Are your students “Number Shoppers” instead of “Problem Solvers”? Try numberless word problems!

Jackie LeJeune May 27th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 1102 1

"Number Shoppers"....we've all encountered them: students who just plow through a story problem, pulling numbers out as if they were just grabbing their favorite snacks off the shelf and tossing them into a shopping cart; no regard for the value…

Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Relating Fractions to Decimals

Jackie LeJeune May 8th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 627 1

Digging deeper into decimal fractions? ...there is a CAP for that! View the "Train the Trainer" video on "Relating Fractions to Decimals" below to ensure that your instruction has truly met the depth of the 4th grade MAFS standards. Yes,…

Inside Mathematics Illuminates the Standards for Mathematical Practice

Jackie LeJeune May 3rd, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 2397 1

$Inside Mathematics Illuminates the Standards for Mathematical Practice$

Do you ever find it difficult to to wrap your head around what each of the 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice might look like in your specific grade level? Or do you struggle with how to incorporate the SMPs into…

Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th grade Equivalent Fractions

Jackie LeJeune May 1st, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 477 0

Students struggling with using fraction models to explain WHY two fractions are equivalent? ...there is a CAP for that! View the "Train the Trainer" video on "Equivalent Fractions" below to ensure that your instruction has truly met the depth of…

3 Strategies to Keep Math Convo Moving

Jackie LeJeune April 24th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 555 0

Most of us have some "go-to" questions to initiate math conversations..."How did you get that?" "Did anyone solve it another way?" "Does anyone disagree and why?"... But what do we do when that conversation dies out before our students discuss…

Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Division

Jackie LeJeune April 21st, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 425 0

Looking to build your content knowledge of 4th grade division strategies? YES...there is a CAP for that! View the "Train the Trainer" video on "Division Strategies" below to ensure that your instruction has truly met the depth of the 4th…

Nervous about Number Talks? Now is the time to give them a try!

Jackie LeJeune April 19th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 814 0

You most likely have heard the buzz about number talks, but the pressure of state testing may have had you feeling like you didn't have the time to implement them in your classroom...well no more excuses! The Mathematics Florida Standards,…

Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Multi-Digit Multiplication

Jackie LeJeune April 17th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 405 0

Have you checked out the CAP Parent Trainings on the Elementary Mathematics Icon? Don't worry....it's not too late! While it is true that these trainings were designed with parents in mind, each training also has an accompanying "Train the Trainer"…

FREE Common Core Aligned Online Interactive Math Practice

Jackie LeJeune April 13th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 594 0

Checkout these two FREE interactive websites for additional math practice: www.tenmarks.com and www.frontrowed.com Both websites allow you to set up a free teacher account. You can then enter in your student roster, assign specific standards-based practice to each student, and…

Keeping Math Fun During and After Testing

Jackie LeJeune April 12th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 381 0

Checkout this quick and easy read "Tips to Keep Math Fun During Testing" from the tenmarks.com blog.

Looking at Line Plots in 4th Grade

Jackie LeJeune April 3rd, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 782 0

In 3rd grade, students measured objects to the nearest half and quarter of an inch and displayed that data on a line plot. In standard MAFS.4.MD.2.4, 4th graders extend that learning to include displaying measurements to nearest half, quarter, and…

Engaging Computer Games to Build Multiplication Fact Fluency

Jackie LeJeune April 1st, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 476 0

Checkout these engaging online games to help increase fluency of multiplication facts. These games could be incorporated into a math block at school or accessed from home: Clear It http://www.abcya.com/clear_it_multiplication.htm Math-Man Mutliplication http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/mathman/mathman_multiplication10.htm Multiplication Blocks http://www.mathplayground.com/multiplication_blocks.html Number Trails http://www.mathplayground.com/number_trails_multiplication.html Kakooma…

4 Strategies to Engage ALL Learners in Mathematical Discourse

Jackie LeJeune March 31st, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 949 0

We know that today's math instruction is very different from our experiences as students. The teacher takes on the role of the facilitator, presenting students with problem solving scenarios and using students' sharing as the primary means of promoting understanding.…

Division Progression

Jackie LeJeune March 27th, 2017 Math Grades 3-5 403 0

The progression of division starts in 3rd grade...and it is crucial that students really develop a deep concrete understanding of division. If your 4th grade students are still relying on drawing pictures of equal groups with tally marks, they may…

Kids Confused by Conversions? Kick the Quick Tricks!

Jackie LeJeune March 24th, 2017 Math Grades 3-5 2108 1

Teachers are often wary about teaching measurement conversions through problem solving...we revert to mnemonic devices, tricks and chants rather than encouraging students to use the same problem solving strategies we have been trying to instill in them all year. Why…

But my 4th graders can’t tell time!

Jackie LeJeune March 24th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 484 1

Elapsed time is incorporated into the 4th grade standard MAFS.4.MD.1.2: Use the four operations to solve word problems involving...intervals of time...and represent intervals of time using linear models. But what do you do when your students can't tell time, let…

The Progression of Multiplication

Jackie LeJeune March 24th, 2017 Math Grades 3-5 395 2

By the end of 4th grade, students should be able to apply their understanding of place value and properties of operations to multiply a whole number of up to 4 digits by a one-digit whole number and multiply two two-digit…

Arrays, Area and Perimeter Game

Jackie LeJeune March 22nd, 2017 Math Grades 3-5 576 0

Checkout this interactive game "Area Blocks" at http://www.mathplayground.com/area_blocks.html ! This game is a fun way for students to relate area and perimeter to the operations of multiplication and addition. Students either play against the computer or another player to create…

Taking a Step Back to Support Students with Area and Perimeter

Jackie LeJeune March 22nd, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5 421 0

Are your 4th graders struggling with area and perimeter? It may be time to take a step back. Ms. Park noticed that her 6th (yes, SIXTH) graders were struggling with the concepts of area and perimeter, too. Watch the clip…

Depth of Knowledge Matrix for Elementary Mathematics

Jackie LeJeune February 9th, 2017 Math, Math Grades 3-5, Math Grades K-2 743 0

You may have read our earlier post "FSA-Preparing for Context Complexities" about the connection between Webb's Depth of Knowledge complexity levels and the FSA. This post alluded to the importance of taking the complexity levels of standards into consideration when…

Login

SMathSmarts Get Smarts in Science and Math

Author Jackie LeJeune