4th grade math Archives - Page 2 of 3

Subtract Mixed Numbers With Regrouping Using Unifix Cubes

January 7, 2022 by Krejci Creations

Math manipulatives are an essential part of elementary education. For years my go-to manipulatives were base 10 blocks, fraction tiles, and pattern blocks. I used them with place value, subtracting whole numbers, and pretty much every fraction concept, including when I taught students to subtract mixed numbers.

They did help my students learn, but these hands-on resources caused a lot of frustration. Not only did they take a lot of time to pass out and collect, but half of them would also wind up on the floor!

Oh, and the noise…the noise!!! Can we please make all math manipulatives out of foam? I soon discovered a much better resource that would end my frustrations for good.

In 2018, I was lucky enough to attend not one, but TWO of Greg Tang’s conferences. If you ever get the chance to see him, it will change your teacher-life forever!

It was during his conference that I discovered the magic of teaching with unifix cubes. My mind was BLOWN!

Although I had these manipulatives in my classroom, my students mainly used them during indoor recess. In my mind, unifix cubes seemed more suitable for primary grades, so I never considered them when teaching 4th or 5th grade.

But my mindset changed as I watched Greg Tang teach several upper elementary skills using unifix cubes. They quickly became my manipulative of choice and were a regular tool my students used when first learning a concept.

What Sets Unifix Cubes Apart

Remember my beef with manipulatives I mentioned earlier? Well, unifix cubes are different. For starters, they are SUPER EASY to distribute and collect. In addition, they are simple for students to assemble, and because of this, they are much less likely to end up on the floor.

Since learning about unifix cubes, I’ve incorporated them when teaching prime and composite numbers, multiplicative comparisons, and converting improper fractions & mixed numbers. However, my favorite skill to pair unifix cubes with is subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping.

Subtract Mixed Numbers with Regrouping

The first time I used them with this lesson, I was SHOCKED! My students actually understood what they were learning, and they were having FUN!

We then progressed to solving problems without manipulatives. I was in even more shock as I watched my students solve these problems with ease. This strategy was WORKING!

In that moment, I wanted to give Greg Tang a gigantic hug and thank him for sharing his brilliant ideas. So, how exactly do these manipulatives work with subtracting mixed numbers? I’m so glad you asked!

Let me walk you through two examples.

Step 1: Model with Unifix Cubes

To begin, have students model the mixed number they are subtracting from with their unifix cubes. In this example, they would model 3 and 2/5.

Since the denominator is 5, each whole number represents 5/5. Therefore, three groups of 5/5 are placed on the whole number side, and 2/5 are placed on the fraction side.

This first step alone is an important concept for 4th graders!

In fact, I recommend having your students model 3-4 mixed numbers before you even begin subtracting just so they get the hang of it.

Step 2: Regroup the Mixed Number

Next, it’s time to regroup the mixed number in order to subtract the fractional parts.

Modeling with unifix cubes helps students see why they need to regroup. How can they take away 4/5 when they only have 2/5?

By moving one whole over to the fraction side, they will understand why the 3 becomes a 2, and why the 2/5 changes to 7/5. This is the most difficult step, and unifix cubes make this crystal clear.

Step 3: Subtract and Solve

Finally, students subtract the fractions and whole numbers. Make sure to use a variety of denominators to reinforce how they affect regrouping. It’s also important to practice subtracting fractions from whole numbers. Students often struggle when there isn’t a fraction to subtract from.

Example #2
Watch this video to see another example of subtracting mixed numbers from start to finish.

This is from my Subtract Mixed Numbers with Regrouping PowerPoint lesson you can find linked below.

Subtract Mixed Numbers Resources

Are you ready to get started teaching with unifix cubes? I know you are! The work mat used in the examples is FREE and can be used during your whole group lesson or in small groups.

Full page and 4-to-a-page versions are included. Both can be glued in notebooks or placed in dry erase sleeves.

Click the button to grab this freebie!

Subtract Mixed Numbers Task Cards

Task cards are my go-to math resource because of their versatility. Whether used as a daily warm-up, practice for small group centers, or posted around the room for a gallery walk, task cards are effective and easy to use.

