The fourth grade math program provides students with a broad background in mathematics. It embeds Connecticut Core Standards in a curriculum that is designed to foster mathematical thinking and understanding of mathematical concepts by relating them to real world experiences. Teachers will use a variety of strategies and approaches for classroom instruction. Our curricular resource is McGraw-Hill’s My Math. Students will also have online access to the resource materials from home.
Program highlights include:
A problem solving approach
Partner and small group activities to promote cooperative learning
Concept and skill development through hands-on learning
Opportunities to discuss and communicate mathematically
Math Standards:
The fourth grade math program covers the following content:
Operations and Algebraic Thinking: use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems, gain familiarity with factors and multiples, generate and analyze patterns
Number and Operations in Base Ten: generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers, use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic
Numbers and Operations in Fractions: extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering, build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers, understand decimal notation for fractions, and compare decimal fractions
Measurement and Data: solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit, represent and interpret data, understand concepts of angles and measure angles
Geometry: draw and identify lines and angles, classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles
For more information about each of the math units, please read the Family Letters posted on the Fourth Grade website.
Fact Fluency:
“Knowing” the basic number facts is as important to learning mathematics as “knowing” words by sight is to reading. In math class, memorization of basic facts is referred to as fact fluency. By the end of fourth grade children should master multiplication and division facts within 100 and know from memory all of the products of two one-digit numbers, as well as master the addition and subtraction facts (sums and differences) to 20. Children should be able to recall these facts quickly.
Basic number facts are taught and practiced in many different ways including playing mathematical games and working with fact triangles. Students should practice basic number facts for a few minutes every night. Basic number facts will be assessed through times test and a grade will be noted on the report card.
Fluency assessments will be given twice a semester beginning in the first trimester for grade four. The first assessment is given mid-trimester prior to the progress report being sent home and the second assessment is given at the end of the trimester. Practice opportunities are provided throughout the trimester to increase student performance. The report card reflects the highest grade the student earned for the trimester. Following are the specific fluency assessment reporting standards for fourth grade
Fourth Grade
Will correctly complete 55-60 addition/subtraction problems in 2.5 minutes
Will correctly complete 55-60 multiplication/division problems in 3 minutes
55-60: Met Expectation
25-54: Progressing Towards Expectation
0-24: Needs Improvement
Homework:
Your child will bring home math homework Monday through Thursday. Encourage your child to “teach” you the math skills and concepts he or she is learning. If your child appears to be confused with the homework, please write a note and return it to your child’s teacher. In addition, students will also have access to the IXL website for additional practice.