Number Bonds, Arrays, Tape Diagrams - Oh My! 3rd and 4th Grade Math Concepts

In this six-session course, learners will study how to use various strategies to help them better understand the concepts of multiplication and division. 

The strategies being taught will help learners to visualize the connections between numbers. The goal is to improve learners' number sense, which is making sense of part-whole relationships, thinking flexibly about numbers, and understanding that a problem can be approached in many ways. This understanding of numbers is much more powerful than simply memorizing facts, and will help students to form foundations for learning higher-level math skills later on. 

In each 30-minute class, we will spend 5 minutes on a warm-up activity, 5-10 minutes of the teacher demonstrating a new concept or skill, 5-10 minutes of practice where we all practice the concept together, and 10 minutes of work time, where students will demonstrate their proficiency with the skill.

I am a firm-but-gentle teacher. I insist on respectful conversations between all parties in class at all times. There are no mistakes in math, just learning opportunities. I often ask students why they chose a certain way to approach a problem, to increase awareness of their own thinking. Above all, I want students to feel confident and capable of their abilities in math. 

I am generally a "low-tech" teacher, often opting to use visual charts to help students remember concepts rather than using digital formats. I will also ask students to "talk through" problems with each other. I rarely mute microphones, as I find that students can learn from each others' thought processes. 

Topics Covered:
Week One - Arrays
Week Two - Number Bonds
Week Three - Tape Diagrams and Word Problems