4th grade Archives - Page 3 of 3

Division General Interest Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Real-World Problems Silent Math Word Problems

One Lesson, Two Pedagogical Mistakes

I believe strongly that mistakes are learning opportunities. At least that’s what I regularly tell students. But it sometimes feels different when the mistakes are mine . . . and especially when they are pedagogical mistakes that I make while teaching. That happened to me recently when teaching a lesson to fourth graders.

Marilyn BurnsJanuary 1, 2018

Games General Interest Multiplication Number and Operations

Multiplication Bingo

Will Multiplication Bingo guarantee that students learn the multiplication facts? No. But it will help familiarize them with factors and multiples, engage them in a game that involves both luck and strategy, encourage them to make conjectures, and have them use data to guide decisions. Plus, the game provides a way to send home information to families about how their children are being asked to think and reason in math class.

Marilyn BurnsNovember 28, 2016

Fractions General Interest Numerical Reasoning

Fractions on a Number Line

The fourth graders I’m working with on a regular basis are learning about fractions. During a class conversation, one student declared, “Fractions aren’t numbers.” Most of the others in the class agreed. I tried to help with the misunderstanding by teaching a lesson about placing fractions on a number line.

Marilyn BurnsMarch 16, 2016

Games Multiplication Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

The Game of Pathways

I like the multiplication game of Pathways. It engages students’ interest, helps develop their familiarity with the times table, and encourages them to think strategically. It's been a part of my teaching for a long time. Recently I came up with a way to introduce the game that made it easier for students to learn to play. It was a huge success. Read about what I did and how the students reacted.

Marilyn BurnsMarch 10, 2016

Data General Interest Number and Operations Real-World Problems Statistics and Probability

Alphabetical Probability

Read how 7th graders collected and analyzed data about the frequency of letters. They chose sentences, recorded the frequency of letters, and put their data on a class chart. Then we compared the class results to the actual frequencies of letters. Engaging the students in collecting their own data gave them an authentic math experience, not rigged by me in any way.

Marilyn BurnsOctober 18, 2015

Games General Interest Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Problem Solving Videos

Can You KenKen?

I’ve taught students in grade 2 through middle school how to solve KenKen puzzles. If you’ve never solved KenKen puzzles yourself, or haven't engaged your students with them, read about how I’ve introduced them in the classroom. But be warned: KenKen puzzles can be addictive.

Marilyn BurnsOctober 1, 2015

Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Word Problems

A Problem with a Word Problem

A word problem on a third-grade standardized math test didn’t call for a numerical answer, but instead asked students to decide if the problem should be solved by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing. One third grader complained to his teacher, frustrated because he thought there was more than one correct possibility.

Marilyn BurnsMarch 19, 2015

General Interest Math and Literature Numerical Reasoning Problem Solving

Connecting Math and Reading

Reading may seem like an odd subject for my math blog, but here I describe how my love of reading and math connected (and my confusion as an emerging reader about hearing voices). This post was included in Open a World of Possible, an anthology from more than 100 contributors that you can access as a free e-book.

Marilyn BurnsJanuary 22, 2015

General Interest Numerical Reasoning Problem Solving Real-World Problems

Math at the Deli

My friend Ann sent me an email about her unsettling experience at the supermarket deli counter. Ann has never felt particularly confident with her math ability, and I was pleased (and amused) that she asserted herself in this situation. Also, Ann’s comment to me about the work we face as math teachers rang true.

Marilyn BurnsJanuary 13, 2015

4th grade Archives - Page 3 of 3 - MARILYN BURNS MATH