Multiplying the "New" Way

More than anything, I want to help parents see that the "new" methods they're seeing their students work on during this virtual schooling stint isn't all that new and it's definitely not scary.

The first topic I'll tackle is this meme:

I HATE these kinds of things. But this one in particular really grates on my nerves since this very strategy is SO helpful in Algebra 1 (pretty much my favorite course to teach of ALL the high school courses).
Check out my explanation here: Demystifying Elementary Math Video 1
So in the end, be patient. I promise your student WILL learn all the strategies you learned "back in the day" too - but they'll also be building number sense and reasoning skills alongside their math skills.
Got a topic you want Demystified? Shoot me an e-mail at MrsLeighMath@gmail.com

Comments

Trust the Process: Fractions - the Real F Word

I know it's not exactly the most comforting advice to adults who have been through a lot of change, but 1 thing I know for sure is that no school, no teacher, no administrator, no aide wants any child to be poorly educated. Instead those teachers, administrators, aides, and school officials all know that there is a building process from Kindergarten (or 4K) through senior year of high school. There is a progression that they've spent (countless) hours working to align so that every topic is covered, every concept is given time to develop, and every student has access to the material when they're ready. The long and short of it is that there is a well thought out process - please trust it. While it may be frustrating for you at times, remember that you have all the "keys to the castle" as an adult who's be...

The sum is the same, no matter how you got there; so how'd you get there?

Yet another example of adults saying "But there's a better way..." No one would argue that you, adult, can add probably faster than an elementary school student. We are in the process of building UP TO that speed and accuracy. By encouraging your child to imagine the groupings, you are building their imagination (draw whatever you'd like!), their math skills (count up, make 10s), and their mental flexibility ALL IN 1 PROBLEM! Check out my NEW addition video for a little more about how this problem is VERY similar to what many adults already do! Making sense of a problem IRL isn't about having an algorithm to write out your work. Instead it's about applying what you know to a REAL situation. This is what most adults think of when they see an addition problem: But this is what many ...

There's HOW MANY ways to add 2 numbers?

To answer the title question - a LOT! We take for granted that most of us adults can add quickly because we "know our math facts". For many of us that may be true, but I would bet that the vast majority of adults out there do quite a few of the addition strategies your children are taught in elementary school without even knowing it! This video addresses some of the addition strategies that I've seen frustrating parents. Addition Video As always, let me know if there's a topic you'd like to see Demystified!

Demystifying Elementary Math (from a Secondary Perspective)

Search This Blog