Fourth grade is a very exciting time in math, and I am excited to be teaching this group of kids.  Fourth graders will be building on their knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with greater numbers, and will be applying algebraic thinking to solving problems. We will be building number sense, and we spend a lot of time discussing multiple strategies for thinking about problems, and will work collaboratively to learn how to defend reasoning to others.  Please know that we often spend a LOT of time building foundational understanding, and while it may seem faster to teach your kids the “quick” ways we all learned to solve problems, I ask that you resist this temptation!!! I will definitely teach standard procedures for long division and multiplication, but only after we have worked to establish a solid understanding of the underpinnings of those algorithms.  A GREAT resource I recommend is the book Old Dogs, New Math by Bob Eastaway.  It is a great resource for parents who are learning some of these new ideas along with their kids!  You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Old-Dogs-New-Math-Homework/dp/1615190279

I am passionate about math and math education, so please contact me if you have specific questions or would like more information about our new standards!