Why Use Jing?

2009-2010

Welcome! We are well into the new school year. It has been quite some time since the last posting, so I am overdue. My students are learning many new skills and adding onto what was learned in third grade.

The curriculum that is being taught can be found by going to the Louisiana Department of Education website. Once there, locate the most requested drop down menu and find Grade Level Expectations; these tell all skills that must be covered in each grade level. In fourth grade math class, there are about 40 skills that are taught, so we work hard daily to make sure we are learning these concepts.

So far this year we have covered place value, rounding, estimating, addition and subtraction, patterns, equations, and now we are on multiplication. Multiplication is a big part of fourth grade; so please, students, make sure you are studying those facts and getting them memorized just as you memorize your phone number or lyrics to your favorite song. If you need assistance learning those, take a look at the numerous sites I have on my eBoard. While you are there take a look at the Student Spot tab and see if you can answer the word problems created by your fellow classmates.

Lastly, I would like to know what you all would like to see posted on my blog. Leave a comment and hopefully I'll get right on your request.

LEAPing for Joy

Today is the day!  LEAP scores have arrived and I am extremely proud of my students.  Eighty-two percent of my students have passed.  That is great results considering everything we all went through this year--new districts and schools, hurricanes and make-up days.  

We have learned many new skills this year and are now ready to move on.  Although the year has flown by, we have had some fun!  I want to thank all of my students for a wonderful year and I wish all of you the best in your futures.     

Does McDonald's Sell Cheese Burgers?

     Of course they do!  But we use that saying to help us remember the steps to division:  Does-Divide, McDonald's-Multiply, Sell-Subtract, Cheese-Check, Burgers-Bring Down.  Remember those steps and KNOW your facts and division should be a cinch!  

     Division is often such a daunting task to master.  I find the main problem to be that students do not know their times tables which in essence is division backwards or vice versa.  In fourth grade mathematics there are over 60 skills that are taught.  So in the classroom, time is limited to only focus on basic math facts.  Math facts must be studied and memorized until all are mastered without the use of drawing pictures, using hand tricks, and all the rest.  It should be something that comes naturally like after learning to spell your name, or ride a bike, or drive a car.  Once you learn, you don't forget!  

     Therefore,  I am asking that students study nightly until all facts are conquered and mastered.  Research shows students who know their facts are more likely to succeed in all strands of mathematics.  It's much like reading and comprehension.  Only if students know how to read will they be able to comprehend what they are reading.  My e-board contains numerous websites and ideas to practice math facts.  The address to my e-board is: www.mbouvier.jppss.site.eboard.com.  Please take a look and help your children succeed in math class.

  

...97, 98, 99, 100

     On February 2, 2009, Ella C. Pittman held the annual 100th Day of School Celebration.  As students entered their appropriate hallways, teachers counted them one by one in search of the 100th person.  Two winners were declared.  Lexus, a fifth grader,  from the fourth and fifth grade hall and Patrick, a second grader, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade hall were both awarded with a $20 gift certificate to Wal-Mart.  What an easy way to earn $20!  Neither student had a clue what they did until being told about our search for the 100th person on the 100th day of school. 

     In addition, teachers planned lessons honoring the 100th day of school celebration.  In Mrs. Lay's math class, students made a bag of gorp  (good old raisins and peanuts) otherwise known as trail mix.  Students created their gorp from peanuts, chex cereal, and m & ms along with four other items to choose from.  Once the bags were made with 100 items, students had to find the fractional amount of each item in addition to the decimal and percent equivalents of each.  As one student said, "This is why I like math; it's fun!"  And that is what it's all about.

AM Does Not Only Stand for Morning

Last week, we began each class with ten minutes of AM.  No, not ten minutes of morning; ten minutes of Accelerated Math (AM).  After assigning objectives that have been taught, the computer prints individualized practice exercises for students to complete at their own pace.  Once completed students then scan their card in the card reader.  The AM program immediately corrects the student's answers, prints out a TOPS report showing the student's score and wrong answers, and lastly prints out a new practice exercise based on their results.  I can then use that information to assess which students are mastering the skills and which students need reinforcement.  

To motivate students to do their best, I have set the goal at 80%.  Some students' goals will be raised or lowered based on their needs.  If a child reaches that goal, he or she will be rewarded with a prize/treat.  So far, I see real progress being made as the students master objectives.  As we continue using AM, I hope to see scores raised on the upcoming LEAP test.