Author: Tiffany Poirier

Hello, 4A families!

We are now deep into our division unit! Some goals for the end of grade 4 are for students to build computational fluency in division facts to 100, solve up to 3-digit by 1-digit division questions in flexible ways, and understand the relationship between multiplication and division.

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What do our division math classes look like?

Our approach in a typical 40-minute block is often a combination of pencil-and-paper work, modelling at the whiteboard, guided practice, small-group instruction, and one-to-one support.

We also do whole-class number talks and watch tutorial videos like this and this to expose students to multiple strategies. Students can also do math centres, especially to access the enrichment challenges.

Right now we are spending more time deepening our understanding of division by using math manipulatives, problem solving, and math stories—the focus of this blog post today.

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What is a “math story”?

A math story is like a detailed word problem, and ideally it follows a narrative arc, with a beginning that sets the context, a middle that presents a problem or challenge, and an end that resolves it.

Math stories can be highly engaging and make math easier to understand for learners when packaged in fun narratives told with vivid images, puppets, and or toys and loose parts.

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How does this work?

We have been using our “Story Studio” items to inspire creative new tales—with wonderful results!

Some math stories are created as a teaching tool: these are complete tales that model ways to solve problems using mathematical vocabulary.

While other math stories are “unfinished” on purpose and created to provoke problem solving. They set up a problem and end on a cliffhanger that invites audiences to think of a solution for themselves.

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Can you give me example?

Here is an example of a math story I created this week to model…

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What is the rationale for doing math stories?

Learning through play and storytelling is a timeless approach that offers a flexible, personalized, hands on experience of more abstract concepts. This helps so that when students get to working with symbols on a page they have a frame of reference.

Rigorous math work can happen both with toys and pencil and paper.

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Hmmm, do serious mathematicians really “play” like this?

Sure! Our modern world is shaped by technology and data, and people who use mathematics in their careers and daily lives are expected now more than ever to do far more than act like human calculators.

They must also be strong communicators—able to explain their thinking, tell meaningful stories with data, and use imagination to uncover new insights. My husband Peter reminds me of this all the time. His PhD is in pure mathematics, and he works as a data scientist for a video game company. Peter speaks often of how essential communication, creativity, and narrative thinking are for math professionals as they manipulate data in innovative ways and form new understandings that they have to try to explain to others who may not have their background.

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So is this in the BC Curriculum?

Yes! Our math stories practice simultaneously hits so many learning standards and core competencies.

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Can everyone do “math stories”?

Yes! The complexity of a math story is easy to adjust, and so the learning potential when using them is very open-ended. We have already seen in our class how students with a range of math confidence levels can enjoy working side-by-side on the same story, supporting each other.

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How do you grade math when it’s so open-ended?

In the formative phase, students have lots of time to play with concepts on their own, while I circulate to observe, provoke deeper thinking, and troubleshoot. This gives me a chance to see where students are in their understanding in a way that feels lower stakes.

Often I am surprised to see some students using story to successfully explore more advanced concepts than I’ve seen them want to tackle with just pencil and paper.

I can also drive the inquiry by being selective with the kinds of materials I offer when I’m looking to see certain skills.

Students are invited to present their math stories to the class or just to me if that is their comfort level, which leads to more discussion and feedback for how to enhance the stories. Students can also write down and/or draw their stories in diagrams and comics.

Creativity and language skills are assessed separately from math learning standards.

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Here are some “teacher examples” I shared with the students at the start of our unit of study…

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How can I help my child to learn division?

On any day that we complete pencil-and-paper work in math class, students are asked to bring their marked worksheets home and share them with their families. This happens usually about three out of five days each week. Having short conversations about this work at home is a wonderful way to reinforce learning and build confidence.

For homework this week, students have been asked to retell the math stories they have created or encountered in class. Families are also encouraged to create math stories at home.

Narrating everyday mathematical decision–making—such as while cooking or sharing food—can bring math to life. Whether the story is a simple word problem (for example, trying to divid 15 pancakes fairly among 3 family members) or a more imaginative scenario with characters and background details is entirely up to you. The more children hear adults talk through real-life mathematical thinking, the more they begin to recognize how math applies beyond the classroom.

Reviewing the blog and watching the video tutorials posted here is another helpful way to support learning. Families can also explore YouTube Kids with “division” as a key search term can help to find different teachers explaining a variety of strategies.

While many adults are most familiar with the traditional long-division method, the BC math curriculum emphasizes a need for learners to use flexible thinking and multiple strategies. Exploring different approaches helps deepen students’ understanding of numeracy rather than relying on a single algorithm.