The first set includes images of the unifix cubes to reinforce the whole group lesson. The digital version includes moveable pieces to guide students as they solve!

The second set is less guided without the models. The questions increase in difficulty and have students subtract from both mixed numbers and whole numbers.

The editable PowerPoint Lesson includes printable and digital activities to use in math centers. All of these resources will support your students as they learn how to subtract mixed numbers with regrouping!

What Teachers are Saying

Want to know what other teachers are saying about these resources? Looks like I’m not alone in my love for unifix cubes!

Brittanie: “I downloaded your free template using these unifix cubes and used it with my summer school students this year. They instantly made the connection and understood it better than they did during school. They were all saying things like “this makes so much sense now” or “this is so easy this way”.

Kelly: “This was really helpful for teaching my fourth graders about fraction subtraction with regrouping. I never thought to use linking cubes before. I had my students make the problems with the cubes and then used this product on the Smartboard. It was great! Thank you!”

Amanda: “My kids were so stuck on this until I used this resource! Next year I am going to start my unit with this! Thank you!!!”

Teaching with Unifix Cubes

If you’re ready to get started teaching with unifix cubes, be sure to listen to Episode 26 of Elementary Math Chat where I share 4 additional skills you can teach with unifix cubes. This episode will make you love unifix cubes even more!

Listen by clicking the button or through your preferred listening app.

Until next time,
Happy Teaching!

-Annamarie

P.S. If work mats are your thing (and I hope they are), you’ll want to read this BLOG POST!

A New Twist on Anchor Charts: QR Codes with Video Tutorials

December 1, 2019 by Krejci Creations

For years I had a love/hate relationship with anchor charts. I knew how beneficial they could be, but I just couldn’t grasp the logistics of posting and storing them. I’d scope out other classrooms and search endlessly on Pinterest for ideas, but what worked for others didn’t work for me.

Because of this, I gave up on anchor charts completely. It wasn’t until I realized how much my students needed these reminders that I reconsidered. They were learning a new math skill every single day! Of course, they were going to forget some along the way. I was determined to find a solution.

To Post or Not To Post

For starters, I didn’t know how to properly store my anchor charts, nor did I have the time and energy to figure it out. As a result, they piled up on top of my cabinets and collected dust. Ohhhhh, the dust. In addition, I’d have to pull them all down just to find the one I needed.

Another problem was wall space, or the lack thereof, so I would only post charts related to current topics. Those, however, weren’t the only skills students were forgetting. My mind went down a rabbit hole. Should I post anchor charts from earlier in the year, or should I just post them all? Would that be too overwhelming? I found faults with each option, so coming up with a solution was a challenge.

On top of all that, not every student was able to look at an anchor chart and remember what to do. They needed a thorough example worked out and explained by me. I finally came up with a solution: mini anchor charts with an interactive twist. My love for alliteration inspired me to call them “reference rings”!

Bringing Anchor Charts to Life

With the addition of a simple QR code, I’ve brought these anchor charts to life. My students no longer have to wonder how I arrived at the answer. By scanning the QR code, they now see an example modeled and explained by me.

All of my videos use manipulatives/visuals when possible and focus on conceptual learning. They have been a lifesaver! So, who exactly are these videos for?

Anchor Charts for Absent Students

Most recently, a student of mine was absent and missed my lesson on simplifying fractions. The next day, he felt behind and expressed how much he hated simplifying fractions. Statements like this are so hard to hear as a teacher!

A few days later, we did a review activity that included simplest form. He completed it with ease! I told him how impressed I was that he overcame his battle. He replied, “I watched the simplest form reference ring video a few times, and now I’m an expert.” He felt proud and relieved that he had mastered this difficult concept. I was thrilled!!!

Anchor Charts for Struggling Students

Not all students master a skill after a 30-minute whole group lesson; that’s what small group instruction is for. Even with this additional support, there are often a few students who still won’t fully understand,

I encourage these students to watch a reference ring video after they leave my group. Sometimes this is exactly what they need: one-on-one instruction. Reference rings are especially helpful when students are struggling but don’t want to interrupt my small group. We make reference rings part of our “Ask 3 Before Me” rule!

