FLEX 4th Grade Math: Full Year of Mastery Method Math (Part 1 of 4)

*Please note: This is the first session of a FLEXIBLE SCHEDULED year-long 4th grade mastery method math course. There are NO live meetings for this class. 

Pre-recorded videos, interactive google slide presentations and links to Nearpod lessons and review games will all be posted in the Outschool Classroom, along with weekly homework assignments from the workbook, and special interactive assignments such as math scavenger hunts and create-your-own-story-problems.  Because of the small class size (8 students maximum), individual attention and individualized instruction is guaranteed!  This is a self paced class with each week's learning materials posted in the classroom at the beginning of the week. Taken as a whole, this course will offer a full year's worth of math at the general 4th grade level--focusing on gaining a deep understanding of the concept and application of division,  building mastery and fluency of the basic division facts, as well as “long” division. Basic geometry, place value, finding the average,  Money, measurement, basic geometry,  place value and their connection to multiplication will also be covered. 

This is a Mastery approach to math--each concept will be discovered, explored and practiced in a meaningful, in-depth way to achieve full understanding before moving on and connecting to the next topic. This approach is ideal both for students who love math and want to take a deep dive into each concept, as well as anxious math learners who get easily overwhelmed by jumping quickly between concepts and prefer to take their time to fully learn and understand each concept. In both cases, the mastery method can build confidence, create a positive math identity and set students on a trajectory of math success. Because of the small size of this class, I will be able to give each student the individual attention needed to ensure mastery. This course is geared towards the 4th grade student, but because the mastery method builds on previously internalized concepts and skills, specific age or assigned grade level is not as important as the prerequisite foundations of mathematical understanding, along with the maturity to handle online class and games.

**Specifically for this class, students should come with a solid number sense for whole numbers: adding, subtracting, and multiplying single and multi-digit numbers.  If you have questions about your learner’s placement level, please contact me. 

In this first 8-week session, we will use the topic of sharing (mostly food!) to explore the concept of division. We will begin by reviewing multiplication through arrays, area of rectangles, and discussing factors and products. We will then connect multiplication to division, learn the three symbols for division, and focus on tips and tricks for dividing by 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10.  To make real-world connections we will use visual models (such as food!) to help understand the concept of division. Basic geometry will also be included in this first session, including parallel and perpendicular lines, angles, quadrilaterals, and finding the area of rectangles and parallelograms.  

I want my students to feel fully engaged in the learning process--to find meaning, confidence (and yes, even joy!) in mathematical problem solving. To make math fun and engaging, I will be presenting lessons through interactive slides, which will include clear visual representations, virtual manipulatives, and connections to math in the real world. Additionally, I will be using applications such as Nearpod (nearpod.com) to create further opportunities for students to engage with the math material and with one another. Activities will include collaborative idea boards, typed or drawn responses, polls, matching games, quizzes and embedded games. These activities provide not only engagement and fun for students, but also give me as the teacher the opportunity for ongoing, informal assessment in order to check for mastery of each math concept.  

At the beginning of each week, I will post a video lesson of that week's topic, along with corresponding practice exercises, activities, games and homework assignments. Weekly topics are as follows:
Theme: Sharing
First Day of Class: Introductions, ice breakers, general math practice using Jamboard, Nearpod, and Blooket
Week 1 : Multiplication Review: arrays, rectangles, factors and products. 
    Additional Topics and Review: Solving for the unknown, strategies for word problems
Week 2: Division by 1 and 2, Symbols for Division
    Additional Topics and Review: Multiplication facts, (fact families, times table vs. division chart)
Week 3: Division by 10, Third Symbol for Division
    Additional Topics and Review: Measurement
Week 4: Division by 5 and 3
     Additional Topics and Review: Money 
Week 5: Parallel and Perpendicular Lines, Angles
    Additional Topics and Review: Adding multiple digit numbers with regrouping
Week 6: Division by 9
     Additional Topics and Review: Subtracting multiple digit numbers with regrouping
Week 7: Quadrilaterals and Finding the Area of a Parallelogram
     Additional Topics and Review: Identifying shapes, finding area and perimeter
Week 8: Division by 6
     Additional Topics and Review: Multiplying multi-digit numbers (box method and stacking)