Christmas Grid Pictures

Today we had a Math test. The fourth graders did very well on the test which was over multiplication. Many of them still need to work on quicker recall of basic multiplication facts.

After the kiddos completed their test, they worked on mystery grid pictures. They used the clue sheets to create the pictures.

We spent some inside recess, time earlier this week, making these gigantic snowflakes to decorate our classroom.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas! I sure am looking forward to some rest and relaxation!!!!

Busy Fourth Graders

Almost every Tuesday and Friday we go to the library computer lab to work on math skills using the math website www.aleks.com. Each student has their own log in name and password. They can work at their own pace on various math skills to fill in their ALEKS "pie". Once a student fills one pie, they can move onto another pie. This website can be accessed after school hours from home as well. During some free time, several of the fourth graders used the iPads to work on ALEKS this week.

A fun math activity that we have been working on in October is coordinate grid pictures. The fourth graders used the clues to make a monster and an owl.

During our Spelling time we do various activities to practice the words on our lists. One activity is to use the website and iPad app called "Spelling City". There are games and practice tests for the students to use in order to master the spelling of the words.

These fourth graders are playing spelling games on the iPads.

"Hang Mouse" on SpellingCity.com

Fun Math Games

It's always a challenge for a teacher to make learning fun and interesting. It's also important to give students time to practice the skills they are learning so that they are able to master them. In my classroom I like to use games for this. I have slowly been adding games to their choices.

One such game is "24". There are 4 numbers on each card and the students have to come up with a way to make 24 by using any combination of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. The girls in the picture below have used the numbers 7, 5, 4 and 1 to make 24. (7x4=28; 28-5=23; 23+1=24.)

These girls are playing "24".  

The boys in the picture below are playing one of the many Frog Math games that we have. There are many different math skills that can be practiced playing these games.

Playing Frog Math games with friends.

 These girls are playing "Knock It Off". It is a multiplication game based on fact families. It's a fun way to get extra practice on the basic multiplication facts.

Playing the multiplication game "Knock It Off".

Math Nook

We just finished up our Math chapter on rounding numbers and money. That doesn't mean we won't be rounding again since all of these math skills we learn keep showing up in different areas. ;) I found this great website called MathNook (www.mathnook.com) the other day and more specifically the game called "Mathboat". It's a great way to practice the rounding skills we learned. We used our Mimeo interactive whiteboard and my new "toys" (a wireless keyboard and mouse) to project the game on the board and play it! Click HERE to play the game.

 

Some 4th graders playing the rounding game "Mathboat"
using the Mimeo and a wireless keyboard and mouse.
So fun!! :)

Sudoku and Snowballs in September

The fourth graders are getting pretty good at solving the easy Sudoku puzzles that I give them every week. Today they also worked on the medium 6X6 Sudoku with partners. We talked about how doing puzzles gives our brains exercise.

Working with partners to solve the medium Sudoku puzzle.

These Sudoku puzzles came from www.dailysudoku.com. 

We've really been working this week on rounding numbers and dollars. Today we did a fun activity called "Snowball Rounding". We had a snowball fight with paper snowballs and then rounded the numbers on the paper. It sure was a fun way to practice rounding! We concluded our math class with a quiz on rounding. Next week we will have a chapter test on rounding, comparing numbers, making change and bar graphs.

Some of our "snowballs".

Angles Not Angels

This week in math we are talking about lines, line segments, rays and angles. Today we used protractors to make angles and measure angles. We even used a protractor on abcya.com to measure angles! We used my iPhone to remotely type the answers on the board. 

Created with Padlet

Spring Fever

What's not to love about fourth graders? These sweet girls decided to organize my bookshelves for me. They were in a spring cleaning mood and are asking for more cleaning and organizing jobs every day. I love them! :)

 We are ready for warmer weather and OUTSIDE recesses. These silly guys played "Headbanz" during one of our MANY inside recesses.

 More inside recess fun!

 Being creative with the pattern blocks...

ALEKS and Seasons

Almost every Tuesday and Friday we go to the computer lab during our Math period to work on ALEKS. The fourth graders have been busy "filling up their pies" by answering math problems and practicing various math skills. They also like working on Quick Tables (like timed tests) to earn math games. ALEKS can also be accessed from home! 

This week we also added new posts to our Kidblog. The fourth graders wrote about their favorite season. If you'd like to see what they wrote and leave them a comment or two I'm sure they'd love it! Thanks! :) Click HERE to visit our Kidblog.

Question of the Week

This week the fourth graders answered our Question of the Week using the website Padlet. We went to the computer lab, found the link on my school webpage and the students answered the question by double clicking and typing their answers. Click HERE to view our Question of the Week.

Created with Padlet

Purchases

While in Des Moines watching my son and his teammates wrestle at the state tournament, we took a break for some shopping. What did I buy? A new pair of shoes? No! An outfit or two? No! I fed my book addiction and added to my "Pete the Cat" collection and also found a Dr. Seuss book that I didn't have! Always thinking about school I guess. :) I do love teaching 4th grade Math, but I miss the fun in first grade too!

A clever 4th grader gave Pete a calculator today! :)

Can't believe I didn't have this book yet in my Dr. Seuss collection. I didn't even know it existed!

Candy Hearts and Coordinate Grids

Today for Math we did some candy heart estimating. I filled three baby food jars with candy hearts and the fourth graders had to guess how many were in the jars. After counting the first jar the kids re-estimated the other two using the information they had from the first one. We discussed what made our guesses more accurate and compared the results.  At the end of the activity they wrote about what they learned...and ate some candy hearts, too! :)

Since the fourth graders enjoyed the coordinate grid pictures we made at Halloween and Christmas time, I decided to give them another chance at it for Valentine's Day. 

Last week when we went to the computer lab the fourth graders used the website ImageChef to create hearts. They typed things that they love and were able to choose the colors and font for their heart. Then, they saved the heart and inserted it into a Kidblog post. Check them out on our Kidblog!