Anchor Charts for Enrichment

On the other hand, some students learn concepts so quickly that it’s hard to keep up with them. They soak up any knowledge they can get and run with it. Those students in particular have loved watching my reference ring videos on future topics. Several have even pretested out of chapters because of this!

These interactive anchor charts can also be displayed as a bulletin board using the full-size version. I typically post only the charts related to the current unit and include a few review skills. The mini anchor charts remain posted and available at all times since they don’t take up much space.

Want to try a reference ring set for yourself? Grab the Place Value FREEBIE, or shop the BUNDLE which includes 70 tutorial videos for 4th grade math!

Until next time,
Happy Teaching!

-Annamarie

How to Make the Most of Review Days with Boom Cards

May 12, 2019 by Krejci Creations

I used to DREAD review days. The challenge of trying to keep an entire class engaged and on task left me overwhelmed and exhausted. While most of my 4th graders didn’t need to review, others required serious remediation. I tried playing review games (who doesn’t love a good game of Jeopardy?), but only a handful of students were engaged and very few benefited. In the end, I never felt satisfied and knew there had to be a better way of utilizing these days.

Small Group Review

One day it dawned on me. What I needed to do was shift my focus from whole group review to small group review. This way, I could meet with the students who truly needed remediation separately from those who did not. But how could I know with certainty which students to reteach and what skills to focus on? I needed data, and I needed it fast. Boom Cards™ immediately came to mind.

Going Digital

If you haven’t tried a set of Boom Cards, pencil them into your next unit lesson plan. These digital task cards are such a time-saver and are easy to implement in class. They provide immediate feedback for students and will give you valuable data, including which problems students answer incorrectly and how long it takes them to complete the assignment. Below is a picture of the data analysis Boom Learning does for you.

On top of that, students LOVE them! They were a game-changer for me. Learn how to use Boom Cards in the classroom in my previous post!

Chapter Review Boom Cards

I created my first set of Chapter Review Boom Cards during Chapter 7 of Go Math: Add and Subtract Fractions. My students completed this review two days before the test. The data showed me exactly who was struggling and what concepts they were struggling with.

It was obvious they didn’t need more practice adding and subtracting fractions. Their struggle was with mixed numbers. Furthermore, the data showed me who did not require additional support from me. I was AH-MAZED! Planning for review days just got that much easier. I now knew exactly who to work with and what to work on.

I first met with students who needed remediation, and we only worked on mixed numbers. In addition, I provided enrichment activities for the others, including the next chapter’s pretest. How did I not think of this sooner? Immediately, I got to work on creating a set of Chapter 8 Review Boom Cards. Before I knew it, all 13 Chapter Reviews were finished!

Less is More

From here on out, I use the phrase “less is more” to plan out review days. I meet with fewer students and cover fewer topics but accomplish more. I could not achieve this without the data from my Chapter Review Boom Cards! This is a preview of my review on Angles, which aligns with Chapter 11 in Go Math.

All 13 Chapter Reviews contain 3-5 questions per lesson and use a variety of question types, such as drag-and-drop, multiple choice, multiple select, and fill-in-the-blank. Questions are organized from the first lesson to the last, making it easy to read and interpret data.

If you are short on time, assign them for homework! The immediate feedback will help you plan which skills to review in whole group and which to review in small groups. In addition, you can identify which lessons you need to focus on more throughout the unit.

Printable and digital versions

If you have limited access to technology, I also offer printable versions. Personally, I like to use both. For example, when looking through my data I’ll pull out task cards aligning with the questions most commonly missed. I can then use these cards to review with students and discuss why they missed the questions in the first place and/or what misconceptions they had. Why reinvent the wheel when it’s already been made?

If you struggle with review days, try my “less is more” approach. Use data from Boom Cards to prioritize and plan your small group activities. Click on the links below for more information regarding my 4th Grade Math Reviews!

Digital Boom Cards

Printable Task Cards

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!

