We're off to a great start in 4th grade! The new 4th graders have adjusted well to switching classes and teachers throughout the day and we're getting to know each other. What an awesome bunch of kids! I'm so excited to spend this school year with them!
The 4th graders will learn lots of new math skills this year, and we will build upon skills they have already learned in previous years. I have been reading and researching about the best ways to teach math. Of course, when you can make learning and practicing skills fun that always helps. One way to do that is by using puzzles and games. Greg Tang is a math guru that has created some math picture books, games and puzzles. He has a website that you might want to check out: gregtangmath.com.
We have been spending a few minutes at the beginning of each math class period doing a Greg Tang puzzle or game. Some of them require mental math, an important real-world skill. The one below is NumTanga. Ask your favorite 4th grader to tell you about it.
Here are some other ways we warm-up our brains at the beginning of math class. The 4th graders love these challenge picture equations!
They also love figuring out these "24 cards". You have to use all the numbers on the card to make the number 24. You can add, subtract, multiply and divide. Can you figure this one out?
