The purpose of this page is to contain math strategies used throughout the year in our math class.

Recently we have been working in class to distinguish between efficient and appropriate strategies. As a 3-5 math team, we have decided upon the following common rubric:

Strategy level 0 =  not an appropriate grade 4 strategy [ n’est pas appropriée]

Strategy level 1 = appropriate strategy (acceptable, but are more efficient) [approprié]

Strategy level 2= efficient strategy (less steps, quick to work out) [éfficace]

Representing Numbers:

Addition and Subtraction Strategies:

Just a note- Strategy development occurs in a process, starting with concrete and pictorial    phases (grade 3), then developing a personal strategy and working with alternate algorithms in grade 4. Personal strategies, as shown on the sheet below, need to be developed before the traditional algorithm. As referenced from curriculum, “ Rushing to teach the standard algorithms too soon will result in students with no tools [personal strategies]. But in the end, students will need the efficient standard algorithms as tools in their toolkit for middle school and beyond.These final algorithms can certainly wait until the end of the school year, long after the earlier concepts are explored and practiced.” Traditional algorithms will be explored in the future, but as of right now, developing personal strategies is the focus and expectation. 

 

Multiplication Strategies

By the end of grade 4, students should have quick recall of all multiplication and related division facts. Below are strategies to help students learn their facts. Once students have memorized their facts, they still should be capable of effectively using these strategies in terms of showing their thinking or explaining how to find unknown facts to others. 

 

Multiplying and Dividing larger numbers

http://www.scribd.com/doc/218586420/Our-Multiplication-and-Division-Strategies