Welcome to Everyday Mathematics!

The District of Manchester has purchased a math program for elementary schools to help teachers and students improve not only computation of mathematics, but the reasoning behind mathematics. This may be new to many students and parents. I am looking forward to working together with students and parents to help them understand and use this program effectively.

Everyday Mathematics requires students to not only do math, but explain their thinking. For example, in unit 1 we are learning about geometry. Students are not only expected to identify and name lines, line segments, rays, polygons and angles, they must also explain how they are similar and different from each other.

An important part of this math program is the Student Reference Book or SRB. This is a hard cover book containing the explanations of how to do the math we will be learning. A weakness of 4th graders is reading directions and examples to obtain information. I need your help to show students how to use the SRB to answer their math questions. On every Study Link (math homework page) there is a picture in the top right corner of a book labeled SRB and some page numbers. This tells you where to look in the SRB to get help, examples and explanations of what is being asked on the homework page.This hardcover book is needed in class as well, so students bringing it home need to bring it back the next day. These books will be used by other students in the future, they need to be cared for with respect, and returned or replaced at the end of the year. I will find out the cost of this book for your information, should you need to replace it.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at dvilliard@mansd.org or 624-6321.

Thank you,

Mrs. Villiard

 

Basic Multiplication/Division Facts Digits 0-12 

In the 4th grade math curriculum, it is expected that 4th graders know these basic facts (4x9=36, 56÷7=8 etc…). We use these basic facts all the time. If students do not know them quickly, they will spend a longer than necessary time on their classwork/homework. PLEASE encourage your child to learn these facts by heart. I will provide extra practice multiplication/division pages to do at home at your request.

One of our families found these great web sites to help students learn basic multiplication facts.

Try them out!

Songs to learn basic facts:

http://www.vmathlive.com/timestables/default.asp?ID=%7B7f49494d-458a-4722-b983-3bf200ac0c8e%7D

Games to learn multiplication:

http://multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm