Math in Grade 4
In my class, I teach mathematics in different ways. Students learn through group and independent problem-solving, discussions, and explicit teaching. When beginning to learn new ideas in mathematics, I encouraged students to recall information they have already learned. The Ontario curriculum builds upon math ideas each year and at times, new ideas and information is introduced. For example, in grade 2, students need to represent, order and compare numbers to 100 while in grade 3, students need to represent, order and compare numbers to 1000. In Grade 4, students need to represent, order and compare numbers to 10 000. During our math block (the last block of the day), students will partake in a variety of activities to learn and understand math.
Examples include:
1. Group problem-solving (at the whiteboards).
Sample problem: Represent 2378 in as many different ways as you can, with materials (ie. base-ten blocks could be used) and numbers (they could use addition, subtraction, etc)
Can they use systems that take advantage of place value? Can they rename the number in different ways? For example, many students will show 2378 using two thousand, 3 hundreds and 7 tens and 8 ones. Would they represent 2378 using 237 tens and 8 ones?
2. Class Discussions
I often pose a discussion and the students will debate. I often try to focus on a misconception or a mistake that students are making in math class.
3. Number Talks
This is another oral activity. It encourages mental math skills. Students learn strategies to compute numbers.
Example: 78+77 =
We could round 78 and 77 to 80, 80 doubled is 160 and then subtract 5. There are many other strategies that students will discover and be explicitly taught.
4. Independent Work
This is when students complete problems by themselves after we have covered an idea in mathematics.
5. Whiteboards at the carpet. "Math Warm-up"
Students begin each math class with a brief activity that they complete on small whiteboards at the carpet.
Being fast in mathematics does not mean students are fluent in mathematics. Students are constantly encouraged to explain their thinking and to 'dig deeper' when learning mathematics.
These are some of the teaching practices that I use in mathematics. What is important to note, is that we are continually cycling through ideas in the math curriculum. Students need lots of exposure and practice learning ideas in math to develop mastery.
Yours in learning,
T. Zulpo
Examples include:
1. Group problem-solving (at the whiteboards).
Sample problem: Represent 2378 in as many different ways as you can, with materials (ie. base-ten blocks could be used) and numbers (they could use addition, subtraction, etc)
Can they use systems that take advantage of place value? Can they rename the number in different ways? For example, many students will show 2378 using two thousand, 3 hundreds and 7 tens and 8 ones. Would they represent 2378 using 237 tens and 8 ones?
2. Class Discussions
I often pose a discussion and the students will debate. I often try to focus on a misconception or a mistake that students are making in math class.
3. Number Talks
This is another oral activity. It encourages mental math skills. Students learn strategies to compute numbers.
Example: 78+77 =
We could round 78 and 77 to 80, 80 doubled is 160 and then subtract 5. There are many other strategies that students will discover and be explicitly taught.
4. Independent Work
This is when students complete problems by themselves after we have covered an idea in mathematics.
5. Whiteboards at the carpet. "Math Warm-up"
Students begin each math class with a brief activity that they complete on small whiteboards at the carpet.
Being fast in mathematics does not mean students are fluent in mathematics. Students are constantly encouraged to explain their thinking and to 'dig deeper' when learning mathematics.
These are some of the teaching practices that I use in mathematics. What is important to note, is that we are continually cycling through ideas in the math curriculum. Students need lots of exposure and practice learning ideas in math to develop mastery.
Yours in learning,
T. Zulpo