Because of the strong relationship between multiplication and division, continued practice with skip counting and multiplication facts is especially helpful.

Thank you for the support you provide at home. This partnership is making a real difference in strengthening students’ foundational math skills.

Happy Friday, 4A families!

Here is a summary of some of the big topics of learning this last week…

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Language Arts: The Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White

The students are thoroughly enjoying our novel study of The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White. One of the central themes we are exploring is how all of God’s creatures are created with differences that—while sometimes surprising or even seeming limiting at first—can become sources of growth, courage, and purpose when truly understood and embraced as gifts.

In the story, a young swan who cannot speak finds his voice in an unexpected way through creativity, perseverance, and the support of his father. The novel offers opportunities to discuss inclusion and compassion.

We have read to the end of chapter 8.

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Science: Biomes & Animal Adaptations

Our class has been exploring the incredible diversity of flora and fauna God created and learning how scientists group ecosystems into broad biomes. In real life, these biomes can blend into one another through rich transition zones that support high biodiversity.

Today, students became biome detectives.

Using a collection of biome dioramas I’ve gathered over many years, students rotated through eight stations, carefully observing each model.

Their challenge was to identify the biome using clues within the diorama itself—plants, animals, landforms, colours, water sources, and overall design. For each decision, they were asked to provide evidence to support their reasoning.

This activity sparked thoughtful discussion and critical evaluation. Students debated details, questioned assumptions, noticed inconsistencies, and identified features that were especially effective—or unclear. Just as importantly, they reflected on how they might build up strong ideas or improve upon existing designs if they were to create their own biome dioramas.

This thinking naturally led us to an important next step: beginning to co-create an assessment rubric. Students are involved in helping shape what a “good quality” biome diorama includes before any final product is ever built.

Whether this inquiry leads to students making traditional dioramas or something entirely new, the learning is already on purposeful path.

Another activity we did this week was learn about the ways animals are adapted to their specific biome(s). Students closed their eyes and choose animal figurines they had to identify and research and teach other about with respect to the specific survival skills and attributes they have. We created an “Animal Adaption Museum” to spark conversation and new connections.

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Social Studies: Travel Spotlight

Our class was treated to a wonderful slideshow featuring a classmate’s recent adventure in New Zealand with his family. It was a marvellous showcase of biodiversity, along with fun literature connections—including some very cool “hobbit habitats”.

If any other students would like to put together a slideshow to share family adventures or special interests, please let me know. We love learning from one another.

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Bible & Crew: Animal Puppet Shows

PCS is engaged in a school-wide inquiry into how we can we further foster inclusion and a true sense of belonging. A key focus of this work is helping students understand the beautiful diversity of God’s creation, as well as the impact of racism in our lives and communities.

Following powerful professional development that equipped PCS teachers with meaningful strategies to help students reflect on the impact of their words, students in our class have been engaged in thoughtful discussions about how to intentionally build a welcoming, safe community—one that brings people together rather than divides them by difference, while still honouring the beauty of our uniqueness.

This week in Crew, our learning culminated in students using a collection of animal puppets in short skits that modelled productive ways we can respond to unkind language—whether it is unkind intentionally or unintentionally—and particularly language that can isolate or hurt others based on their differences.

While the performances sparked levity, they remained grounded in the core goal: giving students practice using respectful language to name harm, offer meaningful apologies, and move forward together in ways that restore relationship and promote belonging.

Here are some excerpts of animal play scripts that the students built upon to make their own…

The future is in caring hands: the 4A class is showing so much compassion and growth in self-awareness.

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Phys. Ed.: Calisthenics & Games

In Physical Education, we’ve expanded our calisthenics unit and students have also been designing their own game stations and fitness challenge activities. The variety and creativity on display has been a joy!

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Career Education: The Jobs Board!

Your children have been doing outstanding work together to keep our class running smoothly!

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The Bunnies Returned!

“Bunny World” is open again! Thank you to our “Bunny Protection Officers” and all others who showed extra care and kindness for our fluffy friends.

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ADST: How can we build the strongest and tallest card tower?

I love how engineering experiments keep popping up in class!

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Coming Up Next Week…

We will focus our Crew and Bible learning and discussions this coming week on how Jesus modelled kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

We did it! It was an awesome first week of learning, getting motivated and becoming more organized together in 2026! Here are some highlights…

In Science class, we have been learning about the life cycle of plants through our wheatgrass growing experiments.

Congratulations to everyone for growing so much in this unit! (This is a great foundation for our upcoming studies on biomes, and as well there are many related wheat/seed/bread/yeast Bible connections.)

