4th Grade Math Quest

Back by popular demand . . . Math Quest!  Math Quest, which is set up like a game to engage and motivate, is designed to help students become competent, confident, and creative problem solvers.  Throughout the unit, students explore six problem solving strategies:

            · Guess and check

            · Look for a pattern

            · Work backwards

            · Make a picture or a diagram

            · Use Logical Reasoning

            · Make a table or a chart

            In collaborative teams and on their own, students use the problem solving strategies to solve problems.  Once a problem solving strategy is mastered, students use this strategy to create original problems.  By solving and creating problems, students can earn “travel dots,” which move them forward on our game board. 

            In addition to developing a repertoire of meaningful problem solving strategies, this unit also aims to help students:

            · understand, analyze, and answer word problems effectively

            · organize and illustrate their thinking

            · collaborate in positive and effective ways with their peers

            · apply a systematic process for problem solving 

As a class, we built the problem solving rubric you see below.  We discussed how both process and precision are essential to effective problem solving.  Students tried to create a rubric that valued both process and product.  Like any rubric, it is a living document and may evolve as we use it.  Stay tuned :-)

Ooh La La!

Our first round of Academies began today!  Many thanks to Marie Field for sharing her time and talents with some of our 3rd graders.  The focus of the first 3rd grade academy is learning French.  The kids had a terrific time!  (I am basing this on the big smiles throughout and the audible groans emitted when I said it was time to leave :-)  They learned colors, numbers, food names, body parts, sang songs, and more!

Students were selected to participate in the Academy based on an interest inventory completed at the beginning of the year and classroom data demonstrating a need for enrichment.  4th and 5th grade Academies will begin in October.  4th grade's focus will be leadership and 5th will be doing video game design.  Visit my web page to learn more about Academies at Bradley Creek.

Let's give it a go!

Let me start with a disclaimer - (just what you want from your child's teacher, right? :-)  I have never done a blog before, so bear with me!  If I can make it work (and my husband doesn't divorce me for taking on yet another endeavor), I think it will be a super cool way for me to show you some of the fabulous work your children are doing in AIG.

In 4th grade, we began with a hands-on activity to help us build a collective understanding of team work.  We were guided by the essential question: What makes a team successful?  Students were randomly put in groups and asked to use only 4 strings and a rubber band to create a pyramid out of Solo cups.  (Thank you Science Gal for the great idea!) They loved it! You can see from the pictures below just how seriously they took the task and how proud they were once they accomplished their goal!
    

We then used our experiences to generate a list of expectations for group work  Here's what the class came up with:

1. everyone participates
2. share your ideas
3. practice makes perfect
4. stay on task - concentrate
5. communicate - talk to each other

This list, as I explained to the kids, is a "living document," meaning that it will evolve as we work together and learn more.  Stay tuned!