October 2018

Miss Bertschmann’s
Monthly Math
Newsletter Upcoming Events

Grade 4 | bertscsa@bc.edu October 8th

sarahbertschmann.weebly.com Columbus Day – no school!

October 12th
Dear 4B Families,
Early release: 12:30pm
Happy October! I am writing to you with my monthly math
update so that you can be informed about the topics and Parent/teacher conferences
tools we are learning about in class. I am so excited to be
October 26th
jumping into our unit on rational numbers! Over the next few
weeks, we will cover topics from fractions and decimals to Math Unit Test
ratios and proportions. We will explore these concepts through
hands-on activities, math games, technology, and more. In
particular in this newsletter, I would like to highlight a few Parent/teacher
examples of the kinds of technology we will be using so that conferences are
you can check them out at home if you are interested. The coming up!
more practice that students get with these concepts, the
stronger they will become, and I believe that these apps and If you have not yet
websites are a great way for students to get some practice scheduled a time to come in
while also having fun! for a parent/teacher
conference, please email
I am looking forward to meeting many of you at our me at bertscsa@bc.edu. I still
parent/teacher conferences in the coming weeks. If you have have time slots available on
October 12th (after the early
any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do not
release), and I would be
hesitate to get in touch with me! happy to find another time if
that afternoon does not fit
Best,
with your schedule. I am
Miss Bertschmann looking forward to meeting
you all and checking in
about your wonderful
children!

Miss Bertschmann’s Monthly Math Newsletter – October 2018 Page 1 of 4

Math Technology Resource: Fractions, by the Math
Learning Center
The Math Learning Center has released an application called
Fractions that is available for download on iPads, tablets, and
computers. We will be using it frequently throughout our unit on
rational numbers, so I wanted to give you a brief explanation of the
application so that you and your child can check it out at home!

What can we do with this app? Fractions allows users to represent

fractions using two different fraction models: bars and circles. Students
can use these models to depict different fractions pictorially,
Monthly Math
compare multiple fractions, and represent operations with fractions. Challenge
Up to the right, you can see an example of how the application can Work together with your
be used specifically to help students compare fractions. child to see if you can
solve October’s Monthly
How does it work? Students will be introduced to the various tools in Math Challenge!
the application during class, and you can learn more about the nuts Students who bring in a
and bolts of Fractions by selecting the icon on the tool bar. I solution and explanation
encourage you to explore the application with your child, asking will be entered into our
prize bin raffle at the end
questions like “Can the same value be represented by two different
of the month.
fractions? What would that look like?” and “How do the number and
size of equal parts impact the size of a fraction?” Rearrange these fractions
so that they are in order
Why this app? Any chance that students have to continue applying from smallest to largest.
the mathematical concepts that we learn in class can only deepen When you do, what
their understanding, and Fractions is a great way for students to do secret word is revealed?
this in a low-stakes, interactive way that utilizes technology that many 1/2 à T
children enjoy using in school and at home. This application does a lot
of things well, including the clarity with which it depicts the fact that 7/10 à A
fractions represent parts of a whole. Through Fractions, students can 3/4 à L
divide a whole into any number of equal parts (up to 100!) and then
use the coloring tools to shade in some of the parts. It also promotes 2/3 à N
the use of multiple levels of mathematical comprehension, including 3/10 à R
pictorial (representing fractions with images) and abstract (making
use of abstract symbols, like ¼ and >), making it accessible to diverse 3/8 à A
types of learners. Fractions is appealing to students and educators 7/12 à I
alike due to its bright colors, straightforward tools, and clear depiction
of mathematical concepts. It is a great app for fourth graders as they 3/5 à O
develop mathematical concepts related to Massachusetts
Frameworks Standards 4.NF.A and 4.NF.B. More information on these
mathematical standards can be found on page 4 of the newsletter.

