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News and Notes

From Fourth Grade

Find Out What It Means to Me

Every couple of weeks the fourth graders read biographical information about a "great mind."  This is someone who has changed the world by using their thoughts and actions.  It could be a famous athlete, musician, scientist, or activists.  Recently we've learned about a few great minds who all have a common theme of respect.  These great minds include Malala and Gandhi.  In connection with our recent work in persuasive writing, the fourth graders have begun persuasive writing pieces on the importance of respect.  Using their own life experiences as well as the information they have gathered from different historical and contemporary figures, the fourth graders are building a strong defense of the idea of respect.  As we work our way through the writing process, it is certain that everyone will learn more about what respect means to the fourth graders!

A Part

In math we've been working our way through the stages of understanding to develop a strong foundation for long multiplication.  The fourth graders have discovered a great deal about the two essential "tools" in their mathematician's tool belt: place value and math facts.  We've looked at how geometry (and specifically the formula for finding the area of a rectangle) is related to multiplication.  This week we moved into what is often called the "partial products" method of solving long multiplication problems.  In this stage of the process, we've begun applying our math facts and place value concepts to the steps of long multiplication.  We record each individual "partial" product below the long multiplication problem and then add all the parts together to get the final product.  The level of awareness of place value concepts in the fourth grade classroom is extraordinary.  It seems clear that they are not only well on their way to becoming proficient multipliers, but also have grown tremendously in their understanding of place value, which will help in long division, fractions, and decimals.  How exciting that learning the process toward multiplication in parts is helping develop these fourth graders into strong all-around mathematicians.

We're All in This Together

The colonies have been formed.  The "wealth points" are being earned.  The simulation is well underway.  As we enter our study of Colonial America, we start with a time of groups working together to act out the history we're discovering.  The fourth grade colonies will work together to prepare, set sail, land, and establish colonies in the "New World."  This simulation is a great chance for students to understand on a more tangible level the experiences of the people we are studying.  We discover quickly that the colonists had to work together to survive and thrive.  Important lessons of cooperation are interwoven in this hands-on history experience.