Because there has been such a strong emphasis on math, fourth graders
today are taught math by applying real life applications and problem
solving. Fourth grade is the time when the children learn math procedures
that they will carry with them throughout their lives. They are also
the core for the math that they will be taught through the rest of
their school years. So the whole foundation of fourth grade math is
built around real world processes and problem solving. Fourth grade
math may focus more on how you got that answer rather than the answer
itself. Yes, there are a lot of rules to remember when it comes to
math, this is true, but memorizing rules is completely different from
understanding why a certain process occurred.
Fourth grade introduces activities that make the children think about
numbers and the relationships that surround them. This is also a time
when children might form groups to collectively solve math procedures
and work together. Group work seems to be very effective for getting
the entire classroom active in math at the same time and to share
their solutions and their thoughts. At the most basic level, children
in fourth grade will learn numbers, the order of operations (PEMDAS)
which is taught by most as Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sue,
it is an easy way for the children to remember the order of operations
which is parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition,
and subtraction. In algebraic problems, the order of operations is
essential to arrive at the right solution. They then remember that
they will solve first anything that is in parenthesis, next the exponents,
then multiply, then divide, then add, and finally subtract. Geometry,
measurements, data, and probability are also taught during fourth
grade.
In fourth grade, numbers and operation will teach the children how
to read and write whole numbers to the millions and understand number
place value through the millions. It is important that the children
understand numbers in all aspects including their systems and how
to work with them in a variety of ways. A good portion of this will
rely on reasoning. Very often visual models are used because that
offers a much better understanding of the concepts. They will also
be expected to place whole numbers, decimals or fractions in order
from largest to smallest on a number line. Fourth grade expects that
the children will be able to deal with larger numbers and that they
are able to remember math facts quickly, especially times tables up
to ten. During this year children will be able to multiply three digit
numbers by two digit numbers ( 51 x 467) as well as division of dividing
four digit numbers by one digit number, both with and without remainders
( 1548 ÷ 7).
Fourth graders learn to add and subtract fractions with the same
denominators (meaning that the bottom numbers of the fraction will
be the same). An example would be 1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4. The children will
then relate these fractions to decimals and how to convert fractions
into decimals at the most basic level. An example would be 0.4 is
the same as 4/10. They will also add and subtract decimals, and place
decimals in order from smallest to largest. The child will also round
decimals to the nearest tenth, hundredth or to the nearest whole number.
Fourth graders are introduced to geometry, studying points, lines,
shapes and figures provide students with an understanding of the structure
of space and spatial relations. The children learn that a point is
a single location in space and a line is a group of points that goes
on forever in both directions. They also learn how to form angles
and all about rays.