As many of you know, we spent much of Marking Period 2 studying the multiplication tables, division facts and the relationship and number sense relating to the two. We have spent the class time to really establish the foundation of understanding what multiplication means and how to solve more complex multiplication problems so that in the (near) future they are ready for multi-digit multiplication and long division.
Though we have spent all of the time with manipulatives and hands-on experimentation with numbers to develop this understanding, the time has come that all of our students need to be memorizing their multiplication facts. I continue to emphasize to students that there is no way to just "know" their times tables and the only way for them to pass our weekly timed quizzes is to practice, practice, practice! They are expected to begin 4th grade knowing all of their 0-12 facts. This is truly necessary for their success at higher-level mathematics: it is simply too time consuming and therefore frustrating for a students to solve a long division problem if they do not know their facts and are using pictures and tricks for each problem.
Please work with your child on flashcards, timed quizzes printed from online, and online games to practice these facts. We are taking weekly timed quizzes and monitoring our progress in our portfolios. In class, students quiz each other using flashcards, play multiplication games, such as BINGO, and use websites occasionally during choice time to practice these facts.
We have also been practicing our measurement skills and students took home a short measurement extra credit assignment tonight that is due Friday. Here they are in class today, measuring to the nearest half and quarter inch on the ruler. This goes along nicely with our study of fractions and identifying fractions on a number line.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
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