Oct. 15th

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Thank you to all the families that attended our listening conferences on the 2nd and the 8th! It was great to hear about our children’s strengths and learning styles. In math, we have been working on place value concepts during our first math unit. Place value is an important building block on our way to understanding using the mathematical operations in a meaningful way. I have enjoyed getting to know your wonderful children during our first math unit and look forward to seeing their progress throughout the school year.

I wanted to update you on a few math items. Bethesda has been asked to pilot the math program TenMarks. Many Bethesda math teachers used the complementary version of TenMarks in the last couple of years. With the pilot, there are additional features to help personalize learning as it is a paid version. Since our building is getting the paid version, we have not been given student access to IXL. for 4th graders. TenMarks provides question types that are more aligned to the Smarter Balanced assessment that is replacing WKCE.. Smarter Balanced includes multi-step problem solving and questions that require students to explain their thinking. TenMarks will support student preparation for this type of assessment and increase their proficiency with the 8 Common Core Mathematical Practices.

Your child was given their login and password information for TenMarks and started working on the 4th grade pre-assessment. Most students have completed this assessment and are now working on assignments and personalize sessions based on the information from the pre-assessment. You should also receive the TenMarks parent letter today. TenMarks can be accessed through their website or an app available in the app store.

Math Facts

I had many conversations with families about deciding what works best for you and your children for practicing math facts. Some families like to practice using a set program, some like to use flash cards and others have personalized practice systems., so we will be doing a combination of those. The fourth grade teaching team has been recently introduced to a new online resource, Mobymax. This resource includes an online math fact practice component that includes progress updates and teaches strategies.  The feedback about the math fact practice that I received from our students was positive and we are going to use it as one math fact practice resource in class and on some nights for the 15 min. math fact practice. On the days that Mobymax is not assigned for math facts, then your child may do a choice math fact activity.

Thank you for being a part of your child’s progress in math this year and for your support at home!

Mrs. Driscoll