Hi, families. As you may have noticed, this past week our 4th grade level math students have been introduced to multi-digit multiplication problems. We are taking some extra days just to get the steps practiced - over and over as much as we can. (First, 1 digit times 2 digit numbers, then 1 digit times 3 or 4 digit, followed by 2 digit times 2,3,4 digit numbers - have your student show you in their journals and studylink pages). This has been a big, new skill for most of our kids. Any extra problems you can throw at them throughout the next days and weeks, the better! They all need the practice!
Here's a special note for all parents who may wonder about different ways these problems are solved: You will see pages in their books practicing both "partial products" and "lattice" methods. I have looked into 5th grade and beyond math curriculum, and after this year, these methods are not used any more. Therefore, after reminding our students how these methods work (and some kids really like them and can find them useful), we are pretty much abandoning these alternative methods and sticking with the faster and more efficient "traditional" method to solve mult-digit multiplication problems. If any parents feel 'rusty' with this, let me know - I have a step by step guide sheet illustrating the traditional, and can send one home.
I must say here that for any 4th grader who has still not mastered his/her basic multiplication facts, this stage of math is very frustrating and difficult. It is one thing to master the steps of new and longer problems, and then add to that the inability to recall the facts themselves, it makes doing this work incredibly difficult and tedious. I urge all families to give special attention to your child's ability to know their basic facts with quick recall and accuracy - practice as often as you can together - even odd moments in the car, etc., ask what 6 x 9 is, 7 x 8......and so on! Not being proficient with facts in all four operations will also be crucial when we will soon get to long division problems and fractions. Like I tell the kids, this is not going away - they will need to use their facts all through their school years and lives, so it is worth the extra effort in 4th grade. I think some of our kids hope this will all just sort of 'sink in' to them without having to work and practice! THANK YOU for your extra support with this subject!!!
On a more triumphant topic, our classroom has won the West Middleton Box Tops for Education Contest! Therefore, this coming Monday, December 15, there will be no need to send in lunches for our 4th graders! The PTO is treating us to a pizza lunch, with juice boxes and cookies! Woohoo!! Thank you for your support at home - we collected 3,029, more than double the next place winners!
Report cards are coming home today! Please remember to sign the envelope and send that back to school next week. You may keep all the papers inside that envelope.
Next Wednesday at 12:30 is the Winter Tea. Our time is 12:30, with the first 10 minutes of singing from our 4th graders, and the rest of the time to munch treats and have a visit with everyone. All family members are welcome! Students are asked to dress nicely that day, but also remember they do have one outdoor recess after lunch, too.
We have earned our second Reward Day in Room 117 - having collected another 25 compliments from staff throughout the building for model behavior! Way to go, 4H Kids!! We will use the last day before Winter Break to have lots of reading time, some game time, a movie time, dress in comfy clothes, bring a pillow or small blanket, and have treats!! Early next week, I will contact all parents who offered snacks for that day, and get organized. Thank you!
Enjoy the weekend! Melanie Hannam
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