In Language Arts, we are continuing to learn about the parts of speech and have started a new novel study on the Trumpet of the Swan. We are reading the book, while listening to the audiobook read aloud, pausing after each chapter to debrief language and meaning, analyze character, and consider historical notes and science connections. Today students did preliminary swan sketches in preparation for a future “swan watercolour project.”

As well, students are really improving their understanding of parts of speech and having giggles along the way by doing Mad Libs.

In Social Studies, Crew, and Bible, students have been discussing human rights and moments in history where love and justice were needed most. Together, we are creating an encouraging class video that teaches Christ’s example of welcoming, honouring, and standing up for others in a context of anti-racism.

We discussed the ideas and some context for Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech and learned about the story of Viola Desmond, a Canadian woman who took a stand against racial segregation in 1946.

Our next Social Studies unit dives into the story of what factors led to British Columbia joining confederation in 1871.

In Physical and Health Education, we have wrapped up our units on basketball and curling and are learning to practice safe calisthenics exercises and self-monitoring rates of exertion.

We’ve been keeping core skills in our rotations, but adding new bodyweight exercises and inviting students to personalize their own sequence of activities appropriate to their skills, fitness levels and goals.

Each student has been invited to show leadership in the gym by choosing an exercise to learn and lead. Coming up, we will be going skating on Feb. 2nd. Thank you for sending in those permission forms and $2 for renting skates if needed.

As a part of Career Ed., students were invited to apply and then informally interview for various class jobs to help our classroom run smoothly and stay beautiful. We connected to Colossians 3:23 and Jesus’ parable of the talents (bags of gold), thinking deeply about how we are invited to share our gifts purposefully and strategically—and with care.

It has been heartwarming to see everyone so excited to carry out their work—I am astonished at the generosity and care our students show!

Reminder:
We will have a quiz on Monday on multiplying 1-digit by up to 3-digit numbers (e.g. 4 x 654). Students will be challenged to show their ability to apply both the traditional method and box method. They will also show their understand through a math meeting with me using the play money and some other manipulatives.

*Scroll down to previous blog posts to see the multiplication tutorial videos if needed.

Students have the option to use their multiplication charts for this quiz—and doing so does not impact their score.

Try this…

If I have the amount of money shown, how much do I have altogether, and how can I share it equally between three people?

2 x $100 = $200

2 x $50 = $100

2 x $20 = $40

1 x $10 = $10

4 toonies = $8.00

4 loonies = $4.00

2 quarters = $0.50

2 dimes = $0.20

1 nickel = $0.05

Welcome back, 4A families!

Please note:

Parent-Teacher Meetings will take place…

January 22nd: 3:30–5:30 p.m.

January 23rd: 9:00–11:45 a.m.

*Booking will open on January 14th at 9:00 a.m. and close on January 20th at 3:00 p.m.

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We had a great, productive first day back in class to begin the new year.

During Crew time, students shared highlights from their winter vacation and then began thinking about goal setting. We introduced the idea of students each creating a SMART goal to focus on for the next few weeks, months, or the remainder of the school year.

In Language Arts, we did a deep dive into parts of speech and made the learning fun and applied by working with Mad Libs. Students enjoyed using their grammatical knowledge creatively while reinforcing key concepts.

In Math, we reviewed the multiplication unit we focused on before the break. Our goal is for students to feel prepared and confident writing a quiz on 1-digit by up to 3-digit multiplication next Monday. Students have been taught both the traditional method and the box method. Tutorial videos for both methods are linked below. Please check in with your child to see how they are feeling about these strategies so they are ready to progress to our next math topics.

We will do a multiplication quiz next Monday on questions such at 46×4 and 789×6. (Students are able to use a multiplication chart to support their recall of math facts. Please ask your child to show you the neat 9 times table finger trick they learned!) 

Students also spent time working on their Personal Interest Projects and learning codes.

I also shared some happy bunny news: Bachelor Bob has been successfully bonded with his two younger friends, Rose and Tulip! All the bunnies had a wonderful holiday and are looking forward to visiting us in the classroom again soon—possibly as early as next week.

We’ve also had new lockers installed, which will help us stay organized. This is a reminder to please ensure your child brings their gym strip and indoor gym shoes so they are ready to participate in gym class tomorrow.

Finally, please check with your child to see if they still have an agenda. We no longer have extras available from the school, but you may wish to purchase one from a dollar store or Staples, or help your child create a simple alternative. Keeping an agenda is an important part of developing personal responsibility and communicating with families.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re off to a great start this year!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

It has been such a joy getting to know you all in Term 1.

