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

3D thinking - early and often!

I'm guessing that if you grew up around the same time I did, you experienced a similar progression. Master the 2 dimensional shapes and their measurements (perimeter and area) and then move on to the 3 dimensional shapes and their measurements. Throughout this process, at least in my elementary years, I'm fairly certain not a single elementary teacher I had in front of me had a degree (major or minor) in mathematics. So they did what they'd always done, show some pictures in books and talk about formulas and calculations. Once we made the leap to 3D though, my brain really struggled to "see" what was on the paper as taking up space - even with the paper nets we cut and taped into 3D objects. Do you suffer from the same affliction I do? I can't say that my parents didn't ask me to do this often enough or not, but I certainly needed some more practice! Don't shy away from letting your child do this kind of spatial thinking. Have them order containers s...

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!

Cognitive Dissonance - adapting to new information

The last year or so has shown us all a lot about the world we live in and the people we share it with. It's interesting to see how tightly individuals may cling to ideas or beliefs that have later been shown to be inaccurate and have been updated. That's the scientific method in a nutshell - make a prediction, test it, learn something, adjust. Math works the same way, but I'm seeing that the "adjust" step is becoming harder and harder for students to make. I had an experience in my Algebra class that sort of outlined the apparent push to reject what is proven in favor of what makes us comfortable (more about that in the video) and it got me thinking. This whole math education thing (or compulsory schooling in general) isn't about cramming kids' heads full of information. It's more about opening them up to conflicting ideas (cognitive dissonance for all you psychology/education fans out there) and giving them the tools to determine true from false, fac...

Demystifying Elementary Math (from a Secondary Perspective)

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