-Annamarie

Winter-Themed Fraction Fun for Elementary Students

February 23, 2019 by Krejci Creations

If you teach fractions, chances are you teach them during the long, dreary, and cold winter months. While I’m not a huge fan of winter, I am a fan of using winter-themed fraction activities for my small group center. They bring me joy and provide instant engagement and excitement to the classroom!

Improper Fraction Snow Globe Sort

One of my favorite winter-themed fraction resources is an Improper Fraction Snow Globe Sort. It checks all the boxes: hands-on, versatile, engaging, rigorous, and purposeful!

To prepare the activity for students, spread out the improper fraction snowflakes and arrange the mixed number snow globes in order from least to greatest.

I love seeing the look on my student’s faces when they realize they’ll be working with snowflakes and snow globes. They are always curious and anxious to discover what it’s all about!

Their goal is to correctly sort the improper fraction snowflakes into the appropriate snow globes. To do this, they first convert the improper fractions to mixed numbers by either using division, mental math, or decomposing the fraction into wholes and parts. It always makes me proud to see students using more than one method!

Next, students compare the mixed numbers to the ranges labeled on the snow globes. Note: The updated snow globes now have number lines to make this step more clear.

Sorting the snowflakes is where the wheels start turning. Since many snowflake values are close to more than one snow globe range, students must think carefully about where to place the snowflake.

Hearing my students make justifications as to where they place their snowflakes, and the conversations that result gives me valuable feedback. For instance, I’ve had many students master converting improper fractions to mixed numbers but struggle to place them on a number line. Without the number line placement, I would have never discovered this gap in their learning!

Once all 48 snowflakes have been placed in the appropriate snow globes, the sort is complete. Even though students work independently with their snowflakes, it feels like a team effort. Therefore, we celebrate together when finished!

Assessing and Advancing Questions

There’s no doubt this resource can serve as a great assessment tool. Throughout the activity, I use questioning strategies to assess and advance their understanding of the skill. For instance, if I see a student place a snowflake in the wrong snow globe, I’ll simply ask them to share their reasoning. I can also give students small prompts without revealing the answer to help steer them in the right direction.

In addition, I make sure my struggling students are working with simpler fractions and my advanced students are solving more complex ones. This helps to avoid any potential frustration and allows everyone in the group to feel successful.

For my early finishers, I often take it a step further by challenging them to convert improper fractions to decimals.

That leads me to my next point…

Extension Activities

Whenever you plan a matching activity for your small group center, I highly recommend including one or two extension activities. This helps keep all students engaged and appropriately challenged.

For example, once all the snowflakes have been sorted, have each student choose eight snowflakes, create four fraction comparison problems, and insert the correct symbols. This can serve as their exit ticket from your small group table.

Another extension is to have students place the improper fractions on a number line labeled 0-4. You can easily create this number line by using a dry-erase marker on your table.

Purchase on TPT

Do yourself (and your students) a favor and try this hands-on, festive, and engaging activity in your classroom. You and your students will have “SNOW” much fun!

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!

-Annamarie

P.S. If you love using festive resources with students, read this BLOG POST all about Christmas-themed resources!

8 Helpful Tips for Teaching Long Division

November 11, 2018 by Krejci Creations

Long division is one of the most difficult skills to teach. What other math skill requires students to think about division, multiplication, subtraction, and comparing numbers all within a single problem?

Here’s the thing. I know students will eventually have that “aha moment”. The challenge is preventing them from getting frustrated and giving up. I tell them daily I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect progress. So we shoot for that: progress.

Here are a few tips to help you teach long division without any tears from students…or from you!

Tip #1: Focus on a Growth Mindset

My first tip isn’t directly related to the long division process, but it’s absolutely essential. When students say, ‘I don’t understand,’ I encourage them to add one powerful word—yet. Teaching students to adopt a growth mindset, rather than a fixed one, is key. They need to understand that mistakes are a valuable part of learning and help them grow.

Class Dojo has amazing videos that reinforce the importance of this concept. I’ve been showing these videos weekly and have had wonderful discussions with my students about growth mindset. Sometimes they need a pep talk from someone other than me!

One of my favorites is called The Incredible Power of Yet. This short video will inspire your students to conquer long division!

