Math Help for 4th Graders
By 4th grade, your 8 or 9-year-old child will need to have a fairly good understanding of each math topic before moving on to the next. In 4th-grade math, each topic builds on the previous one, and it is challenging to understand a new math skill without having a comprehensive understanding of pre-requisite lessons. So, it’s in 4th-grade math where your kid will take another step towards being your partner in learning rather than merely following your help. They’re closer to middle school than to 1st grade and are becoming problem solvers and critical thinkers. However, they still need goals,structure, and fun activities to enjoy the learning process. It all means that parents need to prepare in order to effectively help their 4th graders. But don’t worry, it’s not nearly as scary or difficult as it sounds, and there are many resources available to help out!
4th Grade Math Curriculum
Although there is variation in the standards that are followed across different states and/or counties, the 4th-grade math curriculum standards that your child is working toward will likely include the following key concepts:
- They’ll multiply and divide multi-digit numbers.
- They’ll add and subtract fractions, compare fractions, and convert fractions to decimals.
- They’ll look at shapes, angles, and get introduced to symmetry.
- They’ll begin to learn how to convert units of measurement.
- They’ll work on multi-step word problems.
How to Help 4th Graders with Math
A 4th grader needs to be fluent in multiplication and division, as they are the foundation of much of what is to follow. As a parent, be ready to help them with these skills and familiarize yourself with the rest of the 4th-grade math curriculum. Over the coming year, your 4th-grade child will become increasingly independent but will still need your help and encouragement as their problem-solving skills develop. As well, you can try some puzzles or games to get them thinking that solving problems can actually be fun! Math software programs, like Prodigy Math, provide an interactive platform where they can practice mastering the math skills they’re learning in class. Additionally, a tutor can be considered if you feel your child needs one-on-one instruction tailored to the math skills they require assistance with. It’s all about supplementing all the lessons your child is learning at school to ensure they are reaching their full learning potential.
Helping with 4th Grade Math Homework
4th grade math is a step up from 3rd grade in terms of the problem-solving and analytical skills required. This means that sometimes students can feel unmotivated and unsure of themselves. Helping them with this means identifying areas where they need support, while building their confidence and encouraging a positive mindset. Make homework time more engaging by using techniques teachers often use to make math fun. In class, they’re learning how math is everywhere in the real world, so why not encourage them to try and solve problems like calculating the area of your backyard or living room?
Helping children with their 4th-grade math homework does take time and energy, but the key is to develop a routine. Once you’ve managed to set up a routine for your child and yourself, a 20-minute or 30-minute homework session several times a week, or every school day if you wish, can be highly effective.
[h3] Math Software for the 4th Grade
Math software can be drill-based or game-based. Drill-based math platforms generally include a large collection of short games that drill specific math skills like fractions or multiplication and division. For example, Math Playground or ABCya provide a wide range of microgames based on the grade level, and parents have to decide which ones their kids should practice with.
Some drill-based software programs, however, have few if any game elements and are instead a series of drill-based questions that follow the grade-level curriculum. This is the case with Khan Academy or IXL. If your child is engaged with 4th-grade math and confidence is not a problem, these approaches might be ideal for them. However, some dill-based math software has far more content than the 4th-grade math curriculum covers, so you’ll need to plan what skills your child should work on.
On the other hand, game-based platforms use an online game storyline and embed the math in the game so students end up doing math questions as they play the game. Prodigy Math and DreamBox are good examples of this approach. Within these platforms, the math questions adapt to a student’s level. That is, if a student is having difficulty with a concept, the program will help scaffold by providing them with questions that will meet them where they are and help build their understanding. In addition, they are standards-aligned, which helps ensure students are practicing the concepts that they are learning in school.
Math Games for the 4th Grade
While math software can really help your child, offline games are also useful in providing creative and engaging experiences that will keep your 4th grader interested and enjoying the learning process. For example, in class, they might use manipulatives like fraction strips, which are visual representations of a whole divided into equal parts. Or, they might be using base-ten blocks, which are a system of small cubes that help with visualizing the decimal system. Prodigy Math has some wonderful printables you can download, print, and use with your kids!
Whether it’s creating a 2-dimensional design using basic geometry or solving word problems in a game format, there are lots of good ideas for gamifying math. And don’t forget to check out puzzles, which can be a fun way to learn logic and math!
Hiring a Math Tutor for Your 4th Grader
To play and practice your skills on any math software platform, all you need is a device and an internet connection. With a math tutor, however, you need to schedule classes with them and decide between in-person or online. The benefit is, with an experienced tutor like a former math teacher, you can get a personalized service targeted to what your child needs that can boost their ability and confidence.
On the other hand, online tutoring is more flexible and convenient, and can be cost-saving as well. With tutors charging from around $25 to over $100 per hour, online services may often offer cheaper rates.
Prodigy
In surveys conducted in 2020, students with a lower enjoyment of math responded on average with a notable increase in enjoyment after using Prodigy’s online game. The game is designed to be engaging and fun to play so that the math questions flow from the challenges students face while playing Prodigy, and students who might have been frustrated with math can often have a change of attitude after playing the game.
As well, Prodigy’s monthly rates for memberships are less than the rates many tutors often charge per hour! It’s affordable, not to mention there’s a free option as well. Prodigy Math is built to be comprehensive, fun to play, and it just might change your child’s view of math!
