tasks, including coloring pictures, tying shoelaces, and finishing a maze. Although the kids weren't thrilled about taking off the tape, they were relieved to have their opposable thumbs back!

Posing without opposable thumbs

More posing without opposable thumbs

Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Comma

One of my favorite lessons to teach in fourth grade involves place value.  The reason I enjoy teaching it is because of a sweet song I found a couple of years ago.  Just like "Call Me Maybe", you can tell when a song will stick in the kids' heads.  Once you've done that, they will never forget (I still have 5th graders coming up to me to tell them how they used these songs in their new grade!).  In "The Place Value Rap" by Rockin' the Standards, the chorus explains place value, and the refrain lists the place values...in one of the most addicting melodies ever.  I've posted two videos below to explain:

 

The first section of the song (it repeats two more times)

An explanation by the composer himself

Khan Academy Information

Khan Academy is a not-for-profit website that offers instructional videos covering anything from basic addition to matrices in Calculus.  While these instructional videos do not replace the value of quality classroom teaching, the site does provide an excellent opportunity for practice, motivation, and exploration.

http://www.khanacademy.org

Last year, 18 students within my class signed up for Khan Academy.  Of those 18, about 12 spend at least an hour of their personal outside-of-class time working on the website each week.  By the end of fourth grade, I even had one student who successfully worked his way up to developing skills in the area of Calculus (remember limits and functions?)  Signing up was easy as most parents had either a Google or Facebook account.  This year, Khan Academy can allow you to set up an account through their own website in addition to Google or Facebook!

If this is of interest to you (and I HIGHLY recommend it...math becomes incredibly motivating with this interface), sign up for an account and add me as a coach.  To do this, click on:

• Visit Profile --> Community --> Coaches --> Add a Coach --> Enter 'brandonjamesbauer@gmail.com' .  

This will allow me to track your child's progress and offer one-on-one instruction throughout the school year as it is needed.

I'm sure I will bug you about this again this school year.  I can't express enough how this provides free, organized, and motivating practice for all student.  It seems too good to be true, but my class accumulated over 2 million points last year (the equivalent of approximately 18 kids solving around 600 math problems each...woah!).

As always, if you have questions, please let me know - I'm posting two helpful links to the site below.  Happy calculating!

Official Website http://www.khanacademy.org/

60 Minutes - Khan Academy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxJgPHM5NYI