Tip #2: Start with Concrete Examples

It may be tempting to start with a cute acronym (Does McDonald’s Sell Cheeseburgers?) and then begin drilling the steps repeatedly. While I’m not opposed to the acronym (I actually use them myself) I’ve learned you must first begin with a more concrete and hands-on approach.

Students need to know the meaning behind the steps. Why do we compare the remainder to the divisor? Why do we bring down the next digit?

They won’t understand this without seeing it first. Therefore, on day one, I help students model the process with base 10 blocks.

We have deep conversations about what each part of the division problem means and why the steps are in the order they are. As a result, students begin to understand the true meaning behind the algorithm.

Tip #3: Teach the Box Method

I want to kick myself for not teaching this method years ago. The Box Method prepares students to learn the algorithm but presents the steps in a simpler, more organized manner. I teach this method first and work up to dividing a 4-digit number. Here is a video of an example in action.

After students master this method and comprehend the steps of long division, I move to the algorithm.

I am amazed at how quickly students understand the algorithm on the FIRST day! This was not the case when I didn’t teach the box method.

Back then, long division was frustrating to teach and frustrating for students to learn. It took DAYS for them to grasp this concept. Now students have a choice and can pick the method that works for them.

In the end, most of my students prefer the algorithm. For the rest, I’m so thankful they have a backup method that fits their needs and helps them be successful. You can find this FREE WORK MAT HERE!

TIp #4: Teach the Algorithm With Long Division Work mats

Because there are so many steps, long division can be an overwhelming process to learn. That’s why I make sure to check in with students frequently. I want to know what part is clear and what part may be confusing to them.

The most common problem they express is not understanding where to place the digits. Guided work mats can be helpful when students struggle in this area.

I created these to use with my students and recently added the place value chart for students to gain a better understanding of what long division means.

This work mat has been extremely beneficial and is something I recommend trying if your students are having difficulty with long division. Try a FREE SAMPLE to see for yourself!

Tip #5: Create Long Division Challenges for Students

It’s easy to spend most of your time helping students who are struggling, but you can’t ignore those who master long division early. Be sure to create a few challenges for those students as well. Mine love my LOOOOOOONNNGGG DIVISION challenge where they can attempt to see how many digits they can divide. It has become quite the competition! By the end of the unit, my entire outside wall is filled with division problems from floor to ceiling!

Tip #6: Go Digital With Boom Cards™

Since much of our current and future testing will be online, students need exposure to digital resources. Those who are just getting the hang of long division by hand may struggle with transitioning to a digital platform. Therefore, it’s important to be selective when going digital.

My favorite digital resources are Boom Cards because of their unique guiding nature and self-checking component. Curious about these digital task cards? Read this blog post which explains how I use Boom Cards in the classroom!

After a few days of practice, I assign students my Long Division Boom Cards. Students who have mastered long division work through these with ease and are able to move on to the Long Division Challenge.

Students who struggle still benefit because of the self-checking feature. As a result, students learn from their mistakes, something other digital resources don’t always have.

Check out what The Bright Bunch has this to say about my Long Division Boom Cards!

“My students were much more engaged while using this than a typical worksheet, and the fact that it collects grades – wow!”

Sample a few Long Division Boom Cards yourself! Not sure your students are ready for 2-step division? Try practicing with 1-step division first.

Tip #7: Listen to your students

When you see students struggling, refrain from automatically telling them what to do next. Sit down and listen to what they have to say. Ask them what parts of the process are clear and what parts are still confusing. Every student is different!

Tip #8: Be Patient

It’s called Long Division for a reason…sometimes it takes students a LONG time to grasp. But hang in there. It is so rewarding when they finally succeed!

Resources to get you started

If you need a few resources to get started, I’ve got you covered. Click each image for more information!

I hope you and your students grow to love long division. Do you have any helpful tips when it comes to teaching long division? Leave a comment!

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!

-Annamarie

P.S. If you listen to podcasts, then check out Episodes 15 and 16 of Elementary Math Chat on interpreting remainders. There was so much information to share that I had to break it up into two episodes!

Part 1 | Part 2