Today we had a special movie premiere in class with popcorn as we enjoyed watching our class Nativity production together.

This film began simply as an experiment to see if we could make some costumes and green-screen work, and characters were chosen at random, but the little screen test footage with was cobbled together with iMovie and turned into something very special—but yes, probably 11 hours of editing. Hahahah. Whew! So, we will have to aim for shorter, pre-planned productions in the future. Yet, simplicity is so wonderful too!

Looking ahead to Term 2, every student is invited to dramatize scenes from the Bible and will be supported to do so. Here is one of our lovely examples of a solo production of Mary’s Prayer…

I wish you all a wonderful, restful break, and thank you so much for your kind words, cards, and gifts. The 4A class and families have been such a blessing to me. We truly have the most wonderful students and families.

Hello, 4A families!

Please enjoy our gallery of an incredibly special collection of artworks. The students in our class worked with so much creativity and heart to apply their understanding of the nativity story in making their own nativity scenes.

My heart just bursts to see these—every creation is a marvel!

They are lovely to behold and show creative problem solving, while symbolizing and celebrating this sacred story of the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Congratulations, everyone!

Your creative work is truly inspiring!

Hello, 4A families!

This is the last week before the holiday—and so much learning and excitement continues!

In Bible, we have been studying the Nativity story in the books of Luke and Matthew: please see the previous blog post (scroll down) for details on our approach.

We have been working on a dramatization of the story as well, using costumes, puppets and green screen technology. (I am working on using iMovie on my phone for editing and I import AI backgrounds made with Sora and ChatGPT).

This is a hugely time consuming editing project since we are starting the story with Zechariah and Elizabeth and trying to work in meaningful parts for every student—so thank you for your patience if the final movie isn’t ready until closer to Christmas—but I will email the link when it’s ready!) Above are some screenshots.

Reminders:

Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 16) is the Relove Market. Students are asked to bring a donation item. In exchange, they’ll be able to shop for one or two second-hand items as gifts for someone in their family. Please also send an extra reusable bag so they have something to carry their gifts home.
Gifts will be wrapped at school. Also, on
Wed, Dec. 17 we have Whoville Day at our school. So please come dressed as your favourite “Who”character from The Grinch.

In Language Arts, we are wrapping up our /k/ spelling unit tomorrow with a writing activity and self-quiz.

In Math, we are learning to multiply 1-digit by up to 4-digit numbers using both the traditional method and the box method. Scroll down to the previous blog post for the tutorial video.

In Science, we are learning about what plants need to grow and studying the lifecycle of wheat. We are growing wheatgrass in class and main connections to wheat in the Bible. For example…

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” — John 12:24 (NIV)

Hello, 4A families!

Congratulations to everyone for their hard work in making our Christmas concert a great success!

This month we have been reading the Nativity story from the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke, comparing what each book tells us about Jesus’ birth. Part of learning the story for our class has been going line by line in both Matthew and Luke to see what is really there…

We are seeing how Matthew highlights prophecy and lineage, while Luke draws us into the shepherds’ story and the wonder of the angelic announcement. Together, these two voices give us a richer picture—and they have sparked meaningful conversations and our own dramatizations in class.

Meanwhile, our room has is transforming into a creative workshop as students work on their Learning Coats, dive deeper into their Personal Interest Projects, and build their own Nativity scenes using found, recycled, and natural materials.

These nativity scene projects are due next Tuesday, Dec. 16, but students are welcome to bring them earlier if finished, or to bring materials to school if they’d like to keep working during class. Creating them entirely at home is perfectly fine too. *Remember, this should be a joyful, creative and low stress project that doesn’t require any new materials to be purchased. We have already seen wonderful scenes made entirely out of paper and cardboard.

In Math, we’ve been building confidence with the box method for multiplying a one-digit number by a number up to three digits—breaking big ideas into manageable parts.

In Art, the students have now finished their “Natural Textures” project, which helped them to explore new pencil drawing techniques.

And in Language Arts, we continue our work on storytelling and building vocabulary with a word study on spelling patterns that make the hard /k/sound.

As always, thank you for your support at home. Advent is such a special season of learning, worship, and wonder, and your children bring joy into everything we do.

Hello, 4A families!

Here are some tutorial videos I made to help students review their recent math learning. I hope this helps.

In Math for the rest of December, we are going to focus on doing multi-digit multiplication using both the traditional method and the box method. A solid understanding of place value and addition skills are needed for both.

There are several ways to make the hard /k/ sound in English including c, k, ck, ke, qu, ch.