Help a parent?

I am SLOOOOOOOWLY becoming more & more confused while trying to help my 3rd grader with his math homework. (3rd GRADE!!! I KNOW!!!)

I eventually figure it out, but when you just have one example to go by, and an 8 year old who says 'I don't know..' when you ask him if you've learned it in class...

I can't imagine how much worse it's going to get.

Are there any math for dummies type books, that I can buy each year to FAMILIARIZE myself with what he is learning?

Thankfully, he does very well in math... I just feel so STUPID when he does come to me for help and it looks like Chinese...

an example would be that he was supposed to multiply 51x85 right... Well, I know how to multiply. but they WANTED him to write it like this:
(50 x 80) 4000
(50 x 5) 250
(80 x 1) 80
(1 x 5) 5
4335

I don't know if my memory is THAT SHOT, but I don't remember multiplying that way. Luckily I found an example and was able to figure *it* out... and he did well... but I would like to know what is coming as far as what he is learning.

also...can't hurt my OWN intelligence, ya know.

Message edited 4/2/2009 9:32:38 AM.

Re: Help a parent?

I am soooo sorry. Unfortunately, this is the "new math" you've heard so much about. No, it's not new, but you're right. we never did this. On a smaller scale yes:

Ex: 105 * 8= (100*8) + (5*8)

The only advice I can offer is to try and google the textbook company they are using and check for companion sites.

I **think that city schools are using Everyday Math

GL & HTH

Re: Help a parent?

Are you in NYC schools? If so, you can always ask. Does he have a student reference book? If so, he should bring that home and it's a good resource.

Re: Help a parent?

If this is Everyday Math, which it sounds like it might be, they have a reference book, not a textbook. Maybe you can have your son bring it home with his homework. It will give you examples and explain the problems. I believe on the homework it tells you the reference pages.

Re: Help a parent?

um..... he is doing this in THIRD grade? yes, as a teacher i understand what he is doing, but if that was his math for third grade, i think that's a bit much unless he is in some sort of advanced math class. yes, i know i teach special ed. so i am used to kids on a lower level, but fifth graders do that in my school.

Re: Help a parent?

Re: Help a parent?

Re: Help a parent?

Ahh, yes, that's the new way they're teaching it!

I just learned it myself from a 4th grader I'm teaching.

It works for some, but not for all kids.

Re: Help a parent?

there are other types of doing multiplication so beware haha...next up is lattice multiplication (but i actually really like this way) where they multiply in boxes then add down the diagonal

Re: Help a parent?

Re: Help a parent?

The way I taught this math was like this and a lot of the students liked it this way. (Multiplication wrestling)

51x 85

First stretch out the numbers:

50 +1 x 80 +5

now 50+ 1 is one team and 80+5 is another in a wrestling match.

50 has to battle out the 80 first and then the five:

sooo
50x 80= 4,000
50x 5= 250

now the next opponent (1) has to battle out the team so

1x 80= 80
1x5= 5

add all:

4000+250+80+5= 4,335


Next up is lattice. That one is WAY out there BUT very popular with my students.

Message edited 4/4/2009 2:31:40 PM.

Re: Help a parent?

Re: Help a parent?

Yeah...it's called the partial products algorithm and I am knee deep in it right now! Tell your kid to bring home the student reference book everynight. Also if this is homelinks hw there is a parent page that explains hwo to do the hw with your child.

Re: Help a parent?

my head just exploded

thanks for the advice, I'll try this with DS.



I know right!!! lol FM me if you need any more help!