My amazing fourth grade math students took a quiz this past Monday so that we could do a check-in on their two- and three-digit multiplication skills. They had four multiplication problems to work along with two very involved multiple-step word problems. I was extremely impressed by their work on the multiplication problems. They have the technique down! My biggest advice for them going forward is that when they work the big multiplication problems, they also do quick estimations to check the reasonableness of their answers.

They also jumped right in and tackled the word problems, but I have to tell you - the problems were tricky! So yesterday we walked through both of the problems together and had quite a lively discussion about how to solve them. We also discussed in depth why their answers were either on the right track or - alternatively - where their answers got off track.

Want to try your hand at the word problems? Here they are:

1. Aubree wants to buy a new video game system that costs $299 and three games that cost $49 each. To earn money for her new system, she works 5 hours a week after school and is paid $7 per hour. How many weeks will she have to work to buy the system and games?
2. John Ryan and his family are taking a vacation to Costa Rica. They will take an airplane that leaves at 7:00AM and travels 635 kilometers per hour. The distance from San Diego to San Jose, Costa Rica is approximately 4,200 kilometers. What time will they arrive in Costa Rica?

I’m sending the quizzes home in the students’ math notebooks, so please take a look and see how your child did. If you have any questions, give me a shout.

Our next adventure will be into the world of division. Most students are now quite fluent with their multiplication facts, and having those facts (at least through the 9s) down pat will be even MORE important with this next unit on division. We’ll start with single-digit division but will move really quickly into multiple-digit division. And along the way we’ll continue working on problem-solving with a focus on problems that involve multiple operations and steps. We’ll also continue to work on beginning algebra throughout this unit.

On a personal note: Your kids are terrific! They come to our class time every day with smiles on their faces, ready to face whatever challenges I throw at them. And while they take math very seriously, they also seem to be having fun with it. Fourth grade math is a bright spot in my day and I hope it is for your children, too.