Let's Multiply!

This week in my summer Math class we learned new ways to multiply. Have you ever heard of different multiplication techniques other than standard multiplication? Well this week we are learning about four different methods.

• Standard Algorithm (Standard Multiplication)
• Lattice Method which has also been referred to as shadow boxes
• Cluster Method
• Partial Products 

All of these methods provide you with the same answer, however, only Lattice, Cluster, and Partial Products are introduced to students who learn with Everyday Mathematics, which is what most of the schools I've been in use. So how do we calculate these methods? 

Standard Algorithm- This is the method that your mom and dad learned in school, this is the method that schools are not teaching. Why? I am not sure. 
To work this problem the numbers are set up with the smallest amount of digits is on the top. 

Lattice Method- This is a method that I learned when I was in fifth grade. I loved this method, it was easy to me and I was able to do it and get the correct answer, every time. This is set up like a box and then the diagonal line in the middle of each box is where the answer goes.  

Cluster Method- This is a method that I was not familiar with prior to this week. With this method, students are essentially using their own reasoning to figure out with the problems answer is. For example, if the problem was 25 x 13 students would break this down and figure out that 25 x 10 = 250 and then 3 x 25= 75 so 250 + 75 = 325

Partial Products- With this method students learn how to use mental math to calculate the answer. As you can see the problem is calculated with 10 x 8 and 5 x 8 rather than 15 x 8. 

Guessing Correctly

Everyday we use some sort of estimation or as I would like to call, guessing correctly. I use my techniques mainly in the kitchen on a daily basis, especially when I am tying to recreate a recipe of a main course, side dish, or snack that I recently loved. I throw a little of this and a little of that into the bowl and go to work trying to recreate something, sometimes it works out in my favor and others, well let's just say we won't be making that again. 

In general, Math has always been an "easier" topic for me, but this week, in my Math summer course, we are talking about estimation I am finding myself more and more confused and even more frustrated. I can't estimate correctly apparently. I don't know why Math needs to be a topic that is so complex.

The topics that we are discussing this week are on estimation and several different methods, such as, how to use front-end estimation to determine a correct answer for adding or subtracting several numbers together. Front-end estimation is a method used to round down or up to the nearest ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc to estimate the correct sum of several numbers.

(A view of front-end estimation)

In the classroom there are several different methods to use when teaching students how to correctly add or subtract several numbers together. Once students understand the whole concept of front-end estimation, it would be a great resource.


http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/staff/boldtkatherine/MathResources3-6/Math_Rounding&Estimating.htm

Ready or Not, Here We Go!

This week marks the first week of my Summer Math class. I am finding so many things to be going well so far, despite the fact that I am NOT a huge Math fan. A lot of the Math I am working on is a review of what I have already learned. I am feeling confident and good about my start. 

With the beginning of this class I have been watching some new videos and reading some really interesting Math articles. I recently watched a video and learned that in America we often teach students several different ways to learn one topic, which I believe is where students can get frustrated, rather than teaching one way to do something and students mastering that one method and moving on to a new topic. On the flip side of this in China, students learn one way and are able to "master" this technique, maybe the reason that China is so much further than we are? 

As I have been working on Math problems this week I have found myself struggling with the word problems, which require a lot of reading. I have never been a reading fan, and so these problems have been making me find that I need to pay attention more. As I have been working this week I thought it would be fun to find a website that I could share with my students, who also struggle as I do with this topic. As I have been playing around on this website I have found that it would be great for any age, which would be great as a teacher for students who may be struggling or those who are excelling. 

http://www.ixl.com/promo?partner=google&phrase=Search%20-%20math%20problems&gclid=CIDv5oH3wbgCFRSVMgodpCgAig