Challenging Common Core Math Lessons (Grade 4): Activities and Extensions for Gifted and Advanced Learners in Grade 4

I received the book ‘Challenging Common Core Math Lessons- Grade 3’ as a Librarything Early Reviewers selection. Although the book is aligned to Common Core State Standards, I thought that some of the lessons might be a bit difficult for my present third graders who are novices with division, fractions, volume and mass, and some graphing. I did think that the lessons in the book might be utilized, if altered a bit, to accommodate to the present levels of my students. What I did like is that this resource utilizes some project-based lessons in order to practice and achieve mastery of mathematics. For example, presenting a problem where students must envision working in a business scenario, they are asked to select items within a show more budget for necessities, and are given hypothetical situations regarding the need for further purchases. This kind of real-life scenario enhances the relevance for the use of mathematics in everyday life and engages students in applying the math. I will definitely use some of the lessons offered through this book, as it is a useful resource to enhance my third grade math program. show less

As a math teacher, I often looked for more challenging work for my gifted students. I also taught gifted education. I was very excited to receive this book for review for that reason. I have mixed feelings about this workbook. First, I understand the challenge on teachers to find challenging work with the little time they have. Therefore, any tool catered to gifted students is a help. There are some very good activities here including budget planning for a business and comparing properties of famous structures such as the Eiffel Tower. If the entire book were filled with these kinds of activities, I would easily give it five stars. But much of the book is simply more work on the common core which gifted students usually already know in show more their sleep. These kids need work that is more interesting and makes them dig a little deeper into their brains. I give this book 3 1/2 stars and am rounding up to 4. As with any textbook or workbook, I would recommend picking the best stuff out and leaving the rest behind.

Note: I received a free copy of this workbook in exchange for an honest review. All my reviews are 100% honest and based on preset criteria. My opinions cannot be bought. show less

I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I went to school for Mathematics and my work often involves quite a bit of math. I've had the experience of getting to teach a few college math courses as well. This workbook represented my first exposure to common core math. That aspect of the workbook seemed fine. It looks to follow the requirements I found for common core quite closely. My only disappointment about this workbook is the unimaginative word problems. Math people aren't known for being creative, but why not some word problems dealing with topics kids find interesting? It just felt like a bunch of forced cliche math workbook problems. I also noticed at least one question that didn't provide enough show more information to get an answer.

Overall I'd say this is an average supplementary workbook for teachers to use in their classes. I wouldn't recommend it for parents home-schooling or trying to help their kids get ahead. If this is what you're looking for and you don't have a reason to force common core on your kids, then youtube videos and Khan Academy would probably provide a better learning experience. show less

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

As a teacher, chances are your district or school adopted math curriculum will already connect easily enough to the so-called “Common Core”. This book, and others like it offered by Prufrock Press, are useful as supplementary lessons to expand on subjects and concepts; (all the basics are here). Some exercises even offer hints at how they may be used creatively to engage yours. They are best seen, however, as a framework to expand study. The basic, even at times bland, problem presentation requires augmentation by a clever teacher to tailor to his/her students’ learning styles and interest.

I received this book via the LibraryThing early reveiwer program for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a great book as I have heard a lot of negatives about common core and wanted to get a better idea of what it was and how it works. It is a good intro and really helped me understand more as a parent. Thank you.

This book looks inviting because the cover is colorful and engaging. The information and concepts are appropriate and adhere to the Common Core requirements currently in use. The language and information is clear and with both a student and teacher section, this could be useful. Unfortunately, color pages are not throughout the book and make it far less inviting than the cover and first chapter suggests. The accuracy of this workbook will be lost in the blandness of the presentation.

~ review copy provided

I was curious as to how this book would be structured. The Common Core Curriculum is well outlined so precisely what was it that the Center for Gifted Education was going to suggest?

What you get is a marginal introduction and then the rest of the book are problem examples. For example on the section of Scaled Graphs what you will see is a reference to the CC State Standard that it corresponds to; estimated time the lesson should take; Key Terms and Objectives. Then it's on to the problems. Educators won't have to extrapolate because the problem is all written out and all you really need to do is run off a copy.

Teachers who are looking for exactly this sort of easy problem suggestions to offer to their advanced show more students are going to like this book.

Teachers who were looking for a more global approach that would help them to develop their own curriculum are not going to find support for that. There will be examples to use, but nothing to further your own creativity to create even more examples.

Because it's not going to fit every instructor's needs I'm not going to rate this book. But will add so that you know, the book is nicely laid out and has an easy to read font. show less