Miss Bertschmann’s Monthly Math Newsletter – October 2018 Page 2 of 4

Math Technology Resource: Adding Fractions,
by the National Library for Virtual Manipulatives
The National Library for Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) is a
phenomenal site that can be used to explore resources for
many K-12 mathematics topics. If you navigate to “Numbers
and Operations” for grades 3-5, you will find numerous tools
posted to help students deepen their understanding of topics
ranging from place value to negative numbers and
everything in between. There are many fraction pages
available, and these would be a great way for your child to
get some extra math practice at home. In particular, we will
be using Fractions – Adding quite a bit in class, and I
encourage you to explore it together at home.

What can we do with this website? Fractions – Adding walks

users through the steps of adding fractions. Each problem is
presented abstractly and pictorially. In the first step, users
rename fractions to have the same denominator. Then, the
original models of the fractions are divided into smaller equal
parts with more shaded, to highlight the equivalent fractions.
Users then physically drag the colored pieces over to the sum
model, moving towards a concrete level of mathematics.
Finally, users can use the abstract number sentence, the
pictorial representation of the problem, or both to solve the
fraction addition problem. See the images to the right to get
a better idea of what this tool looks like in action.

How does it work? Like the Fractions app, students will be

introduced to this resource in class, so I encourage you to ask
them how to use it. The site also provides clear step by step
directions in blue boxes as you work through problems, so you
can look to those for guidance as to how to use the tool.

Why this website? In general, the NLVM is a great website for

students of all ages to use to get more practice with and deepen their understanding of numerous
mathematical concepts. The Fractions – Adding tool in particular is beneficial to students because it
is straightforward while representing a concept that many students find challenging. It represents
fraction addition at all three levels of mathematical comprehension, providing access to many
students. It also allows students to check their answers as they go, limiting feelings of frustration and
allowing students to be very aware of where they have strengths and challenges.

Miss Bertschmann’s Monthly Math Newsletter – October 2018 Page 3 of 4

Why bother using technology to help students learn
mathematics?
I am a strong believer in a multi-modal approach to education. What
works for one student may not work for another, so it is my goal to
provide students with as many different avenues towards effective
learning as I can. Then, students can feel empowered to use the tools
they have been given to find the learning strategies that work best for
them. Students today are 21st century learners, allowing many of them Massachusetts
to navigate virtual resources with ease. Many students find technology Curriculum
to be engaging, and I hope that presenting mathematics through an Frameworks
engaging mode will spark some enthusiasm in regards to mathematics
as well. Finally, we all know that the key to learning something new is Are you interested in
learning more about the
lots of practice! Mathematical applications and websites are
principles guiding our
accessible to anybody with Internet access, whether that is at home, at rational numbers unit? If
school, or at the local library, so they can be a great way to reinforce so, check out some of
mathematical concepts outside of the classroom. the mathematical
standards from the
I hope you enjoy the opportunity to explore these Massachusetts
Curriculum Frameworks
mathematical resources and more with your child! below.

Mathematical experiences can be exciting and unifying. It is my hope 4.NF.A. Extend

that your child will find that these tools help them develop confidence understanding of fraction
in their mathematical abilities as well as a deeper love for equivalence and
mathematics. I also hope that these resources will provide you with a ordering for fractions with
denominators 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
new avenue for growing closer to your child, forging a connection
8, 10, 12, and 100.
through the study of a challenging yet meaningful subject.
4.NF.B. Build fractions
Share your stories! from unit fractions by
applying and extending
Did you and your child successfully use Fractions by the Math Learning previous understandings
Center or Fractions – Adding by the NLVM? Have you found other great of operations on whole
numbers for fractions with
math resources online? I want to hear about it! Share your stories with
denominators 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
me via email (bertscsa@bc.edu), or work together with your child to
8, 10, 12, and 100.
write a quick reflection about your experiences. As always, if you have
any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact me for that as Do you want more
well. I am most accessible via email, and I have more information on information? Explore
curriculum standards at
my website, sarahbertschmann.weebly.com.
the link below!
Thank you for your continued support of our classroom!
www.doe.mass.edu/
frameworks/current.html

Miss Bertschmann’s Monthly Math Newsletter – October 2018 Page 4 of 4