Grid Method

[johnnyg08]

people who do this quickly really know and use their place value.

If you do this well, the biggest number you'll ever need to know is 9 if done properly.

[mstaylor]

(p+l)(a+n)=pa+pn+la+ln

I just foiled your plan.

[carolinablue]

(p+l)(a+n)=pa+pn+la+ln

I just foiled your plan.

You may have foiled him but you totally lost me. I was done at (p. :D

[johnnyg08]

(p+l)(a+n)=pa+pn+la+ln

I just foiled your plan.

If it wasn't for those darn kids, I'd have gotten away with it.

[alex7]

Math curriculum throughout the country is moving from an "algorithm" based learning to a "process" based learning, meaning you're expected to understand not just HOW to do the process, but WHY. That's why you see so many more word problems and "explain your reasoning" type of problems.

The main reason for this is studies show teens lose sight of the relevancy of mathematics once they stop understanding why it matters or how they're doing what they're doing. Once it just becomes a bunch of algorithms they have to memorize, it becomes clunky, confusing, and irrelevant.

Why can you flip the 2nd fraction and multiply when dividing fractions? If you understand, you are further along in the mastery of math. If you just know the algorithm, you'll get stuck on real world problems where you would NEED to divide fractions.

[mstaylor]

I was taught why when we learned. I have no problem giving word problems, they reflect real world usages. I detest writing explanations of problems that simple enough to be either right or wrong. The example I fall back to was the three fractions on the state test example. I did it one way and the example did it another. My question to the principal was would my answer be marked wrong because I did it differently. She said it shouldn't but wasn't sure. I threw a fit, it shouldn't be a question. I did the problem, used a sound mathematical procedure but it didn't match their equally sound method. We were talking 3rd grade math, putting three dissimilar fractions in order least to greatest. It wasn't calculus where concepts and problem solving is much more complicated.

When I learned Trig, we learned the unit circle, the relationship of the points of the circle, Then the relationship of sine cosine,tangent,cotangent,secant and co-secant. We didn't just learn that you do this here, or that there, we learned why theorems were true. I never learned any math where we were taught mechanics without the theories and relationships.

[semper_fi_72]

Yes they are going towards more word problems.

The problem is they are doing it before the kids have a sound understanding of fundamental math and even before they can read and understand the words in the problem. That makes a lot of sense.

Now throw in kids who are even behind in their reading level and you multiply the problem.

You not only discourage the kids in math but discourage them in reading.

I have learned so much this year with the wife and I home schooling our 2nd and 4th grader.

Sticking to fundamentals of reading, spelling, writing and math has enabled us to fill a lot of their gaps and get them closer to their appropriate grade level.

The Charter School we work with not only provides assistance every step of the way, especially in the first year, but also conducts a Parent Certification Course for Home Schooling.

We have a Credentialed Teacher assigned to us as a Educational Teacher.

She helps us lay out the Learning Plan for the girls and checks their work and assists us with areas we have questions in.

We also get a lot of feedback through using services on the internet that test and assess their progress.

I have a better understanding for the problems teachers have in the public school system and realize it is not their fault but the fault of the system that causes them to teach the way they do and sticks them with a 32 to 1 ratio in the classroom. They really can not teach and have to send them home with homework and hope the parents can fill in the gaps.

I feel very fortunate we can home school.

We usually spend no more then 4 hours a day teaching/learning and then there is no homework.

A lot of it is also fun.

Practice your spelling in the driveway with chalk.

Work math problems in the driveway with chalk.

We can even work our lessons into trips to the library, zoo, the county fair, the Candlelight Ceremony and Procession at Disneyland.

Everything can be turned into a fun educational opportunity.

Different kids learn differently and the normal school setting/system can not accommodate any one who learns differently then the broad method they use to teach.

Ok, I will step off my pulpit now. :wave: