Fourth Grade Math Schedule Question

[emily31]

DD has Math from 1:15 until 3. That is on her printed schedule and doesn't change. DD said they don't break into centers, but just listen to the teacher lecture the whole class--working along with him and listening to him on the day's lesson (not including homework which they don't do in class). I am really surprised--just wondering if this is common for fourth grade?

[Geofizz]

Math in our school for grades 1-5 is one hour.

DD is in a 4th/5th grade accelerated math class this year. It's 8:30-9:30, and it's a combination of seat work, activities, and computer work, with a little on the overhead projector, plus 30 minutes of homework each day, so a total of 90 minutes a day spent on math.

I understand that the non-accelerated version, and what she's had up to this point, is mostly seat work and group activities, with the teacher talking just enough to give instruction.

Math curricula vary from a focus on collaborative work (DD's school) to a very drill and wrote computation approach.

[CJ's mommy]

That seems like a long time to sit without a break. If they were breaking up into centers it would seem ok to me.

Erin

[emily31]

I am going to send a note to the teacher by Thurs/Fri if things are better for her by Friday. She said that she gets lots in the class, that she understands at first but then gets confused the longer they sit there. She is not having any trouble with her homework, but isn't following him. I think she is just losing her focus after a while and can't listen that long, and gets lost. She said he is doing the same stuff as on her homework, but that he makes it hard. Found out yesterday that this is his first year at fourth grade math (very young teacher too).

[melcotx]

I teach math at the community college level, and it's hard for my students to concentrate and comprehend for that long. For 4th graders, that's not just ridiculous, but detrimental to their education. They won't learn anything, except to hate math.