We need to talk...about MATH

Dear Parents,

I need to send some emails to clarify and explain some things now that we are halfway through the first trimester. Please keep in mind that the progress reports that just came home are just that...progress reports, and NOT report cards. These are to let you know approximately where your child is at this point in the trimester, but there is still a lot of time to bring those marks up. The 1st trimester ends on November 12th.

First, Math...

Our math grade consists of 2 things, classwork (40% of their grade) and tests (60% of their grade). The classwork comes primarily from our workbook pages following each math lesson, and the tests are made from the California State Standards based on each chapter. We have had 3 tests so far this trimester on chapters 1/2, 3/20 & 4, respectively. Each lesson thoroughly covers each standard and we practice them in class on our white boards before they are assigned the workbook page to do independently. Then, the day before each test is spent reviewing the material taught during that chapter, even showing them the actual test and questions that are on it, and a pretest is assigned for homework the night before in order to reinforce those skills again. The day of the test, we go over the pretest (which many times even has some of the EXACT same questions as the test) together to review again IMMEDIATELY before we take the test. Then the test is given. On 2 of our 3 tests so far, I have had students who have scored lower than a 70% retake the test. That's why you may say those marked that way on their tests.

As I have told the class many times, many of the skills we do in 4th grade, especially up to this point in the year, are just building on what they did last year in 3rd grade, such as place value, rounding and estimating, addition and subtraction, etc. Many of the students have some pretty low grades so far, and many of you have asked what can be done to help them.

First of all, I do not give extra credit. The students need to learn how to be responsible with the work they are given to do, and to arbitrarily give them something merely in order to boost their grade is inconsistent with our purpose in education, which is for them to learn and master the concepts.

Secondly, I spend an enormous amount of valuable class time just trying to get the students to follow simple instructions, like taking out or putting away materials. Obviously, the more time spent on this, the less time devoted to instruction. It is IMPERATIVE that the students pay much better attention in class and follow directions first time given, and that is NOT happening in class now. This includes playing with things in their desks as well as other things. I would like to ask you to PLEASE not allow your child to wear or bring those rubber band bracelets to class. There is absolutely NO reason for them to have them at school and I have had to take several of them away that were being played with and disrupting other students during instructional time.

Third, they should have all of their basic addition, subtraction facts mastered by now and their multiplication and division facts mastered by the end of 4th grade. These skills are the building blocks for much of the other math skills and these are where I am seeing many of the errors. I also still see some students counting on their fingers for basic addition and subtraction problems. These should be memorized. I recommend going to the "Math Links" on my web page and having them practice these using links like "Multiflyer" and "Math Mayhem". We also use "Math Facts in a Flash" here at the school, but we are focusing on multiplication and division on those. If you don't have Internet access for your child, good old fashioned flash cards will do the trick.

I don't mean to sound negative, but, trust me, I feel your frustrations. Hopefully, by getting some of this cleared up this early in the year, we can make the majority of the school year that is left a very successful one for all of us.
More to come...

Thank you,
Mr. Shaw