Math

=__Math Games__= __[|Mancala]__ __[|The Ghost Whisperer]__ __[|Elmer's Multiplication Error]__ __[|Table Numbers]__ __[|Speed Grid Challenge (factors and multiples)]__ [|Sum Cloud Challenge] [|Diffy] [|IXL - Various math practice activities] [|Multiplication.com] - lots of multiplication games. [|Self-correcting multiplication quiz] [|Online flash cards] [|Multiplication Picnic]

=__[|Fluency Without Fear]__=

by Jo Boaler at Stanford University
=__Math Thinking Routines__= Here are a couple of pictures of a flipchart that give an example of the KWC chart. Using this routine, students identify what they know and what they need to find out. Right now, we don't talk about the "Special Conditions" part of the routine. It can be a confusing step until students are exposed to story problems where there is extra, irrelevant information. These charts show how students' thinking should be recorded in their math notebooks, with the KWC on the left, and their thinking and work on the right. = = =__Technology Resources - Addition and Subtraction__= = = =__Multiplication and Division Algorithms__= ===In Everyday Math, students learn several algorithms for multi-digit multiplication and division. In my classroom, students are expected to learn all the algorithms, then choose the ones that make the most sense to them and use it. Following are some explanations and demonstrations of the different algorithms.===
 * ===Pan Balance - (strengthen understanding and computation of numerical expressions and equality; can extend difficulty levels) ===
 * === Broken Calculator (use broken calculator to reach target) ===
 * === Number Line Bounce (use arrows to bounce back and forth along number line to reach target numbers) ===
 * === Base Blocks Subtraction(use base-ten blocks to model separation of groups in subtraction) ===
 * === Circle 21 (solve multi-circle puzzle for the sum of 21; challenging) ===

xxxx Multiplication xxxx
===[|The Lattice Method] is one algorithm that students learn. The link gives a good tutorial for how to do the lattice method. I never learned this method when I was in school and I am sure you didn't either. This method works great for some kids.===

Great for students who:

 * know their multiplication facts but struggle with extended facts (30 x 4, or 50 x 60)
 * are organized and can make their own, appropriate lattice for a given problem
 * like games or puzzles
 * are more visual

NOT GOOD for students who:

 * have difficulty organizing, or keeping their work neat
 * need to know "why" the answer works
 * are older and may be multiplying much larger numbers, lattice works for up to 3 digit numbers, then gets very cumbersome

media type="custom" key="23621924" The Lattice Method

Great for students who:

 * Have good number sense and a good understanding of place value to the thousands
 * Can easily multiply "extended facts" (30 x 4, or 50 x 60)
 * Like a more linear approach where they line up and add columns of numbers
 * Can easily add multidigit numbers
 * Need to understand "why" the answer works
 * Like to check their work as they go, or go back and find their error

NOT GOOD for students who:

 * Get bored with a linear approach to computation

media type="custom" key="23621938" Partial Products


 * I will also teach students the "traditional" approach to multiplying multi-digit numbers, which is the way you probably learned to multiply. This is another approach that is difficult for kids to understand why it works, but it clicks with some kids.

/ / / Division / / /
===Partial Quotients is one algorithm for dividing multi-digit numbers. We only learn to divide with single-digit divisors, but, once a student understands this method, they can easily figure out how to do this with multi-digit divisors.===

Great for students who:

 * Have good number sense and a good understanding of place value to the thousands
 * Can "guess and check" and can revise their guesses given the information they acquire along the way
 * Can think big and like to figure out how many times a small number may be divided into a very large number
 * Are independent thinkers and are comfortable approaching a problem in a different way than their classmates.

NOT GOOD for students who:

 * Don't like to be wrong...
 * Like a set approach to doing a problem. Want to be told whether they are doing it right or wrong.

media type="custom" key="23621952" Partial Quotients

===[|Long Division] is the other algorithm for dividing multi-digit numbers. This is the way I learned to divide, and probably the way you learned when you were in elementary school.===

Great for students who:

 * Prefer a linear approach
 * Prefer a step-by-step approach that is the same every time for every student
 * Are good at lining up their numbers by place value and are organized
 * Like to break a problem into smaller, more manageable parts

NOT GOOD for students who:

 * Have trouble organizing their math work
 * Want to understand why a division answer is right

media type="custom" key="23621914" "Long" Division

===Often times, parents have a hard time helping their son or daughter with these methods because they are not the way they learned. I hope these help, but learning these algorithms are the responsibility of the student and if you find that your son or daughter (or you) are struggling, jot a quick note on the homework or send me an email and I will help the next day.===

Math Resources

media type="custom" key="4208555"
media type="custom" key="7640767" Stop Teaching Calculating, Start Teaching MathAn interesting perspective from Stephen Wolfram